Cold Deal - Lowe's Fastners

[woodrail]

Not sure where this should go.......

I'm currently working on a project requiring some carriage bolts.

I was buying the lumber at lowes, so to save time, I went ahead and picked up some 3/8"x4" carriage bolts. These cost me about 80 cents each. I really didn't do the math, I wanted to get home. Kardashians were due to come on anytime.

Today at lunch I decided to go to Tractor Supply at lunch. Now I'm not sure if the quality is comparable, but the same size bolt was 8 for $1.60. Basically 25% of Lowe's.

I need to be more careful out there.

Side note, TSC had some really nice clearance prices on their Christmas stuff.

 

[Ign]

Like, ooh my gah, what happened on the Kardashians? Certainly peace, love, serenity and NO drama, yes??

Seriously, Lowe's and HD are THE WORST places to buy any fasteners. It's clear that they REALLY do not want to carry this stuff at all, but do so out of obligation. It's so half-*** and overpriced though, it wouldn't bother me if they did away with that aisle entirely. I haven't purchased a single fastener at HD in years.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My local fastener store was out of hot dipped galvanized carriage bolts of the length I needed. He gave my stainless steel more the same price !

 

[jlh92]

I've always bought hardware at my local Ace, or Fastenal if Ace doesn't have it. Lowe's and HD are also so much more expensive.

 

[rice rocket]

My local Ace has one of those big Hillman sets that has a good selection, but pricing is meh. Agreed that Tractor Supply has the best selection and prices. I was able to find all I need in high grades, with good coatings as well.

Yellow zinc chromate on everything just looks fancy.

 

[dv8customs]

I get all my hardware from TSC. Lately I have needed some 9/16x4 bolts and they don't sell them in bulk (jumps from 1/2 to 5/8) and they want almost $4 a piece. So far I have held off buying them.

 

[PeterT]

I agree, Lowes & HD are so overpriced on fasteners. I do TSC because they normally charge by the lb, mailorder if not in a hurry.
My best deal was a local hardware store was going out of business in Fremont Ohio. The proprietor was taking it hard I could tell, but he sold me several of the plastic trays with all sizes. Spent about $200 but haven't had to buy too many fasteners in the last 3 years. Pretty handy to have, I have a mini hardware store in my shop.

 

[2004.5cumminsman]

All big hardware stores rip you off. Go to Tacoma screw, Fastenal, fastners and you could buy a box of 20 3/8X4" Grade 5 for 8$.
Not grade 1 garbage

 

[sac02]

I agree overpriced. It pains me to buy from them for fasteners, but damn it's convenient - HD is 90 seconds from my house (I understand this is not the case for everyone, just saying it's my situation). Fastenal (who I love) is 20 minutes away. So if you count the value of my time and gas money - HD gets my money a lot of the time. eh.

 

[Wrenchinfool]

Depends on if I need it now, my local bolt joint went out of business

 

[Ign]

I get all my hardware from TSC. Lately I have needed some 9/16x4 bolts and they don't sell them in bulk (jumps from 1/2 to 5/8) and they want almost $4 a piece. So far I have held off buying them.

Do you have an Ace? Granted, their prices may not be great either but when my local True Value switched to an Ace the first thing I noticed was that 9/16" appeared. I used to use 'em for leaf spring eyes all the time, even though Ford technically used 14mm. Plenty close for a leaf spring!

 

[188slo50]

You buy hardware at lowes and hd for convenance not for the low price.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Peter t, post up a pic of your mini hardware store, We love pics....Thanks Richie

 

[elronin]

I agree overpriced. It pains me to buy from them for fasteners, but damn it's convenient - HD is 90 seconds from my house (I understand this is not the case for everyone, just saying it's my situation). Fastenal (who I love) is 20 minutes away. So if you count the value of my time and gas money - HD gets my money a lot of the time. eh.

Agree with you Lowe's and HD are 5 minutes away the nearest Tractor Supply is 98 miles away. Yea I love that place but only stop by on my way to Naples fl once in a while.

 

[woodrail]

I guess part of the "problem" is I have free same day home delivery from Lowe's. I call in before 4, and it's waiting for me when I get home at 5:30.

 

[hickfied]

I guess part of the "problem" is I have free same day home delivery from Lowe's. I call in before 4, and it's waiting for me when I get home at 5:30.

How do you manage that?!

 

[fourjeepin]

My best deal was a local hardware store was going out of business in Fremont Ohio. The proprietor was taking it hard I could tell, but he sold me several of the plastic trays with all sizes. Spent about $200 but haven't had to buy too many fasteners in the last 3 years. Pretty handy to have, I have a mini hardware store in my shop.

I did this also. Made a deal with the liquidator to buy all the bins ($800). Thought it was a smoking deal until he told me everything that was in them came with it! They rang up at $8k, but marked it down to $800. It took me two trips with my 16 foot trailer (8 pallets). It took me months to sort it all and cut open all of those little bags.

I kept most of the hardware, but sold off most of the bins. The attached shows 4 of the upper sections of the bins.

 

[nicksnothereman]

You buy hardware at lowes and hd for convenance not for the low price.

Actually nah...at retail that's probably the cheapest you get unless we're talking a pack of bolts somewhere. If you include the internet, well **** chinese hardware is everywhere on the internet just don't got a cool name like at lowe's and home depot. Everbuilt bros (that's the name at hd right?) hahahahaha. It's okay though.

 

[houptee]

http://cfasteners.com has awesome prices on the self drilling type screws similar to GRK or Spax screws free shipping no tax too.

 

[southalabama]

My wife questioned why I buy bulk in tractor supply. Last time we went I had her write down the prices on a couple galvanized bolts. I then showed her the price at lowes.

Enuf said.

But the idiots at tractor supply decided our store didn't need a galvanized bolt section. Wtf? So I buy those when I'm out of town.

 

[woodrail]

I guess part of the "problem" is I have free same day home delivery from Lowe's. I call in before 4, and it's waiting for me when I get home at 5:30.

How do you manage that?!

If I time it right, I get dinner and benefits also.......

(My wife has worked at Lowe's for over 20 years)

 

[reader2580]

The local hardware store doesn't even carry grade 2 nuts and bolts. They only carry grade 5 and grade 8. The grade 5 stuff is the same price as other stores charge for grade 2.

I never paid much attention to how much Home Depot charges for nuts and bolts. I didn't think it is much more than a hardware store. There is no TSC nearby to buy by the pound. I would love to buy the fasteners section of a hardware store going out of business.

 

[cagullett1]

For some reason I have never considered stopping by TSC for hardware. I normally just pick up what I'm needing at the time at HD since I'm in there so often. Dang.... That *****!

 

[FMC1959]

For some reason I have never considered stopping by TSC for hardware. I normally just pick up what I'm needing at the time at HD since I'm in there so often. Dang.... That *****!

Me too....next time I am in there, I will definitely pickup some fasteners, which I am always in need of and purchasing elsewhere. And like other, don't go to TSC often because it is a 45 minute drive.

 

[FMC1959]

Actually wanted to ask many of the Fastenal fans, I have been a couple of times but rarely buy as I find most items much more expensive than most other places.

For sheet metal & wood screws, nuts, bolts, washers, their prices are good? And I am referring to coming in off the street purchase, not setting up a company account.

 

[fred d]

I sell nuts and bolts for a living.
The prices at lowes are usually 4-10 times what they should be.
BUT
Keep in mind that the amount of theft is astronomical
And it all factors in

 

[48RON54]

I just pick up hardware wherever I am at, but usually at Ace

I never bothered to shop the price, but I'm betting I buy a whole lot less than most of you...

I'm usually just in there to pick up a few bolts and nuts

 

[188slo50]

Actually wanted to ask many of the Fastenal fans, I have been a couple of times but rarely buy as I find most items much more expensive than most other places.

For sheet metal & wood screws, nuts, bolts, washers, their prices are good? And I am referring to coming in off the street purchase, not setting up a company account.

The off the street price and commercial price are different, the main thing is stick with same salesman and he will start cutting you better deals. As anywhere the more you buy the more you save so if possible get a group of friends and everyone but at the same time.

 

[FMC1959]

Kinda-sorta what I expected. I probably don't go enough to cultivate that relationship, but good to know.