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I've never been to harbor freight but my brother gave me some tools from them.. so far so good. Dollar stores I guess are volume. the way I see it there's volume or margin. A high end place can have a high margin and be ok with lower volume (think Newbury st).
Volume? I have never see any of these discount stores full. I can't imagine them selling a tonn of stuff.
I've never been in either an Ocean State Job Lot or a Harbor Freight. I can't tell if they're more like a Ben Franklin or a Dollar General...or a Costco?
I mean job lot isn't bad for some things. You can probably make a decent gift basket of food. Would I buy top quality tools or av equipment from them? Heck no.But if you need lawn equipment, maybe a rug, bird seed yeah you can get it there. It isn't exactly a hardware store but it isn't a chain dept store like we knew it. I just don't think things are advertised that well and the floor is crap. Long ago I found out an old boss of mine worked there. From what me and my coworkers saw advertised is their department heads made as much as our cashiers. Their cashiers were barely above minimum wage. That's why I tended to wonder who the heck they'd attract to work there if it was 20-30% less than what we paid.
It's been our summer supply center for years, particularly for beach gear. They have a ton of perfectly adequate stuff for reasonable prices. Our beach chairs, umbrellas, blankets, table, cart, etc. are all from Ocean State. And if you have kids, it's THE spot to buy pool floats. Tons of options for $10-15. so you won't feel terrible when they inevitably pop.
I mean job lot isn't bad for some things. You can probably make a decent gift basket of food. Would I buy top quality tools or av equipment from them? Heck no.But if you need lawn equipment, maybe a rug, bird seed yeah you can get it there. It isn't exactly a hardware store but it isn't a chain dept store like we knew it. I just don't think things are advertised that well and the floor is crap. Long ago I found out an old boss of mine worked there. From what me and my coworkers saw advertised is their department heads made as much as our cashiers. Their cashiers were barely above minimum wage. That's why I tended to wonder who the heck they'd attract to work there if it was 20-30% less than what we paid.
It's an odd mix of what you can get, but it's our go-to for snacks, cereal, pasta, everyday spices, phone chargers, paper and cleaning products, laundry detergent, LED light bulbs (always on Crazy Deal), stationery and school supplies, art supplies (brushes, canvases, easels, and paint), tarps, bungee cords, batteries (often on Crazy Deal), small appliances... They have a 20V cordless drill on Crazy Deal this week. Also KN95 masks and toilet paper. If you don't mind being beholden to them for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, you can get a gazebo, full set of patio furniture, and a Japanese massage chair with a full Crazy Deal rebate.
But if you need lawn equipment, maybe a rug, bird seed yeah you can get it there. It isn't exactly a hardware store but it isn't a chain dept store like we knew it.
I've bought all of those things there, as well as patio furniture, barbecue accessories, mattress pads, kitchen stuff (roasting pans, storage containers), stationery supplies, a lot of hardware stuff, a ton of clothing (great deals on jackets, t-shirts, sweats, pajamas, socks, etc.).
We lived in Arlington, about halfway between the Bedford and Medford locations, but mostly went to the one in Nashua during our monthly tax-free big shopping day. We've been in Phoenix for 18 months now, still setting up our house, and every few days one of us says "We need a ___." and the other of us says "Well Ocean State has those cheap, ha ha."
Is it wrong that I haven't unsubscribed from their emails? I miss some people, I miss a couple restaurants, but I really, really miss Ocean State Job Lots.
It's been our summer supply center for years, particularly for beach gear. They have a ton of perfectly adequate stuff for reasonable prices. Our beach chairs, umbrellas, blankets, table, cart, etc. are all from Ocean State. And if you have kids, it's THE spot to buy pool floats. Tons of options for $10-15. so you won't feel terrible when they inevitably pop.
Not to mention school supplies, cleaning products/equipment, health and beauty products, and clothing closeouts from mainstream retailers. I've never bought much food there but I enjoy wandering through the aisles. A friend got a great deal on a faux Oriental runner for her front hallway last year. I've bought cheap sheets for the car so the dogs don't damage the upholstery.
Job Lot reminds me a lot of Building 19 except it's cleaner and more organized.
I've purchased some neat resistance bands over there for a nominal cost. I get my ice melt there in the winter for very cheap money. I get my weedkiller & grass seed on the cheap also. It's a useful store.
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