Lighting: specialty store/big box/internet
poolroomcomesfirst
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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suser123
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Big Box Stores?
Comments (28)The primary appeal of the big box retailer, for me, is that I can buy things there at 7am, 9pm, on Saturday evening, or on Sunday. Otherwise I'd prefer to have nothing to do with them unless I have to. There are times when, whether for reasons of necessity or impulse, that I want to buy *something* now. Home Depot has gotten some business from me for that reason. However, I prefer dealing with the local shop that knows what it is doing. I spend thousands per year at my saw shop, and a fair bit at the lawnmower/snowblower/generator shop, too. It took a number of years to find shops I was comfortable dealing with, though. Reasons follow: 1. I want a shop to actually have stuff in stock when I show up to buy. New units, parts, etc., should be ready to go. 1a. If you have to order something, let me place my "order" over the phone. I will NOT drive to you to tell you to order something that I have to drive back to pick up later, because that adds no value for me. It is, instead, a waste of my time. 2. Have hours beyond 5pm. Even 5:30 can help, but a night or two per week of 7pm would be appreciated. 3. Make sure your sales staff really knows their stuff and recognizes that some customers actually know more than they do. Quoting brochures is useless, and if you've never put any time in on the machines you're selling, well, maybe you should. 4. Service machines brought to you promptly. Nothing should sit in the shop for more than a week. My saw shop in particular is good about getting stuff back up and running within a day or two, since their commercial clients require it. 5. Stay abreast of what "enthusiasts" are doing with the equipment you are selling. I once purchased a lawnmower from a shop that also sells Stihl. The owner was nice enough to bring the mower out to my car, and he started checking out my Stihl 066 and turned critical as he launched into a critique of my improper chain filing technique, carrying on about how nobody knows how to sharpen chain anymore, how my cutters were all beat up, etc. In point of fact the chain was square-filed race chain with the back of the cutter removed, the top of the tie straps relieved for chip flow, etc. His ignorance was excusable, but his attitude was not. I don't shop there anymore....See MoreBig Box Stores vs. Local Dealers
Comments (9)I've looked but have never purchased furniture from these stores. My taste tends to me a bit more traditional than what they offer and I love mahogany. However, I do understand the attraction to their whole "lifestyle" marketing plan. Shopping is convenient, the style is clean and contemporary (without being extreme), and putting pieces together is easy because it all kind of looks the same. A furniture version of Garanimals, if you will. And I'm not knocking it. If I happen to be near one of these stores I'll often go in thinking I might find something great. But I'm alway disappointed in comparison to furniture I've purchased locally. I don't just mean the higher-end pieces we own, but some low-end furniture that's basically no different in quality than Pottery Barn but a lot less expensive. Overall, I think their furniture is terribly overpriced for what it is. I will say that functionality of many of their designs is very good. For example, Pottery Barn has a secretary that I've admired for months. It's a great size and is an interesting mix of a traditional secretary and storage aimed at more modern, home office use. But by the time you add it all up, it's pushing 2k and I can't even see it in a store (it's catalog only) to know what I'm getting, which according to the description is kiln-dried poplar wood and moldings, panels and shelves made of birch-wood veneer over MDF. In the end, I much prefer having a relationship with a local furniture store that represents a large number of manufacturere and will pay a little more for that service....See MoreMaxim Lighting v.s. Big Box Store Brands
Comments (1)Thanks for the heads up on Maxim Lighting. Were they considerably less expensive than Lowes/HD? I am curious to know of other makers out there with less brand recognition but still offering high quality LED products for less money. I am specifically looking for under cabinet lighting....See MoreLighting from the big box stores-bad quality?
Comments (1)just bought more than a dozen lights from multiple stores, including Loews, HD, Menards, online places, and lighting stores. Often same manufacturer. Saw no difference in quality. Electrician said no problems with any of them. Found greatest value and savings from online shopping. Saw one light in lighting store for $300, bought it online for $199 w/ free shipping....See Morehousequester
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