First time at Menard's. What should I look for?

[kngelv]

I'm getting ready to build a workbench that incorporates two 56" tool boxes. I currently have a Harbor Freight one and am debating whether to buy another or switch to the new Masterforce. I'd really like blue cabinets and the HF's are red only. I'm heading to the nearest Menard's (Toledo, Ohio) early tomorrow to take a hands-on look at the Masterforce boxes. Are there any other Menard's specific items worth looking at? Thanks.

James

 

[daveroy]

Hate to break it to you , but the masterforce boxes are green.

Edit: you may want to call ahead if you are looking for the 56" boxes, they don't have anything larger than the 42" on the floor here at my local store.

 

[Rated ///M]

you can special order blue or red boxes from Menards.. just ask!

 

[kngelv]

Hate to break it to you , but the masterforce boxes are green.

Edit: you may want to call ahead if you are looking for the 56" boxes, they don't have anything larger than the 42" on the floor here at my local store.

The new ones are blue, green, or black

 

[Holt]

Hate to break it to you , but the masterforce boxes are green.

In the store near me they only sell green but you can special order the blue one.

 

[lutter94]

http://www.menards.com/main/landing-pages/landing-pagesvendor/masterforce-tool-storage/c-12199.htm

red too......

the new ones with the redesigned latch are really nice. Pretty reasonable too.

 

[stonemason80]

Hold out for them to go on sale, they always do. Love my 46" Masterforce, much sturdier than my old craftsman boxes. Also recently picked up a set of Masterforce groove joint pliers on sale, very impressed with them. I like them better then my old Channel Locks.
The key is to scope out there weekly sales , everything I've needed always ends up on sale at barnyards!

 

[Graham08]

Are there any other Menard's specific items worth looking at?

Yes, the Masterforce levels that are made in Germany. I'm pretty sure they're the older style Stabila level painted silver instead of yellow. I have three different sizes, way cheaper than "real" Stabila's.

 

[oilslick]

My local menards has flexzilla hose and reels on sale for cheeeeep.

 

[kngelv]

I liked the layout of the store. Found a couple of cool things. Would frequent one if it was closer. That said . . . I did not like the Masterforce boxes at all. Not sure why people rave about them. The HF boxes are much nicer in my opinion.

James

 

[crewchief888]

every time i walk into a menards, the 1st thing i look for is the exit door...

i'd rather take a trip to the dentist than go to menards....

 

[justanengineer]

One thing that always impresses me at Menards is the size of the tool clearance rack and quality of merchandise on it. Unlike Lowe's and HD whose clearance racks seems to be mostly junk, Menards usually has a nice selection of power tools and accessories. I rarely buy off of it (hardly buy new), but when I do its well worth it.

Overall, I find Menards to be larger, cleaner, better stocked, and generally has lower prices than Lowe's or HD for the exact same brand/product.

 

[purplezr2]

One thing that always impresses me at Menards is the size of the tool clearance rack and quality of merchandise on it. Unlike Lowe's and HD whose clearance racks seems to be mostly junk, Menards usually has a nice selection of power tools and accessories. I rarely buy off of it (hardly buy new), but when I do its well worth it.

Overall, I find Menards to be larger, cleaner, better stocked, and generally has lower prices than Lowe's or HD for the exact same brand/product.

Lots of stuff is regular price, take the pink/yellow/green/blue tag off and look under it, the regular price will be under the tag and typically it is the same price.

 

[SMKS]

I definitely like Menards more than HD or Lowe's.

If you're going to Menards, you should buy this mini pick set for only $5.99.
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...-precision-hook-pick-set/p-1502767-c-9158.htm

They're rebranded Pratt-Reads and they're made in the USA. I have both the PR and Masterforce version and they're very nice, especially considering the price. These are my favorite mini picks that I've used.

 

[fdtrucks]

The cashier's at my local Menards are always worth looking at.

 

[kert]

The cashier's at my local Menards are always worth looking at.

+one

 

[ishiboo]

My local menards has flexzilla hose and reels on sale for cheeeeep.

They're $5 off right now, not a particularly big sale. Menards has good prices all the time though.

Yes, the Masterforce levels that are made in Germany. I'm pretty sure they're the older style Stabila level painted silver instead of yellow. I have three different sizes, way cheaper than "real" Stabila's.

Great value, though for construction beatings I find the Empire Made in USA levels to be a good value.

Lots of stuff is regular price, take the pink/yellow/green/blue tag off and look under it, the regular price will be under the tag and typically it is the same price.

I have yet to see Menards put a sale price tag over an item with the same price... if you've seen that, it was likely a mistake. Menards advertises very few things at regular price, versus other stores that regularly have "everyday low prices" or "as advertised" tags with the same price as always. You may have an odd store - everyone I have been to (and I shop at LOTS of Menards stores) does not do this.

Some things to note though. Menards uses colored price tags for sales, with the exception of red tags. Red tags may mean either an item is clearanced and not going to be stocked/sold any more once it's gone, OR it could be that they are price matching another store. Menards has a 110 or 111% (I forget) price match policy - and their associates job is to make sure they already are matching competitors sale prices. When a customer finds a lower price elsewhere and Menards price matches, this comes out of employee bonuses.

I definitely like Menards more than HD or Lowe's.

If you're going to Menards, you should buy this mini pick set for only $5.99.
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...-precision-hook-pick-set/p-1502767-c-9158.htm

They're rebranded Pratt-Reads and they're made in the USA. I have both the PR and Masterforce version and they're very nice, especially considering the price. These are my favorite mini picks that I've used.

All of the MasterForce screwdrivers are rebranded Pratt Reads... and a good value. There's a 5-piece set (one being a stupid 4-way) on clearance for $4.99 right now.

The cashier's at my local Menards are always worth looking at.

Definitely

I'm getting ready to build a workbench that incorporates two 56" tool boxes. I currently have a Harbor Freight one and am debating whether to buy another or switch to the new Masterforce. I'd really like blue cabinets and the HF's are red only. I'm heading to the nearest Menard's (Toledo, Ohio) early tomorrow to take a hands-on look at the Masterforce boxes. Are there any other Menard's specific items worth looking at? Thanks.

James

MasterForce screwdrivers are rebranded Pratt-Read... great value. MasterForce handtools like wrenches/socket/ratchets/etc. are Danaher Made in USA. Levels are Stabila as said above.

I am pretty sure the MasterForce 12v tools are built by Bosch with similar specs as their 12v tools, and the MasterForce table saw with the "gravity rise look-a-like stand" is a slightly cheapened (and much cheaper) version of the venerable Bosch 4100.

Menards has some fantastic everyday prices, and varying sales. Some sales are GREAT, some are almost nothing off.

 

[TwoInch]

Lots of stuff is regular price, take the pink/yellow/green/blue tag off and look under it, the regular price will be under the tag and typically it is the same price.

far from the truth.


there have been occasions where the price is almost the same, but almost always, it is at good discount. i have been lifting those tags for years every time i go to menards, which is quite a lot.

green tags are generally less of a discount, but still decent sometimes.

just picked up 50 red shop rags for like $4. the 12 pack is generally $3 and some change.

 

[ishiboo]

far from the truth.


there have been occasions where the price is almost the same, but almost always, it is at good discount. i have been lifting those tags for years every time i go to menards, which is quite a lot.

green tags are generally less of a discount, but still decent sometimes.

just picked up 50 red shop rags for like $4. the 12 pack is generally $3 and some change.

Agreed. But... other than red... colors have nothing to do with how "good" the sale is going to be. Menards simply uses the colors to differentiate sales... i.e. they often have multiple sales going at once, each with different items and expiring at different times. All the items from the first sale will be given one color for price tags and signs, the second sale will get its own color.

 

[diggerrick]

Was just at the Marion, Ohio store tonight. Bought a bunch of stuff for the dog we adopted from the Humane Society that we are bringing home tomorrow.I also picked up an Ohio State hoodie marked down to $10 for my wife. In the early spring/summer they usually have a big t-shirt sale for like $1.99 or $2.99 in all kinds of solid colors, with and without the Menards logo (I've never bought one with). I like to stock up - I'm wearing one right now.

One thing I really like about the 41" Masterforce box is the pullout shelf on the bottom of the top cabinet.

 

[srmofo]

My only advice when buying from menards is to not buy anything you cant carry from the store immediately. If you chose to ignore my advice, inspect everything very closely when you pick it up before walking out the doors.

I also suggest using a credit card so you have some protection. They tried to shaft me pretty hard on damaged trusses (someone stuck a tow motor fork through 5 of the upper chords), and they delivered a friends barn in the wrong color. They were not supposed to deliver it without signature, but they didnt call when it was on its way so he wasnt home. The driver thought it was a good idea to dump it right in front of his attached garage, blocking both doors. Luckily he had equipment so he was able to move it out of the way pretty easily but he was livid, and he damn near had to get a lawyer involved to get them to recover their property and ship him the correct stuff. It took him several months to get the situation handled. He paid with a check as did I. They had their cash and there wasnt much we could do about it besides try to work with them.

 

[diggerrick]

^^^
I haven't had nearly such bad experiences. We have had a couple issues that we couldn't get resolved at the store level, but once corporate was notified they were taken care of immediately.

Does your Menards have their own delivery service, or do they contract it out?

One of my favorite Menards features is the receipt kiosk. You can look up and print out any receipt you paid for with check or credit card for the past two years (you do have to have your credit card/checking account number with you). Makes returns and warranty claims much easier - I've even printed some out just for our tax records.

 

[koditten]

The most important thing to take with you is ear plugs! They play that fuc*in' jingle so much it is stuck in your head for days!

Other than that, if you are buying lumber only, it is a pain in the ***. You can only enter at one side of the store and exit the oposite end, then you get to walk back to your car and drive to the lumber yard. I hate that set up. I understand the reasoning, to reduce shoplifting, but seriously, who steals lumber from a home store?

Unfortunately, they seem to have the best looking lumber and good prices. It doesn't leave you a lot of choices. You have to save money and this is a good way to do it.

Have fun, there is lots of neat **** there for garage addicts to enjoy. Lots of the stuff is ****, so know what you want if you are buying tools.

KO

 

[HoosierBuddy]

One weird thing about our Menards is the security leaving the lumber yard. They don't use regular employees, it's some sort of "security firm" manning the checkout station.

I went in one time, loaded up my stuff and headed out and when they checked my truck they found an item not on my receipt. It was an item I'd bought on an earlier trip and hadn't gotten out of the truck yet.

It was no big deal. They asked for an explanation, I gave it, they said "have a nice day". But it struck me that those SOB's are really doing the job, as opposed to anywhere else I've ever visited a lumber yard in my life.

Bloomington Indiana store...BTW if anyone cares.

Phil

 

[diggerrick]

Other than that, if you are buying lumber only, it is a pain in the ***. You can only enter at one side of the store and exit the oposite end, then you get to walk back to your car and drive to the lumber yard. I hate that set up. I understand the reasoning, to reduce shoplifting, but seriously, who steals lumber from a home store?

My wife hates it, but many of us park and enter on the exit side unless we have a return. I drop her off at "the entrance" and park at "my entrance".

 

[TwoInch]

Agreed. But... other than red... colors have nothing to do with how "good" the sale is going to be. Menards simply uses the colors to differentiate sales... i.e. they often have multiple sales going at once, each with different items and expiring at different times. All the items from the first sale will be given one color for price tags and signs, the second sale will get its own color.

i only see green or red at my local menards. regular tags are white.