Conference 7.286::home_work

    The coporate office is located in Atlanta, Georgia.  The phone number is
    404-433-8211.

    Home Depot opens in Nashua, NH on Thursday, October 10.   It should
    be interesting to see how Builders Square and Somerville Lumber
    (not to mention, and perhaps I shouldn't, Grossman's) will react.
    
    				Steve

    Where is the Home Deopt in Nashua located?
    
    JOhn
    

    Next to Pheasant Lane Mall.  Shares a driveway with the mall.
    
    					- Vick

... on the north side of the mall (by Lechmere).  There is also an access road
that leads down from behind the Toys R Us and Service Merchandise stores up
the road.

			Steve

Yeah!  I'm looking for a toilet and sink (pedistal) and fixtures, so I'll
check this place out for grand opening prices.

    We have had Home Depot our here in CA for a while now, and I have found
    that every time that I go in, they have something on special, they are
    very helpful and friendly, and don't try to push sale anything.  Their
    prices are very competative and should have just about anything that
    you might need for home remodeling or repair.
    
    Should give those other places a run for the money...
    
    Patrick                          Long_Live_`66_Mustangs!!!
    

    Commenting on the effectiveness of Home Depot's operations, Forbes
    magazine commented: "When Home Depot moves in, the others move out."
    
    PBM
    

I see only one problem so far with HD's Nashua store, and that is its location.
They could not have picked, for me, a worse spot.  I already actively avoid
that area when I possibly can, due to the incredibly heavy traffic on Daniel
Webster Highway.  On weekends it often takes 20 minutes or more to traverse
the one mile from Spit Brook Road down to the Pheasant Lane Mall.  What fun...

				steve

    Home Depot is Atlanta based so *we* get lotsa news about 'em down
    here.
    
     The two best features I've found (as compared to "the other guys")
    are competitive prices****
        competent sales staff ( salespeople are NOT paid commision..they're
    salaried,,so no big push from the sales staff. And they generally
    *know* their product lines and are open about pros/cons of various
    manufacturers' products)
    
    ****  RE prices,,They'll match anybody's price for a carried item,
    and take an extra 5% off down here. As to "competitive" pricing,,,
    here in Atlanta the last big competitor (Builders' Square) just
    folded their tents and left town,,,remains to be seen how HD prices
    go from here on.....:-)
    
      In general,,,I like HD but will miss some of the stuff carried by
    the other stores that's no longer available.
    
    Doug

     <<< Note 3867.9 by QUARK::LIONEL "Free advice is worth every cent" >>>

>I see only one problem so far with HD's Nashua store, and that is its location.
    
    Steve, I was just about to enter a reply saying the same thing. I
    despise the South Nashua area and avoid it at all cost. I think I may
    stick with Builders Square and Slummerville Lumber in order to avoid DW
    Hwy madness. Although I'm sure I'll force myself down there this
    Saturday -- I just have to check the place out!
    
    Mike

    They have improved DW Highway quite a bit between Spitbrook Rd and
    the mall.  If you are coming from the north on 3 on a weekend or other busy
    time I recommend continuing to the Tingsboro exit and getting back on
    north and hitting the South Nashua exit.  It's considerably faster if
    DW is backed up.  I hit the mall at lunch hour regularly and don't find
    the traffic on DW to be bad like it used to be.
    
    					- Vick

    I live just up the street from the mall on DW.  IT still gets choaked
    up from time to time but not as bad as I've heard it once was.  But you
    can tell when something is going on there.  
    
    Hmmm Builder's square advertises that they'll beat anyone's advertised
    price by 10%... 
    
    Home Depot by 5%.... this may be interesting.
    
    Skip

    But does Builder's Sq.  still give you their discount in "Builder's
    Square" dollars or do they give you a real discount?
    
    George

        BS gives you a real discount. I just bought couple things there
        using someone elses ad. They matched the add price, and then took
        another 10% off the price. A year ago I bought my Sawsall that
        way. A competitor had the best price I'd ever seen on the tool,
        $120 (better than 7 corners). That means I ended up paying $108,
        which still leaves me smiling.
        
        I still hate doing business with them. There are a couple family
        owned stores in the Chicago area that so far have competed with
        BS, and I do business with them whenever possible. They still have
        people to help you, and they still have what you need when you
        need it.

My father got a great deal on a lawn tractor last year this way. 
BS has it on sale for 899.00 and K-Mart had the same tractor for 
$839.00. Got the tractor at BS for $755.00.

Oddly, K-mart owns BS I believe. This season, both stores prices 
were exactly the same. I still got a good deal on the bagger 
attachment though....

daryll

	BTW,  Home Depot opens at 7 am tomorrow morning ( 10/10 ).
	Traffic should be too bad at that time of day.  Anyone going
	to join me checking the place out?
	
	Garry

I expect to be there sometime tomorrow.

	Steve

	I made a run through the store this morning.
	
			W O W !!!!!!!!!!   
			
	The store is HUGE!!!!!  It looks alot lot Builder's Square
	inside but its MJCH MUCH BIGGER.
	
	The prices seem pretty good too.  By the way,  they seemed to
	have changed to beat anybody's price by 10%, not 5%.  The sign
	at the front door has a correction on it.
	
	Some samples:
	
		14/2 wire 250'  $19.00
		Cedar closet lining $13.83 / 12 sq.ft. 
		Hometime videos - $8.91
		Bruce unfinished hardwood flooring - white oak - $36/ 19 sq.ft.
			( sommerville sale - $31.25 )
		
	Have fun,  I know I will...
	
	Garry
		

I was also there this morning.  It reminded me a lot of the Home Quarters store
I saw in Shrewsbury.  The layout is like Builders Square but bigger and with
a better selection.  They also tend to carry more "upscale" products than does
BS, such as Kohler and American Standard fixtures.

As for prices, they are not uniformly good.  (But I never expected them to be,
despite their claims.)  Some comparisons I made:

	Kohler "Rialto" toilet: HD - $331, Masi - $354, other stores - $400
	Emco "Forever View" storm door: HD - $217, Builders Square - $199
	GP "Versailles" entry door: HD - $1053, Somerville - $969

The staff was a little TOO friendly, though I expected that for opening day.
There were a lot of manufacturers' reps there, dressed as HD staff.  It took
me some 25 minutes to get prices on two doors I was interested in, partly because
of inexperienced staff, but I imagine that will change.

Checkout was quick - MOST unlike Builders Square!

Their delivery policy is a lot like BS - $25 for first 15 miles, additional
charge thereafter.  Somerville Lumber is free.

Their flyer gives the wrong northbound exit number off route 3 - it's 36, not
39.  They know about this.

Overall, I will probably shop there regularly, despite the location.  I don't
think they'll put either Builders Square or Somerville out of business, but
Grossman's will soon be history, I predict.

				Steve

I tend to got to Builders Square nowadays only if I can't be bothered going
to Somerville.  BS' prices are no longer low enough to make it worth putting
up with the hassles of know-nothing salesclerks (if you can find one, that is),
constantly out-of-stock shelves, and checkout lines as slow as a meat market
in Moscow.  What is my time and aggravation worth to me?

Some time ago, I decided to use Somerville as my primary source for building
supplies.  They are often cheaper than Builders Square, the staff is helpful
and knowledgeable, and it's a pleasure to shop there.  They also have free
delivery.  I may start going to Home Depot at times, but from what I've seen
so far, I will be sticking with Somerville for most of my purchases.

				Steve

One real annoying item about Home Depot yesterday was the almost constant
interruptions over the PA system.  "lumber,  call on ..." .etc.  I
mentioned it to one of the clerks and if even run in to the manager,  I
make sure he knows my displeasure.  Another price check on blinds:

	Color Tile - $112 ( with their buy one get one free )
	Nashua Paint - $112
	HD	   - $101
	
Garry

     re: .22
    In defense(?) of Builders Square in Nashua, NH
    
    Staff
      I find it true that some clerks don't know which end of the hammer
      to hold, but there are others that are a wealth of information and
      and very happy to pass it along. I guess you've got to know who to
      talk to.
      3 years ago, it seemed that ALL the clerks were knowledgable and
      friendly.
    Lines
      The only time I've had problems of slow lines at the checkout is
      on weekends. Weeknites, and early mornings the checkouts are 
      usually good, except when there's a change of shift or dinner 
      breaks (only 1 or 2 registers open). Again, 3 years ago the
      lines were faster. More cash registers open, too.
    Stock
      Yeah, that's a big dissapointment at BS. It seems they order on a 
      quarterly basis. If the product sells out the day after delivery
      then it's 3 months before it's back on the shelf.
    
    Hopefully, the competition of Home Depot opening will bring BS back 
    to the way it was 3 years ago.
    
     - John

    Re .24, yes, 3 years ago all the clerks at BS were
    knowledgeable--that's because they were BS employess transplanted 
    from the Southern BS stores--unfortunately, BS hasn't trained their
    native people as well as those they brought up when the store opened.
    
    I was at HD last night and talked with a very knowledgable employee
    about the set-back thermostats they were selling--he'd been with HD for
    5 years in Texas and had now moved up here permanently to work in
    the Nashua store.  He claimed that HD was very big in training their
    people--we'll see if comments like .24 about BS will also be true for
    HD in 3 years...
    
    -randy

Yeah!  And another story.  Hedge trimmers were advertized; not in stock.
When did they expect them?  <chuckle> next year 
Would they order some, give me a rain check, show me a little respect.
  <chuckle> not a chance.

To be fair, I have had some isolated good experiences with some of the
people at BS, but far too many bad ones.  Let's hope the competition 
does us some good.

I'm installing a boiler.  HD doesn't carry them yet so they had little of
the plumbing supplies you'd want.  That includes fittings like 3/4 flow
control Ts, 3/4 ball valves with waste vent, and the like.  Their price on 3/4
copper tubing beat Somerville's good price so it was up to Builder's Snare to
get it for 10% less than that.  Their prices on black iron gas pipe were lousy.

		HD	Somerville	BS
1" black pipe   1.80/ft	  1.53/ft
3/4" black	1.46			1.25

but then their prices on elbows, caps and plugs were better.  You just have
to know the prices.  Like the others have observed, no one will miss Grossmans
and since BS is easier for some of us to get to, we can save an additional
10% there.  It just pays to call and price things.  

Nobody'll miss Grossman's?  I have a certificate that'll give a 20% discount
on my first Grossman's credit card purchase.  It's possible that it'll bring
their prices down to other stores' prices, particularly when they have their
going-out-of-business sale.

Grossman's is alive and well in Shrewsbury, with Somerville, HQ and Spags within
3 miles. They have made an effort to be competitive. I have bought quite a few
things from them recently because their price was better than the rest for the
quality of the product. I.E. HQ might have had the widget cheaper but their 
version was of lesser quality. The difference was worth it to me.

CdH

Anybody know offhand the store hours, weekday & weekend, for Home Depot?

Do they carry the Square-D line of electric subpanels?

thanks (from down here in MA)

    	I called the HD in Nashua a couple of Fridays ago. They had
    	a tape that indicated that they opened at 7AM on Saturdays.
    	Since it was Friday night, that's all I wanted to hear, so no
    	info on the rest of the week.
    
    	Scott

Nashua Home depot

  M-Sa7-10 Su 10-7        891-4300

    
    Yes, they do carry the Square-D line (at least Friday they did). I just
    replaced a whole bank of Square-D circuit breakers that went bad, and
    picked them up at Home Depot in Nashua. They also had a few panels
    there in stock.
    

    Where in MA?  There's a Home Depot now open in Shrewsbury.

    
    Is it really OPEN yet? I haven't seen any signs to that effect. My
    brother-in-law applied for a job there and he said that it wouldn't be
    open until Dec 20th. 
    
    Steve B.

    re: where in MA
    
    Among other places, you'll find Home Depots in Danvers (Rt 114),
    Somerville, Shrewsbury (down the street from Spags's) and soon to be
    open in Tewksbury (Rt 38 just off Rt 495).
    
    Since HD opened in Danvers, I haven't set foot into the HQ across the 
    street from them...

    I've been also waiting for the one in Shrewsbury to open. If anyone
    has any info that they are open, please post it here.
    
    Question: Does Home Depot always put themselves across the street
    from a HQ? That isn't the first time I've heard HD across from HQ.
    
    Also, do they beat HQ prices?
    
    Thanks,
    	John

Some minor corrections to the previous replies on hours...

	HD in Nashua is open: M-F 6-10, Sat 7-10, Sun 9-6

Also, the operator in Nashua tells me the Shrewsbury store *IS*
open *NOW*... (and has been for about a month).

d

    Speaking of new Home Depots:  I see the "Now Hiring" sign on the
    new building on Rt 38 in Tewksbury (right off I-495)
    
    Does anyone know when it will open?
    
    
    RE: Danvers HQ vs HD
    Before the Salem HD opened, I ran down a list of things I needed at
    both Danvers H*,  it was a close tossup.  Both had things less than the
    other.  Since I had a "New Homeower" discount coupon, I bought from
    both and used some price garantee claims to play them against each
    other.  I think the HQ is a little bit bigger.
    
    	Dave.

    >Speaking of new Home Depots:  I see the "Now Hiring" sign on the
    >new building on Rt 38 in Tewksbury (right off I-495)
    >
    >Does anyone know when it will open?
    
    
    When I was up in Nashua HD, one of the salesmen helping me out happened
    to be the guy who is going to be store mgr in Tewksbury... he said they
    plan to open the beginning of February.

    Drove by the main entrance to the new Shrewsbury HD on Saturday and
    there was a sign that read "To our valued customers: We will be opening
    at the end of December" 
    
    The salesman in the Nashua HD obviously is confused.
    
    Steve B.

    >                   -< Shrewsbury HD not open yet... >-
    >
    >Drove by the main entrance to the new Shrewsbury HD on Saturday and
    >there was a sign that read "To our valued customers: We will be opening
    a>t the end of December" 
    >
    >The salesman in the Nashua HD obviously is confused.
    >
    >Steve B.
    
    
    Steve, there are two new stores opening; Shrewsbury and Tewksbury.
    As you noted, Shrewsbury will open in December, however, if I recall
    correctly, the Tewksbury is suppose to open in Feb.  
    
    -John

    
    But didn't he say that the store had been open for a month? With the
    Shrewsbury store opening at the end of December and the Tewksberry
    store opening in February...which one of these sounds like it's been
    open for a month ;-)??
    
    Steve

    I stopped at the Shrewsbury store yesterday. They may have been open
    for a month, but not for business. They are only hiring right now and
    NOT open for business. I was told by an employee, when I went in the
    store, that they would be open at the end of Dec.
    
    Ray

     Does HD have free delivery like Somerville Lumber used to?

    > Does HD have free delivery like Somerville Lumber used to?
    
    No.  $25 for first 15 miles,  $1.50/mile there after.

I think they'll deliver free if your order is over $300.00 (or maybe that's 
HQ???)

>I think they'll deliver free if your order is over $300.00 (or maybe that's 
>HQ???)
    
    My order was >$700.00 & still HD still charged.

    Well HD in Shrewsbury and Avon have opened.
    
    According to the insert in today's Globe, Tewksbury (and somewhere else
    in MA, I forgot) will open on Thursday.
    
    When the Danvers HD opened, I got an invitation to a "party" the night
    before. (mailed to the previous owner)   If you are a contractor (or
    can bluff like one), you can get probably in and look around the night
    before the opening.
    
    	Dave.

    
    
    FWI....I was in the shrewsbury HD.  The slection seems better than
    HQ.  As for the prices.....its pick and choose.  Lumber quality
    was about the same.  (better than Grossmans...)   And as for as that
    goes, I've been getting my lumber local to where I live cheeper and
    better quality them I've seen of later.  I'll see what they can cut
    me for a price on a larger shopping list later...
    
    stay tuned..

>    According to the insert in today's Globe, Tewksbury (and somewhere else
>    in MA, I forgot) will open on Thursday.

West Roxbury.

I wouldn't buy lumber form *anyone* who stored it inside a heated building.

    
    RE. .53     -< warped and twisted >-
    
    Are you saying the people who buy the lumber is warped and twisted or
    the company that stores it there?  8-)
    
    
    In any case, if the sales volume is large enough, I wouldn't expect
    there to be that much drying to occur.  How long would it take to dry
    out a 2X4 or 2X10 if it is sitting in a dry building?
    
    Phil
    
    
    

>>                     <<< Note 3867.54 by SUBPAC::OLDIGES >>>
>>                  -< Who ya calling warped and twisted? 8-) >-

>>    RE. .53     -< warped and twisted >-

Whenever I get lumber at Home Depot,  I spend alot of time picking 
through the pile for good pieces.  I wonder who they get to buy the
warped and twisted junk.

Garry    

    
    Never had a problem with HD.  Most of the stuff they sell is
    KD, which dries it out more than any warehouse could.  The fact that
    it's indoors means it's already stabilised to the conditions you would
    expect in a house.
    
    Colin
     
    

>     Never had a problem with HD.  Most of the stuff they sell is
>     KD, which dries it out more than any warehouse could.  The fact that
>     it's indoors means it's already stabilised to the conditions you would
>     expect in a house.

	I had a recent problem with HD lumber, probably my own
	fault though.  I had picked through the lumber for a
	2x4 wall I put up in my kitchen renovation.  It wasn't
	a month later until I went to put up wallboard and found
	a couple of the studs twisted (one so bad I had to replace
	it, a bummer too since I had water supply pipes going
	through it).

    
    .57
    
    That can be a real pain.  I usually take far more time to pick
    than I ought to, but it's worth it to get relatively clear pieces.
    Even if these bow or twist a little, you can usually pull them
    back into position with some blocking.
    
    C
    

> ****  RE prices,,They'll match anybody's price for a carried item,
> and take an extra 5% off down here.

	Well they seem to of upped it since .10 was written to 10%,
	but they also changed it to only those items that they (and
	the competitor they are matching) actually keep in stock.
	They recently refused to price match on some sheet laminate,
	which everyone sells but don't actually stock (which is impossible
	since there are some 200+ patterns, each of which comes in
	at least 12 sizes).  And in this case they Home Depot was charging
	$2.30/sq ft, while there local competitor Home Quarters was
	charging only $1.45/sq ft.

	Also since the Nashua Home Depots last local competitor
	closed (Grossmans) the quality of service has gone down
	hill fast (rude sales help, not much better at the customer
	service desk when you complian, and they no longer care if
	they make a whole line people wait at the checkout while
	they wait for a price check).  The Manchester store however
	is top notch in the customer service area however (as good
	as the Nashua store *used* to be).

	By the way, just heard on the 11pm news that an employee
	died today at the Nashua store after two (2) *palets* of
	roofing shingles fell on him at 9:30am this morning (Tues).

    
    
    I hope it wasnt my windows that fell!   There three
    weeks late !!!!!!
    
    JD

    I didn't know shingles was fatal.

HD's price match bonus has always been 10%, and always on "identical, in-stock
items".

I haven't found any deterioriation in the service at the Nashua HD and I
go there a lot.

					Steve

> I haven't found any deterioriation in the service at the Nashua HD and I
> go there a lot.

	I go there a lot (ie. 3+ times per week) too, but you obviously
	go at a different time of day and/or different departments.
	And I know others who have noticed it also.  Consider yourself
	lucky that you haven't .....

> HD's price match bonus has always been 10%, ....


	I was quoting .10 about the 5% who lived in Atlanta back in '91
	(ie. before the Nashua store opened).  I simply assumed that
	as they expanded, they also upped the 5% to 10%.

> ... and always on "identical, in-stock items".

	The fine print may say that, but the in (and out)-side signage
	does not say "identical" or "in-stock".  For example, the
	Manchester store has a large sign above the entrance that says
	something like "Lowest prices guarenteed" and the Nashua store
	has signage that says "price match + 10% on anything we stock".
	While you may say "we stock" and "in-stock" are equiv. I argue
	that the former is left to interpretation (ie. ambiguous).

	In any case, they still have the best price matching policy than
	any of their competitors, and have used it myself several times.

I've NEVER been overly impressed w/ Home Depot's check-out speediness.  
It's always a headache to pay for stuff in Nashua and I've been going there 
since it opened.  Makes no difference what time of day or night, either.  
You (at least I) have had to wait every time.

    Well Skip, you just have to pick the right time :-)
    
    I went one day last in the winter during one of the many storms (I was
    actually at work, in ZK, so it wasn't a long trip).  There were maybe
    50 cars in the lot, and only 1 register open...with no line.
    
    All I has to do was get the stuff home. :-)
    
    - Mark

I've done that, too. (when I worked in MKO)

The trouble with that theory is that if the lots empty, the *only* register 
that's open is bogged down anyways.  HD is pretty conscious of how many 
people are in the store and they staff the registers accordingly.  They'd 
rather send someone home early than pay them to sit at a slow register.  
That's how they can afford to stay in business.

I don't think I've ever not had to wait in line.

    
    
     Allen Laforte
     DTN 225-4631
     DEMING::LAFORTE
    
    
    
      Great deals to be had at Home Depot. As some of you are aware...
    If you find the same Make/Model of tool for a lower price, they will
    match it and discount it further by 10%. Such is what I found and
    thought I would share it.
     
    
    Bought a DELTA 5 speed drill press Model 11-990
    
             Home Depot price  $189.
             Spags price       $167.50   
    Home Depot price 10% less  $150.75  Savings of $16.75 from Spags price
                                        Savings of $38.25 from Home Depot
    
    Spags also mentioned a free Brad Point drill set which Home Depot
    matched. This set was a cost of $14.99. Not a bad deal all together.
    Now if Home Depot has a place in New Hampshire close to the border
    I'd be interested?? Save 5% there...Does anyone know?
    
    

    Home Depot in Nashua is North of the Pheasant Lane Mall by about 1 km.
    If going North on DW, take the right by Pizzeria Uno and 1st left
    by NTW, weave and dodge and park.  You'll see it.
    
    ed

    Speaking of Home Depot and power tools ...... they got what seems to be
    a really good deal on the Ryobi MT-3000 table saw system.  Anybody
    familiar with these units? It's selling for $499.00.  Has all kinds of
    attachments too.
    
    Been thinking of buying one of these units but I'm not sure what brands
    are the quality ones.
    
    Any input would be greatly appreciated.
    
    Thanx .... d.

	I'd suggest the NOTED::WOODWORKING_AND_TOOLS notesfile for advice on
	specific power tools. I know that the Ryobi and Delta tables saws
	have been discussed extensively there, for example.

	Roy

	I'm not sure about the other Home Depot's, but I discovered
	tonight when I stopped in at the Nashua store at shortly
	before 10pm tonight, that they have new hours, and are now
	open til Midnight!  (I was rushing in thinking they would
	soon be closing and one of the employees told me I didn't
	need to rush, and pointed out the new hours).

	FWIW, the Nashua store has also widened the "tool corral".

The Manchester store is also open til Midnight now.   I was there last night. 

They are also doing some work on their tool corral (and because of that they 
could not find an accessory kit that I was told they had in stock).

The corrals are 'more in line' with the 'newer' HD that I visted down in Quincy
MA.

bjm

	I was checking out the new Home Depot in Natick yesterday and 
	decided to pick up a Scotts Rotary Spreader.  The sign said
        $36.xx. (The same as when I had noticed it in the Nashua store
        and should have gotten it then to save the sales tax, but didn't,
        whine, whine...)

	So I bought it in the Natick HD.  Then I stopped in at HQ in 
	Framingham (2-3 miles from HD) because I remembered something else I 
	needed to buy.  Was I surprised when I saw the same Scotts Rotary
	spreader for $33.00!  I thought that spread was pretty unusual
	for two close competitors.  I was actually considering if it 
	was worth the trouble to return the $36.xx one and buy the $33.00
	one.  (I had no printed HQ ad to show H.D.to get the $3.xx 
	difference).   I decided to double check my H.D sales slip
	and lo and behold the spreader purchase showed $33.00.

	I guess Home Depot figured they are better off matching the
        HQ price automatically rather than having to come up with
        the price + 10% match that they claim.


        

 

> I guess Home Depot figured they are better off matching the
> HQ price automatically rather than having to come up with
> the price + 10% match that they claim.

	It's not just a "claim", it's real.  I've gotton several items
	at HD after seeing a sale price in a flyer from someone else.
	The biggest item I got a price match, plus an extra 10% off the
	lower price (not just a measly 10% of the difference between
	the prices like at Lechmere and other stores) was some vinyl
	sheet flooring which saved me an extra $20-30.

    In Shrewsbury, there's an HD across the street from the HQ.  I've 
    sometimes stopped at the HQ, written down prices, then crossed the
    street and bought at HD.  If the HD price was higher, I told them,
    they called HQ to confirm, and then gave me the HQ price less 10%.
    
    	Enjoy,
    	Larry
    
    PS:  I don't do that very often -- that was in a period where I was
    trying to figure out which store was more convenient and had the
    lowest prices/best selection.  Unfortunately, the decision is split:
    it's easier to find things at the HQ because they number their aisles,
    but HD seems to have the edge for price/selection.  LS

    Moved from the For Sale note...
    
    Hope Depot has a typographical error in last Sunday's circular. They
    list the middle-of-the-road Delta table saw with stand for $327, but
    they also listed the Delta 10" contractor's saw w/stand for the same
    price. I called around last night and they are honoring the price!
    
    As of 7PM last night, the Nashua and Salem, NH and the Tewksbury, MA
    stores had only the display models left. (and perhaps HQ or Sears would
    price-match based on the HD ad!)

    Presumably there not offering rainchecks.

    When I asked, he thought that they weren't, but wasn't 100% sure. When
    I asked about restocking before the end of the week, he laughed and
    said he doubted it. (No surprise there!)
    
    When I got home, though, I noticed that in the fine print on the back of 
    the flyer, it mentions that prices were good until May 12th or thereabouts.
    Will they go 2+ weeks without restocking? Probably worth a phone call,
    at least.
    
    Happy hunting... 

	I'd keep an eye on your local paper, or in the store itself, for
	a printed retraction/correction.  Once they've done so they are
	under no obligation to honor it.  I do not know if they are even
	legally obligated to honor any typographical error, and alot of
	flyers I've seen (especially SuperMarket flyers) always print with
	the other fine print that they are not responsible for typographical
	errors.

	Lechmere also often prints corrections in the same edition of the
	newspaper as their flyer itself (I guess the flyers have a longer
	lead time to press).  I did however once get a more expensive
	CD Player from Lechmere because they hadn't yet printed a retraction.

	I also got a good deal on some 4mil poly at Home Depot in another
	one of their flyers when the ad pictured a 3 pack of poly for
	around $9-10, and they printed next to it "4 mil" when the only
	poly that comes in a 3 pack (of 10'x25' sheets) is the 3mil.  Like
	at Lechmere the clerk checked with a manager and was informed a
	retraction had not been given and they honored the mistake.

	BTW, what is the real price of that contractors table saw?!

    2x or more.

    Not sure of the list price, but I've seen notes in this file and the
    Woodworking file which talk about sale prices of ~$500 being a great
    deal. At $327, I think I got a pretty good deal...:^)

> As of 7PM last night, the Nashua and Salem, NH and the Tewksbury, MA
> stores had only the display models left. (and perhaps HQ or Sears would
> price-match based on the HD ad!)

	I don't believe Sears ever offered price matching?

	In any case, HQ's price match policy is probably like most others
	in that the item being price matched must actually be available
	(ie. in stock) at the store advertising it.  However with a printed
	ad with the sale valid dates on it, they usually don't call the
	store to verify (though with a gross mistake such as 1/2 off,
	they may be more likely to verify :-).  Never hurts to try however!

Yes, Sears offers price matching.

		Steve

    The Delta contractor's saw usually runs about $650 in Woodworker's
    Warehouse (I wonder if they price match) and some of the mail-order
    tool places. I just bought a used one that's about 9 years old and paid
    $300 (and I thought I got a pretty good deal). I also understand that
    once or twice a year Spag's puts them on sale for around $500.
    
    

Just came back from Home Deopt in Nashua.  They're sold out of 
the mispriced Delta contractor saws.

Not a problem, they said.  We'll give you the floor model for
$327 or you can pay now and we'll call you when the next shipment
arrives (in about 3 weeks).  They said they'll offer this deal
(with the Sunday circular) until the 12th.

Worked for me.

\John

    
    Is this a portable table saw?
    
    

I think you can buy wheels for it if you wanna race.

\John

No, it's not portable.


I just bought one in Nashua.  To be delivered in 1-2 weeks (or so I was told).

    I looked at the ad last night.  The saw that is mispriced is the Delta
    Contractors II Table Saw.  This is not the same saw as the original
    Delta Contractor's Saw.  The ad is misleading because it just says
    Contractor's Saw but if you check the model number, it's 36-630 and not
    34-444.  I've also been told that HD no longer sells the original
    Contractor's Saw.  They only sell the Contractor's II.
    
    If you are interested in opinions on the Contractor's II, see not 2005
    in NOTED::WOODWORKING_AND_TOOLS.
    
    							John    

dunno the full history of Contractors Saw I and Contractor's Saw, the
Return, but at least one piece of "information" I've read in these 
conferences seems wrong....

the CS 36-630 display model at HD has MADE IN USA written all over it.
 
\John

I was just in the home depot yesterday and decided to take a look at the CS II,
being an owner of the 'orginal' one.

bottom line - I didn't like it one bit!  on the surface it looked enough like
my saw but the fence was significantly underwhelming.  for my use, the thing 
that makes the contractors saw a first class tool is the ability to make micro
level adjustments of the fence by turning an adjusting knob.  there was no knob
on the CS II (at least not one that I could see on a quick inspection) and
hence you had to slide the fence into position and clamp it down. 

unless I've missed something, this makes this saw unusable for any fine detail
work.

oh yeah, one other thing.  on the original saw the front piece of the fence is
cast iron and the one on the CS II was something less.  it looks more like a
fence I'd expect to see on a SEARS table saw.

sorry if I'm coming across like a contractors saw snob, but that's just the way
I see it in this case.  8-)

-mark

	FWIW for those who live in Nashua (or nearby).  Rumor has it that
	the Rich's Plaza (exit 7) will be another Home Depot (I heard the
	rumor from an employee of the Nashua southend home depot).  He
	said they'll have to demo the building if they do build there
	because the walls/ceilings are not high enough.

	I was really hoping we'd get a competitor of HD in Nashua,
	but the same person told me that the HQ employees in Manchester
	have been given notice that their store is being closed.  Ie.
	even less competition in southern NH for HD :-(

re .94:

This is apparently true.  There is some discussion of this in the NEW_HAMPSHIRE
file.  Supposedly the former Rich's Plaza store will be smaller and only carry
specialized/popular items, the so. Nashua store will remain as the full line
store.

Home Depot is a wonderful store, but they are easily outdoing the dreaded
"build more until they fail" strategy that has made Wal Mart such a target
for suburban environmentalists.
The strategy is keep adding stores to a chain in a given area until one fails.
This proves that you are siphoning off as much business as a community can 
offer.  This is allegedly often used by franchisers who can make a sucker
take their bet that there's room for another Wendy's or True Value Hardware
or Thom McAn along <route number> in <your town>, but it's apparently
becoming the strategy of choice for some businesses with only company-owned 
outlets as well.
It would be a shame if HD killed all its competition and then died its own
death as well.

- tom]

    
    	Can anyone verify this rumor:  Home Depot is moving into the
    old Grossmans building in Gardner?  Even though Grossmans wasn't
    always the cheapest, it was only a stones throw away from my 
    house which is worth the cost.
    
    My findings:  There are always 2 trips to the store before the
    project is done! 
    					Sue

I don't think it's big enough, is it?  Home Depot usually has HUGE 
buildings and HUGE parking lots.

>    Even though Grossmans wasn't always the cheapest, 

    I thought that they were ALWAYS the cheapest...



    Quality. ;-)

    I'd love to see HD or HQ move in there I've been asking
    around and have yet to hear that rumor...plus what Skip
    said it is kinda small for the likes of those two.
    
    		Dean

*Two* trips?  I must be doing something wrong, I usually take three trips:

	(1) One trip to get what I think I need
	(2) One trip to get what I really need
	(3) One trip to get what I broke

    Jim,
    
    You forgot the fourth trip....
    
     (4) One trip to return what I didn't use 
    

Re: .102
>>    You forgot the fourth trip....
    
>>     (4) One trip to return what I didn't use 

Nah, that's what the box marked "plumbing" is for ;-).  It never seems to
save me a trip, though.

    
    I wish they'd get rid of all the HQ's and HD's!  They have never had
    anything I needed when I redid my bathroom, living room or office.  I
    ended up buying everything from a smaller lumber store in my home town.
    
    and when I just redid my house w/red ceder siding (pre-primed) nither
    store could help again!  I wanted to buy $2500 + of siding, and they
    didn't have any, and didn't know when they'd get any - so off to
    Lamson Lumber again - and sure enought they had it all, and for $1.09
    a foot (80 cents cheeper)
    
    

    Yea,  that's funny.
    
    I'm always in one of those stores and have learned that when I need
    some do hickies or what-cha-ma-call-its....   I end up at my old
    neighborhood Leblanc's Hardware.  For the life of me I've always
    wondered how they can have so much of the right stuff in such a 
    small place.
    
    But, you'll probably not beat the big stores for that basic building
    stuff.
    
    It's good to have both in town.
    
    Dick
        

    Well, those local lumber yards tend to deal with local contractors
    on a daily basis and if you are doing enough DIY stuff to your house
    you can probably get a decent discount and faster service on delivery
    etc...  We did.  We used Lamson Lumber in Hudson and got good serice
    when needed.  Go wherever it makes sense when you are adding to one's
    home utilizing DIY methods.

    I'll second the notion of checking out your local lumber yards.
    Competition is good, and you might get just as good a price.  I
    priced the PT lumber for my deck at both Home Depot and a local
    yard.  The Home Depot was a bit cheaper, but they had a delivery
    charge, and the local store didn't, so it ended up a wash.
    
    Just recently I ended up buying a large amount of insualtilation
    from another local place.  They had a much larger selection
    of sizes in stock than Home Depot.  They also delivered using 
    a boom truck, which I don't think Home Depot does.
    
    Vince
    

  
   Another plus for the local yards is that if you ask them a 
question, you usually get a knowledgeable answer, not a stab in 
the dark answer that I have frequently gotten at HD/HQ.