Math is hard!

Gogar · 10-12-2015, 08:12 AM

So, I was at the metric nut and bolt shop getting some weird size stuff for my bike.

This friendly ricer-type kid came in and tried to return a time-cert kit he bought a few days ago.

After explaining "no returns on tools" and a little discussion, it was obvious the kit had not been used at all.

So, the shop owner caved and agreed to take it back with a 20% restocking fee.

The kid said, "Well, I'll have to check and see how much that is."

hmmmmm.

I looked at his receipts on the counter, saw the $84 kit and - much like you - I said "$16.80."

He said "Oh. Awesome, thanks! How did you do that?"

what?
really?

Anyway, they had M10x1.50 nuts with 14mm OD. No stainless, though. Score!

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Women are like square roots.

If they're under 18, just do them in your head.

Gogar · 10-12-2015, 08:21 AM

I used to go to AAA tradin' Post on Broadway and . . . Quincy but it's slowly turning into just another Ace.

AAA Metric on Lipan and 1st is closer to my house anyway.

Jeff Higgins · 10-12-2015, 08:37 AM

On that note, whatever happened to the traditional hardware store? Seems to be a dying breed. We used to have a Northwest chain known as Ersnt Hardware that was fantastic. Gone the way of the dodo bird. We also had Pay'n'Pack (anyone remember the old Pride of Pay'n'Pack unlimited hydro from the early '70's?), which went out of business, to be bought up by Eagle Hardware, which was still outstanding. They went under too, though, only to be replaced by Lowe's - know locally as "Less of what Eagle Stocked". Purely a "home improvement" store. Our last hardware store is Tacoma Screw, which is not open on weekends - when we typically discover we need those kinds of things.

VincentVega · 10-12-2015, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Seems like the same calculation I do every time I eat in a restaurant. Maybe he doesn't eat out or tip?

Or maybe they use their phone for everything. No reason to think anymore.

I was talking to a ~22 yr old that moved to a new town over the summer. Turns out they use their gps for everything and have no idea where anything is that they havent specifically looked for. Same goes for simple math or anything you can find via google. Weird.

Quote:

On that note, whatever happened to the traditional hardware store?

Quote:

which is not open on weekends - when we typically discover we need those kinds of things.

x2

I started adding misc hardware to Mcmaster orders to build some stock. I still need something at the worst times.

wayner · 10-12-2015, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

On that note, whatever happened to the traditional hardware store?

Good question. I was wondering what happened to the Heathkit stores. My old TV is on the fritz and I wanted to build a new one...

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

On that note, whatever happened to the traditional hardware store? Seems to be a dying breed. We used to have a Northwest chain known as Ersnt Hardware that was fantastic. Gone the way of the dodo bird. We also had Pay'n'Pack (anyone remember the old Pride of Pay'n'Pack unlimited hydro from the early '70's?), which went out of business, to be bought up by Eagle Hardware, which was still outstanding. They went under too, though, only to be replaced by Lowe's - know locally as "Less of what Eagle Stocked". Purely a "home improvement" store. Our last hardware store is Tacoma Screw, which is not open on weekends - when we typically discover we need those kinds of things.

Unfortunately they are as hard to find as a buggy whip store.

The big box store mentality consumer killed them off. There was a great local brand of hardware store that always had a group of grey haired men sitting around the front desk drinking coffee. I could go in there with any project and one of the guys that was just hanging out could give rock solid advice. That store close 25 years ago and I still miss it, and that group of men.

Dantilla · 10-12-2015, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Ersnt Hardware.....
Pay'n'Pack.....
Eagle Hardware....., which was still outstanding. They went under too, though, only to be replaced by Lowe's.

Eagle didn't fail. They were bought by Lowe's, probably to get rid of the competition.

The story I heard- The founders of Earnst were dismayed at the lousy management after they sold, and founded Eagle, which was by far my favorite. I had lots of rentals, and was there regularly.

Had a guy renting from me who worked for Home Depot. Some of Home Depot's big wigs from headquarters came to the Northwest do discuss what to do about this new start-up that was eating their lunch in the local market. They were truly worried about Eagle.

Then Eagle was bought by Lowes.

Home Depot no longer worried. No need to improve. No need to do your best.

I used to hold my nose anytime I went to Home Depot. Now I hold my nose if I ever step into a Lowes. I especially dislike Lowe's, because instead of learning from Eagle's example, they just flushed them down the toilet.

ossiblue · 10-12-2015, 10:15 AM

The hardware store demise.

It goes hand-in-hand with the demise of true DIY customers. Let's face it, most of us on this board are dinosaurs who still understand and appreciate how things work and the quality (or lack of) in workmanship. Most things we still strive to fix are now simply replaced. Newer items not only don't have the quality to be repaired, they don't offer parts for the repair. The old hardware stores that we remember serviced customers and their products that are no longer "mainstream." They could not compete.

herr_oberst · 10-12-2015, 10:49 AM

I have 4 great hardware stores by me. Tacoma Screw, Parkrose Hardware, Winks and Hankins.

Winks and Hankins are old time, wood floor, everything from baler twine to panel fasteners.

Tacoma screw rarely leaves me stranded, but they aren't open weekends. Parkrose hardware is one of those independent True Value hardware stores that prides itself on it's massive selection of fasteners.

Lowes and Home Depot have their place, but I never expect to find anything but basic building supplies, and even then I sometimes come away disappointed.

Jeff Higgins · 10-12-2015, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Eagle didn't fail. They were bought by Lowe's, probably to get rid of the competition.

The story I heard- The founders of Earnst were dismayed at the lousy management after they sold, and founded Eagle, which was by far my favorite. I had lots of rentals, and was there regularly.

Had a guy renting from me who worked for Home Depot. Some of Home Depot's big wigs from headquarters came to the Northwest do discuss what to do about this new start-up that was eating their lunch in the local market. They were truly worried about Eagle.

Then Eagle was bought by Lowes.

Home Depot no longer worried. No need to improve. No need to do your best.

I used to hold my nose anytime I went to Home Depot. Now I hold my nose if I ever step into a Lowes. I especially dislike Lowe's, because instead of learning from Eagle's example, they just flushed them down the toilet.

I heard pretty much the same thing, but with the old Pay'n'Pack management being the ones who started Eagle.

Either way, I avoid Less of what Eagle Stocked and Home Depot like the plague. They never fail to disappoint.

tcar · 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

I used to go to AAA tradin' Post on Broadway and . . . Quincy but it's slowly turning into just another Ace.

AAA Metric on Lipan and 1st is closer to my house anyway.

Assumed you were at AAA from your story, Jeremy.

I always say that AAA is better than A&A (Tradin' Post). More A's.

Kid obviously went to DPS, and, dammit, math is hard.

SilberUrS6 · 10-12-2015, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

On that note, whatever happened to the traditional hardware store? Seems to be a dying breed. We used to have a Northwest chain known as Ersnt Hardware that was fantastic. Gone the way of the dodo bird. We also had Pay'n'Pack (anyone remember the old Pride of Pay'n'Pack unlimited hydro from the early '70's?), which went out of business, to be bought up by Eagle Hardware, which was still outstanding. They went under too, though, only to be replaced by Lowe's - know locally as "Less of what Eagle Stocked". Purely a "home improvement" store. Our last hardware store is Tacoma Screw, which is not open on weekends - when we typically discover we need those kinds of things.

Pay'n'Pak. And those hydros were good, but I preferred Atlas Van Lines. Or O Boy Oberto.

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

On a similar topic, I have an auto parts store near me that has been family-owned since forever. They have a very extensive selection of metric nuts, bolts, fasteners, etc. I always go there when I need something for the Porsche and they have it most of the time.

One day, I was picking up some motor oil and other things for my wife's car. I remembered that I needed a couple of steel allen-head bolts for the seat rails in the 944. I left my other items on the counter and went and found the bolts I needed. When I came back, one of the owners was tallying me up. I put the bolts on the counter and told him to include them as well. He pushed them back to me and said, "You are supposed to steal them. That's what everyone else does".