Why do we keep driving to far away stores that are understocked, understaffed and don't care?

[Oaktree]

Some things I really want to see, hold. I want to hold such as chain saw to see how it feels. I want to see a grill with a top on it to see how well the top aligns with the base. I want to know how the lid is hinged and how heavy it is and how far back it does hinge.

Agreed. Trouble is too many people go to the brick & mortar store to check out the merchandise then buy it online because it's a little cheaper there. Costs money for these stores to have this inventory on hand, if I'm checking it out in the store I'll try to buy it there.

I live 15 miles from the second largest city in Oregon. Eugene has about 177K in the city limits and about 360K in the Eugene/Springfield metro area.
And for some reason, I find it almost impossible to buy anything I need from local retail stores.
Some recent examples:

(some snippage)

Not quite sure why we have cities/centers of commerce any more. They were a good idea, in the past. With the internet, and delivery services like UPS and USPS, that seems to be changing. Maybe we don't need cities any more.

To be fair, a lot of the items you list are specialty items that few B&M stores can afford to stock for the one or two they might sell in a year (if that). Was most of this obscure merchandise ever widely available locally?
Sheesh, does anyone still even make 12" tires? Never were a very popular size.

For the most part, people like living close to each other. I spent a lot of years flying and it never ceased to amaze me how there is miles of nothingness and then bam, there’s houses, row houses, apartment buildings, bigger buildings and lots of people. People like telling other people what they have to do and how to live. They want sidewalks, street lights and electric cars so you should too.They live where they call a ”guy” to come fix stuff and get ugly when the “guy” doesnt have the parts on hand and the “guy” always charges too much. They dont have a clue where their water comes from or where it goes when they’re done with it. They are 100% positive that anyone that has a truck and tractor is killing their environment. We are the problem, not them.

I'm not sure I'd have phrased this quite so strongly or or quite the negative approach. Humans are a social animal, for the most part we enjoy others' company.
It takes a certain kind of person to thrive in a rural area where self sufficiency is the rule. I wouldn't want to live in a city or suburbia either, but I understand why others do.

 

[TheMan419]

I heard the same thing, that it's temporarily closed. No rumors on reopening or different location. Nothing in the small closed Menard's store, yet, either, since they built the huge one. We heard Big R was going to go in there, but then they went belly-up.

Yeah I was looking forward that Big R going in there. Would have been nice for TSC to have some competition down that way.

Ace should go in the old Menards. That new one is a city in itsself.... but man when you need lumber they have what you need.

 

[Diggin It]

Making a trip into town today, so I figured I'd hit some local places looking for a widget I need a few of and a couple of other widgets. Local small town combination auto part and hardware store has them for over $6 each. Lowes has a price of over $8/each, but no stock. True Value has a price of $7/each, but no stock.

Twenty minutes or less bopping around the Bay place I find them for a buck each, plus that same seller has some other stuff I need, so I hit their 'free shipping' tier. About $35 for over 20 items that would have cost me over $100 at stores.

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah I was looking forward that Big R going in there. Would have been nice for TSC to have some competition down that way.

Ace should go in the old Menards. That new one is a city in itsself.... but man when you need lumber they have what you need.

Heading to Menard's tonight to get a bi-fold door. I built an upstairs laundry/closet for my mother in-law and need the door and some trim to finish it out.

Last 11% off sale of the year.... EVERYONE PANIC!!!

 

[Doofy]

If I want it or need it, I buy it. Simple as that. Local NAPA has a great sale going on so I will be spending $$$ and building up my garage supplies. I like to spend locally when I can without feeling robbed.

 

[JasperFrank]

Since my wife is involved with theatre, I am often charged with finding, or building a particular "Prop," in a timely manner, that the Staff can't find or build. Everything in theatre is a rush, and somewhat random as to the need. Cases in point; I needed to find a USA Flag Lapel. One would think this to be easy in a metro area of 350 thousand people. None to be found in the metro area. Needed to find three 50 Cal, bullets and no local gun shop would sell me just three loose. Needed a boat captain's hat, and the two marine stores in town didn't stock those.... really? A marine store not stocking a captain's hat? Really? The 12 inch car tires were used by not only my car but the very popular Geo Metro. No one stocks these, and to get a full set of the same kind, is problematic, in a Metro area of 350,000 people. I could usually get two of one kind, and two of another kind. Rarely at retail can I get four of the same kind. I just order four of the same kind now online and have them installed at a local shop.
eBay and Amazon have fundamentally changed the way we use to do things. I would never even think of having any sort of specialized B&M shop now.

 

[ponytug]

Actually, I do a fair amount of business with specialty B&M stores that also list on eBay and Amazon. Win win. I don't have to drive a thousand miles to get to the B&M, and someone else gets a local specialty B&M store that stocks odd widgets.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Oaktree]

The 12 inch car tires were used by not only my car but the very popular Geo Metro. No one stocks these, and to get a full set of the same kind, is problematic, in a Metro area of 350,000 people.

I'd stop well short of saying the Metro was a "very popular" car, you'd see a few around but they never came close sales wise to other subcompact Japanese cars. Maybe it was different where you live.
In any event, they haven't been made in 20 years now, and not much else uses tires that small.

My point remains, these are specialty items that move such small quantities that don't warrant local stores keeping an inventory of them.

 

[Frankenkubota]

just before i left portland oregon the police chief and mayor? came on tv and said....

we do not have the resources to investigate property crimes so......

go to www.grabyourankles.com and fill out the form.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's not something happening in just one region...