Home Improvement Big Box stores in the Valley (best)

[Potential_Landlord]

I'm ok with our home improvement stores. I wanted to emphasis the most important thing is to use quality and standard parts for which you can easily get replacement parts. NEVER EVER cheap out on parts... learned that lesson the hard way. Same for the cars... OEM quality only for me.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

My only experience with such places is with Home Depot and Lowe's. When we moved here in 1979 they didn't exist yet, at least not here. The biggest deal around was O'Malley's. I tend to prefer Lowe's over Home Depot, but the best bet when looking for something is to go where there are both of them near the same location. There are no big box stores in midtown so we have to go a distance to get to one. I head to the Lowe's at 75th Ave and McDowell, there is a Home Depot across the intersection. I think that the competition keeps both stores on their toes in terms of selection and customer service.

At the end of the day I prefer Ace Hardware when a big box store isn't needed.

I’m with you. My house is old and needs nearly constant little things fixed each weekend. If I can get what I need at Ace that’s where I’m going.

[DougStark]

You ask why I crowed about Menards? Here's some of why I did.

Not only is the selection on everything excellent, but they have, for example, porcelain 24"x24" pavers, loads of other landscape construction materials; a display of an insulated concrete form (if you want to build a house using that great technology); dozens and dozens of siding and roofing displays you can touch (not just pictures in a brochure; and believe it or not even some food items.

[Bondurant]

Originally Posted by DougStark

You ask why I crowed about Menards? Here's some of why I did.

Not only is the selection on everything excellent, but they have, for example, porcelain 24"x24" pavers, loads of other landscape construction materials; a display of an insulated concrete form (if you want to build a house using that great technology); dozens and dozens of siding and roofing displays you can touch (not just pictures in a brochure; and believe it or not even some food items.

But you have to endure the Menard's jingle when you shop.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by DougStark

You ask why I crowed about Menards? Here's some of why I did.

Not only is the selection on everything excellent, but they have, for example, porcelain 24"x24" pavers, loads of other landscape construction materials; a display of an insulated concrete form (if you want to build a house using that great technology); dozens and dozens of siding and roofing displays you can touch (not just pictures in a brochure; and believe it or not even some food items.

Okay...really just curious, I haven't ever been in one so nothing to go off of.

[wase4711]

very familiar with Menards, after many years of selling products to John Menard directly,(one of the biggest jerks I ever met, and I've sold to Walmart, Costco, Sears, et al) They screw their suppliers every chance they get, and, if you look very closely, ALOT of the major national brands are not sold there for this reason and others..
That being said, they do carry everything from Clothes to Candy, to rebar, and appliances, but for me, when it comes to "big box" home centers, they are the LAST choice I would ever make..If Ace Hardware was closer to me, that would be my choice, but I have Home Depot and Lowes 5 minutes away, so they usually win out..

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by wase4711

very familiar with Menards, after many years of selling products to John Menard directly,(one of the biggest jerks I ever met, and I've sold to Walmart, Costco, Sears, et al) They screw their suppliers every chance they get, and, if you look very closely, ALOT of the major national brands are not sold there for this reason and others..
That being said, they do carry everything from Clothes to Candy, to rebar, and appliances, but for me, when it comes to "big box" home centers, they are the LAST choice I would ever make..If Ace Hardware was closer to me, that would be my choice, but I have Home Depot and Lowes 5 minutes away, so they usually win out..

OK, I'm saddened to learn this (if it's true.) I despise bully bosses and business owners.

BTW, their little in-store jingle, "Save Big Money at Menards" didn't annoy me at all. I was too busy looking at everything to get annoyed.

Another thought: I find it interesting to visit other parts of the country to get a feel for different locales. On my trip, I noticed more overweight people there than in metro Phoenix overall, but they were generally friendly for the most part. I also realized I wouldn't want to live in a town of 24,000 population.

[wase4711]

well, he doesn't "lower" himself to interact with store employees, he just annoys his management team and vendors..He's a very wealthy man, and acts like he is better than you..Not unlike many very wealthy business owners, but he is near the top of jerkdom, IMO..

I could tell you stories of things he said and did to me and my company for years, but, it really doesn't matter anymore, I'm way past all that, but would never shop there unless it was an emergency.

[loriwass]

I prefer Lowe's too.

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by wase4711

well, he doesn't "lower" himself to interact with store employees, he just annoys his management team and vendors..He's a very wealthy man, and acts like he is better than you..Not unlike many very wealthy business owners, but he is near the top of jerkdom, IMO..

I could tell you stories of things he said and did to me and my company for years, but, it really doesn't matter anymore, I'm way past all that, but would never shop there unless it was an emergency.

You and I could chat about our experiences with "jerk bosses" and "arrogant business owners" over a beer sometime. My second to last supervisor was an arrogant "jerk". I seriously hope there is some sort of "karma" as payback/revenge for nasty people.