OSH(Orchard Supply Hardware)

[stamcon]

I don't know if this going on at all the stores, but my local South San Francisco store has a great clearance sale going on. I just bought a bunch of Bosch carbide tipped router bits for $5 each. They had a wooden crate of straight bits, round over, ogee, 45*, beading, flush cutting w/bearing,... They also have Craftsman ½" drive impact sockets(deep and shallow)and extensions for $1 each. I bought a bunch of Marathon 7¼"x 24T blades, $5 for a twin pack. Some of the sale stuff is cheap import, but they have a lot of good stuff too!

I went in for a ¼" pipe nipple and a coupling, walked out with 3 large bags of goodies.

Steve

[philthegreek]

Steve,
I think there is a 12 step program for that ;-)

Phil

[kfc510]

Thanks for the tip, I could use a bunch of 7 1/4 blades, I'll check my local OSH out.

I greatly prefer OSH to HD or Lowes. (Not that it doesn't have it's drawbacks).

kevin

[GregBradley]

I believe they are continuing to close some stores, trying to survive. The one local to me closed down 2 years ago.

They kept dropping their prices week by week. At the end I bought two shopping carts full, probably 200 pounds of Spax Hardware and copper plumbing fittings at 70% off. The Spax hardware was actually priced well at their regular prices.

Their normal prices on tools are a bit high. Most flew out the door at 25% off their normal price, which was still WAY over the local tool suppliers sale prices.

I was sorry to see them go as they were nice for some items, where HD and Lowes are mostly useless.

[kfc510]

Yeah, what IS going on with OSH?

Sears bought them then spun it off and it went public was last I heard. Shares weren't doing too well. Is there more info?

[philthegreek]

Maybe they should take some lessons from Ring's End Lumber in CT. They have weathered the storms of the recession and the big box banditos. They are more expensive that the boxes on almost everything, but they really push their customer service and have very professional people dealing with clientele. They cater to the pros with lots of opportunities for continued training, and Gary Katz Roadshow. They host NARI meetings and offer many free seminars and policy meet&greet's with state reps, OSHA reps, EPA reps, etc.
They are actually expanding to 3 more locations. Since your OSH is really not any competition for them, maybe you could drop a hint and they could link up. Sort of like the construction round table idea.

Phil

[kfc510]

I don't think OSH is ready to step up professionally like that.

They're very homeowner-oriented overall, with a few niche areas that I'll go to them for (as well as general hardware store stuff). I'll head there for 10-packs of copper fittings, abs or pvc supplies, and 60# sacks of concrete seem to be on sale for $2.69 quite often. But you're not buying lumber there, never mind doors and windows.

I don't know if they're struggling or not, it just has a transitional feel when you're in there.