Menard's Deals Permathread!

[bdresch]

Looks like Masterforce sockets are 15% off if anyone is in need of a low cost US made socket.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Wow, that's some serious research. Thanks for sharing!

Welcome here Coral ! Excellent post on the compressor options. - Paul

 

[Parrothead]

Those are CHINESE MADE JUNK, not USA,, at least the ones in my store are MADE IN CHINA. The only 12-3 cords on sale, were a few CHINESE models that looked like ****. The 100' 12-3 USA was over $75

Well, we'll see what I am given tomorrow when I go for my in store pick up. The link I provided has MADE IN USA RIGHT IN THE PICTURE. Not hard to see either. If they're Chinese, they're still a decent deal for $36 for 100' extension cord.

The Smart Electrictian ones I have were all made in USA and a great deal when on sale. I've been using them awhile now. If still USA, those are real nice. - Paul

The extension cords on sale are USA MADE for the record. I picked up the 50' and 100' today. There were more on the shelf. It appears that certain models were not USA made, but these indeed are.

 

[PeterT]

The extension cords on sale are USA MADE for the record. I picked up the 50' and 100' today. There were more on the shelf. It appears that certain models were not USA made, but these indeed are.

I guess it was just the store in Oregon Ohio, the cord section was a mess and the only ones on sale said made in china. I even price checked the made in USA 12-3 cords and none of them rang up on sale. Oh well, my loss.

 

[boomerangg22]

why to much to read coralnut.
just look for the ones that say Made in the USA

 

[PeterT]

*** BAIT AND SWITCH WARNING ***

> USA MADE for the record.

Well, No. Whether or not the cord that you are offered under that SKU number is USA MADE or Chinese depends entirely upon which store you go to, and which manufacturer's product they have assigned to that in-house SKU. It turns out that as a matter of policy, individual Menards stores will freely substitute other manufacturers products for the in-house SKU, so that what you see in the Internet ads and what you're actually able to purchase in the store may not be the same. IMO this amounts to nothing less than a Bait & Switch marketing tactic, which is illegal in my state.

> just the store in Oregon, Ohio

While there may be stores that assign the Smart Electrician 12/3x100' cord to that same SKU that's used on the web site, my local Menards (Merrillville, Indiana) assigned a cheap Chinese POS to that SKU. They had Smart Electrician 12/3x100' yellow lighted cords in-stock, but they weren't willing to sell me a Smart Electrician product at their advertised price.

After getting nowhere with the clerks, who responded with the predictable, "that's not what the computer says," I asked for the manager. They phoned the manager, and he turned me down based upon the clerk's half-assed and factually incorrect presentation of the situation over the phone. I asked for the store manager to actually come to the department so that I could talk to him. When he arrived he was a total know-nothing. Basically, they all hid behind blaming it on the computer.

Fortunately I had brought in a printout of the web page ad located here:

http://www.menards.com/main/home-de...ed-yellow-extension-cord/p-2387383-c-6410.htm

The web page clearly identified the part as "Smart Electrician 12-3, 100', 1 Outlet Outdoor Lighted Yellow Extension Cord." The site further identified the product as Manufacturer's model # 727-123100SEL70, to which Menards had assigned SKU: 3700190. I showed the store manager the only Smart Electrician branded cord in the store that matched the description, which had an $86 price tag on it. The store manager told me, "There's no way I'm going to sell you an $86 cord for $36." I said, "OK, but this is really the same product as the $70 cord that's on sale for $36. Just sell me the $70 cord for the advertised sale price of $36. This cord that your in-house price has marked up to $86 is the exact same product -- look at the technical description."

He didn't want to be confused by facts.

It turns out that the reason that some people are having problems is because the "Smart Electrician 12-3, 100', 1 Outlet Outdoor Lighted Yellow Extension Cord," model # 727-123100SEL70, which retails for $70, is being repackaged with a new model number as a "Smart Electrician Pro 12-3, 100', Contractor Grade, 1 Outlet Outdoor Lighted Yellow Extension Cord" at a higher retail price of $86, even though the actual product is the same. That's right, the product hasn't changed at all -- it's still the same 12/3 SJTW yellow lighted cord that is advertised on-sale for $36 -- but with the addition of the words "Pro" and "Contractor Grade" to the new packaging, they now want to increase the retail price from $70 to $86.

If you go by the manufacturer's part number, the advertised product is not on the shelves. The closest thing you'll find is a "Smart Electrician Pro 12-3, 100', Contractor Grade, 1 Outlet Outdoor Lighted Yellow Extension Cord." The manufacturer's model number and the Menards SKU are both different, even though the specifications of the cord are identical to what's offered on-sale: both are 12/3 SJTW lighted yellow cords. Only the paper band wrapper is different, and the distinguishing difference is that the new wrapper has a new model number, and up-sells the exact same product as "Pro" and "Contractor Grade", which results in an increase of the list price from $69.97 to $86.00 for the exact same cord with a different cardboard band around it.

If you search by SKU # 3700190 at my local Menards store, you'll find that the in-store SKU has been re-assigned from Smart Electrician model # 727-123100SEL70 to a Chinese piece of garbage with a flimsy thin plastic jacket.

I asked the store manager why that SKU would be assigned to a high-quality American Made product in the advertisement, but re-assigned to a low-quality Chinese POS on the store shelves. He told me that Menards substitutes different products for the same SKU all the time, and that the SKU on the web site may have nothing to do with the SKU in-store.

I told him that that was a shady business practice, which amounted to bait and switch, which is illegal. Watch out for being ripped-off at your local Menards.

Thanks for the detailed reply coralnut,, and I believe they did the same SKU switch in my store. 'cheap Chinese POS" is what they had. The cord jacket was not even tight, it was not much more than masking tape wrapped around some wires. The things were all scuffed up, I wouldn't have given em $5 for that chinese POS. I didn't bother asking the two people in the electrical dept, neither of them cares about the customer.

 

[77Ford]

After all this undercover work I want to go on record that I will still shop at Menards and "Save Big Money".....some of you may need to get a hobby!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[PeterT]

After all this undercover work I want to go on record that I will still shop at Menards and "Save Big Money".....some of you may need to get a hobby!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Do what you need to do, and I will do the same.

 

[77Ford]

Do what you need to do, and I will do the same.

Some bodies got there ******* in a bunch......lol


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[boomerangg22]

what you advise is impossible. of course you'd already know that if you bothered to read, but since you didn't, you don't.

your right it was to boring.

 

[reader2580]

Oh here, I found some.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Wire-50-...tension-Cord-Lighted-Pow-R-Block/281726918404

More here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Wire-50-...tension-Cord-Lighted-Pow-R-Block/151651965611

What I really should have said is I want a Made in USA cord I can get at Menards or Home Depot. If Menards sold one they would probably put it on sale from time to time at a much better price. I get gift cards for Home Depot and Menards fairly often through my credit card rewards.

I'll probably end up ordering one online at some point.

 

[Parrothead]

what you advise is impossible. of course you'd already know that if you bothered to read, but since you didn't, you don't.

Oh, the irony. Did the USA cord your tried to buy match THE MODEL #, or just the SKU? Without BOTH, you're barking up the wrong tree. Menards listed the product with both numbers, and if the product you tried to have them price match wasn't exactly the same, they had no reason to do so. Did you ever think the reason for the sale was to get rid of this version and move the product into two different price points? I could get into all the specifics as to why retailers do this, but I don't think it would help.

 

[electronics4life]

I was able to pick up one 100' USA made and one 50' USA made extension cord in Columbus OH. I really wanted three of the 50' cords, but no store close to me had that quantity in stock.

The extension cords look to be GREAT quality. I had a $5 off $50 coupon kicking around which pretty much took care of the tax.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Interesting discussion going on the extension cords. Menards certainly does change out COO quite often on things, so I think it is quite possible multiple posters here can be right in fact or mostly right. Some stores may have one thing and some another. I like to just check in the store itself the products to verify COO when I care about that.

Remember guys, we are all brothers on this journey, so just like brothers, we may not always agree or quibble sometimes, but at the end of the day, we are brothers, so get along and find things to agree on like good brothers do. We can all learn from each other - I do it daily, but sometimes it is painful to get through my thick skull !

What I'm learning this father's day weekend is that being a dad is the greatest thing ever, but also a really hard thing to do well, day after day for life! Especially when they are 3 and a boy! - Paul

 

[markbinwi]

Interesting discussion going on the extension cords. Menards certainly does change out COO quite often on things, so I think it is quite possible multiple posters here can be right in fact or mostly right. Some stores may have one thing and some another. I like to just check in the store itself the products to verify COO when I care about that.

Remember guys, we are all brothers on this journey, so just like brothers, we may not always agree or quibble sometimes, but at the end of the day, we are brothers, so get along and find things to agree on like good brothers do. We can all learn from each other - I do it daily, but sometimes it is painful to get through my thick skull !

What I'm learning this father's day weekend is that being a dad is the greatest thing ever, but also a really hard thing to do well, day after day for life! Especially when they are 3 and a boy! - Paul

Amen Brother, and happy Fathers Day!

 

[PeterT]

Chinese made POS

 

[turbodave]

Grabbed a couple of 50' cords from my store, both were nice looking made in USA cords. The 100' cords on the shelf next to them where also on clearance, but they were crappier looking made in china ones. It's pretty much a mixed bag as to what the stores have so best to go in and look for yourself.

Also they had the smaller red stackable nut/bolt bins on sale for 44c each. Picked a few up to help sort out hardware in my vidmar cabinet drawers.

 

[cadavjo]

Grabbed a couple of 50' cords from my store, both were nice looking made in USA cords. The 100' cords on the shelf next to them where also on clearance, but they were crappier looking made in china ones. It's pretty much a mixed bag as to what the stores have so best to go in and look for yourself.

Also they had the smaller red stackable nut/bolt bins on sale for 44c each. Picked a few up to help sort out hardware in my vidmar cabinet drawers.

They used to give those bins away after rebate, but they haven't for a couple months now. I was able to get 100 for free through their various rebate offerings, but wouldn't mind another 100.

 

[MagnumForce]

It's 36 bucks, good grief you guys ***** a lot.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there! - Paul

 

[PeterT]

*** Boredom Warning ***

Smart Electrician Extension Cord Update:

The manager that I spoke to at my local Menards store on Friday morning promised to call somebody upstream in the Menards distribution channel to see if it was possible for them to have the Smart Electrician 727-123100SEL70 shipped to my local store. If so, he offered to special order that product for me if I paid for it in advance. While I waited for him to call me back, I also tried doing a web order with pickup at my local store, but that option was only available if I were willing to order a minimum quantity of 6. I didn't want to go that route.

I got a call back Friday night just before closing from somebody else at my local Menards store. She reported that it was not going to be possible to have that item delivered to my store by special order, apparently the system wouldn't allow it. She said that the only way that I would be able to get the USA-made product would be to drive to another Menards store that had it in stock. She told me that the chinese substitute was being stocked under the applicable SKU at every store in my region except one, and that only the Griffith (Gary), Indiana store had the advertised product in-stock under the applicable SKU. I was told that “several” items were in inventory at the Griffith store, so I called the store to ask them to put one on hold overnight.

I thought it was interesting that the actual Made in America product was only being stocked in one store, which happened to be in the most economically depressed area in the region, where I thought it would be unlikely to sell in any significant volume -- while the chinese substitute was apparently being stocked at every other store, all of which happened to be in more economically stable or affluent areas that I thought would have much higher inventory turnover. I'm not trying to allege any nefarious intent, but one could imagine a scenario where a retail chain might intend to strategically deploy inventory in order to sell a large volume of a cheap product and a smaller numbers of an expensive product, at the same price, in order to maximize profit and minimize losses.

The take home point of all of this is that if you go to a Menards store and you can't find the Made in USA cord that they've advertised, don't walk away disappointed. And don't go to the attendant in the Electrical/Lighting department to ask for help. Ask for the store manager. Give them the details and tell them that you want the advertised product, and identify it by the manufacturer's model number, not the in-store SKU. If your local Menards is anything like mine, then someone will have the ability to find the product that you want and tell you which store might have it. Based on my experience, if you're only finding the chinese cord in your local Menards, it might be possible that there is a store in your region that actually has the product you want, you just have to find it.

In my case the local manager at my Menards store was high enough on the totem pole to be helful to me in finding the part that I wanted, but low enough on the totem pole that he couldn't explain why the company might be offering two different types of products at different stores under the same SKU, or why these types of substitutions are occurring. That kind of strategic marketing occurs at a higher level. You can draw your own conclusions about whether this sort of thing is purposeful or coincidental.

I'm sure this isn't the first time old Menards pulled the bait and switch, and they of all retail stores should know COO count to most shoppers, why else to they run a MADE IN USA sale 2 or 3 times per year.
You can save big money at Menards, but you gotta watch them.

 

[PeterT]

you wouldn't believe the neighborhood that i had to go through to get to the store that had the right extension cord. the store was on a main road, less than a mile off of the interstate. while i drove less than a mile, i passed several abandoned houses that had been burned to the ground with only the charred remains left standing. the menards store itself wasn't free-standing like every other Menards i've seen. it was a rented space in a strip mall, in a region full of abandoned burned-out buildings. this isn't exactly a locale in which I think customers would place much emphasis on COO.

I grew up in the region, Hobart. I delivered produce to a place in Gary when I was a late teenager on Grant street, I think it was called Zeke's produce.
Either way, that isn't the prettiest part of the USA

 

[MNRZR]

Is it possible that the USA cords are old stock and the newer stock is now Chinese? Happens quite a bit, unfortunately.

 

[bucksnort59]

Sue em over a few bucks? Must have been talking to an amberlamps chaser that had too many slam drinks.

 

[ishiboo]

The following is not a statement of facts, it's just an opinion: If this were just a case of new-stock-replacing-old-stock, then: A) the ads should be clear, not intentionally inaccurate or misleading, and any substitution of another product under the same SKU should be clearly disclosed to the customer. Anything less amounts to dishonesty. The ads have no business advertising "Smart Electrician" and "Made in USA" at a price point designed to lure-in customers, when the merchandise being shipped to stores is an entirely different product from china that ends up masquerading as the USA-made product under the same SKU; B) It appears that Smart Electrician USA-made products are NOT being replaced by chinese **** -- they continue to be sold right beside it. There are newest stock "Smart Electrician Pro" cords being sold at the $86 price point right beside the china **** that is being sold as a replacement for the "Smart Electrician" product under it's SKU at it's advertised price.. IMO this is clearly bait and switch, and nothing less than a purposeful scam. Had I not been extremely careful as I was shopping, I could have easily bought something other than what I want to Menards to buy. That's the whole idea behind bait and switch, isn't it? To take advantage of, and to defraud the unwary shopper?

I have never seen anyone get so worked up over an extension cord... holy **** man. This is sad!

Smart Electrician is Menards brand. Menards does not manufacture extension cords. (unlike most other retail outfits with house brands, Menards DOES manufacture certain things under the MasterForce brand.) They simply contract out to have it made, have the Smart Electrician label slapped on it and sell it.

Specs, COOs, etc. can change on products... it happens. It can have the exact same model/sku/etc. and be made by multiple suppliers. Sometimes relatively frequently. In the photo on the website, you see Made in USA... unfortunately that's not a guarantee that the product will look EXACTLY like that. The COO is not in the specs. Perhaps there were always varying COOs, perhaps it changed recently... either way, it's pretty apparent that the photo is simply wrong. Big deal.

There's no guarantee that Made in China replaced USA, however both "sold right beside it" has nothing to do with whether or not it's been changed. It is a different product under the same SKU, so the stock has the possibility of being mixed. There could still be USA and China orders coming in before it goes all China, or who knows. Or cares.

I was at a cocktail party last night where I talked to an attorney.

Sounds like you had a fun weekend

I asked whether this type of situation constituted retail fraud or an illegal bait and switch. I won't go into his complete response, but he did use the words, "small claims" and "slam dunk." That's one guy's opinion anyway.

R
O
F
L

Was he drunk, or just the worst attorney ever?

A photo was wrong. Maybe the ad said Made in USA, I don't now. Either way it's a minor unintentional mistake. It happens. ALL THE TIME. Pricing mistakes, errors, omissions, etc. Get over it. It wasn't retail fraud or anything illegal.

You could go spend money to sue. You might even win... what, the opportunity to buy the Made in USA version of the cord? I would hope you have better things to do with your time, but saddened by the fact that you might not, judging from these posts.

 

[PeterT]

I'm taking them to small claims court, its bait and switch.

 

[MagnumForce]

You people are insane

 

[JustinS]

suing over extension cords lol.

 

[Tellingthem]

Before this thread gets derailed much further can we maybe take talks of lawsuits and whatnot to another thread and leave this one for deals?

 

[MNRZR]

I'm taking them to small claims court, its bait and switch.

I wish I had your kind of free time!




Anyone notice the disclaimer at the bottom of every product page?

 

[PeterT]

I wish I had your kind of free time!




Anyone notice the disclaimer at the bottom of every product page?

Wishing won't get you far.

I called my BIL,, he is an attorney and specializes in deceptive trade practices. He looked at the add, and I showed him the video I shot in store, he said PIECE OF CAKE.

 

[MagnumForce]

Still insane

 

[ishiboo]

Wishing won't get you far.

I called my BIL,, he is an attorney and specializes in deceptive trade practices. He looked at the add, and I showed him the video I shot in store, he said PIECE OF CAKE.

Wow.

Okay, let's make a job out of this then, as I can find tons of mistakes in those circulars. In fact, the company that makes them puts all of the corrections in a list, so we can just go through the list and sue for every mistake there is.

Plus as we know from Sears ordering by COO, it'll be like shooting fish in a bucket if we go after Sears!

 

[lordy123]

Still insane

So, we should just let stores continue illegal marketing practices?

I like Menards, the true value in my town closes at 5 or 6pm depending on what day it is, and that simply doesn't work with my work schedule. Menards has everything I need at fair prices and their hours are great. Would I sue them over this, no. But I'm glad somebody is...

 

[Loscaldazar]

Did they ever advertise it as made in the USA? They had the wrong/old photo up online, but they never actually advertised it as USA, did they (I actually don't know, please answer)?

 

[lordy123]

Did they ever advertise it as made in the USA? They had the wrong/old photo up online, but they never actually advertised it as USA, did they (I actually don't know, please answer)?

They advertised a specific model, with no intention of it ever being available in many areas. Those stores substituted a different product and assigned it to that SKU.

The model they advertise is made in the USA, but they want over $80 for that model.

It'd be like a chevy dealership advertising a camaro GT for 18K, then when you get their they only tell you the Chevy Sonic is available for 18K and the camaros they have on the lot are 50k.

 

[PeterT]

they advertised a specific model, with no intention of it ever being available in many areas. Those stores substituted a different product and assigned it to that sku.

The model they advertise is made in the usa, but they want over $80 for that model.

It'd be like a chevy dealership advertising a camaro gt for 18k, then when you get their they only tell you the chevy sonic is available for 18k and the camaros they have on the lot are 50k.

BiNgO

 

[JonnyC]

Give it a rest guys. Don't like their advertising practices? Don't shop there, it's pretty simple.

 

[ishiboo]

They advertised a specific model, with no intention of it ever being available in many areas. Those stores substituted a different product and assigned it to that SKU.

The model they advertise is made in the USA, but they want over $80 for that model.

It'd be like a chevy dealership advertising a camaro GT for 18K, then when you get their they only tell you the Chevy Sonic is available for 18K and the camaros they have on the lot are 50k.

A store does not assign SKUs like that, Menards corporate does. They don't want "over $80 for that model", they just simply don't have the exact product under that SKU.

Your analogy is a horrible one. They advertised a Smart Electrician 100' 12-3 cord. They're not giving you a 50' 16-3 cord when you get there. Unless it said Color: Yellow in the ad, you might get there and there's an orange cord, or a slightly different plug at the end, etc. It happens. A better comparison is they advertised a Camaro GT and you recognized in the picture it was made in the US, and when you got there you realized the only Camaro GTs they had were Mexican origin.

 

[lordy123]

A store does not assign SKUs like that, Menards corporate does. They don't want "over $80 for that model", they just simply don't have the exact product under that SKU.

Your analogy is a horrible one. They advertised a Smart Electrician 100' 12-3 cord. They're not giving you a 50' 16-3 cord when you get there. Unless it said Color: Yellow in the ad, you might get there and there's an orange cord, or a slightly different plug at the end, etc. It happens. A better comparison is they advertised a Camaro GT and you recognized in the picture it was made in the US, and when you got there you realized the only Camaro GTs they had were Mexican origin.

I don't think you understand the situation(Or maybe I don't?). COO isn't the only difference, what they are selling is not the model number of what was advertised. They won't sell you the model they advertised. If it was the same product/model with varying COO, I doubt anyone would care.

Like I said I don't care, I will still shop at menards, but I dont get why people seem to be upset someone else is willing to call out a large retailer on illegal advertising practices.