Northern Tool rant.

[Frank]

Not that Northern had the greatest tools, but ever since they remodeled and expanded the store near me, they have a lot more stuff but most of it is the chi-com **** like you see at HF. The real tick is that lately I am finding it hard to get any help from anyone who works there, or they are completely clueless. All they employ are stockers and cashiers now that really aren't friendly and act like they could care less to help anyone. The customer service has really gone down. Its too bad because they are about the only store of their kind to carry what they do. I just got back from there for the second time this week asked for help on something and no one would show up.

 

[89Vette]

I have the same experience at the HF store near me. It's about a 15 mile drive and there have been many times they didn't even have the advertised items that I wanted in stock. I think it is more of a statement about shopping just about anywhere these days. Experienced employees cost money that they don't want to spend.

 

[sunshineFC3s]

Just my two cents...but it is also a statemnt about the knowledge level of the consumer these days. I think with the amount of information available these days due to the internet, consumers are just generally more knowledgeble. I never (well 99% never) go into a store not knowing exactly what Im looking for. Not like my girlfriend, who walkes into a store, and spends 3 hours looking around for who knows what.

But yes....even the Sears stores by me are like that. I never expect good service at HF. But at least at Sears I used to be able to get few basic questions answered. Oh well.
-a

 

[SirWarrior]

I used to work in Sears hardware department. I loved every minute of it, and not for the ****** discount either. But since my sales were up above everyone else's they move you up to the higher end ticket, where you make more.

Now their hardware dept went to base pay, so that means, if a employee stands there and picks his nose, or actually helps someone, he gets the same, so there isn't any need for him to know a difference between an air compressor and a hammer.

 

[...dave]

Yeah, they definitely have the Home Depot effect going on at the NT near us as well... tens of thousands of square feet, a total staff of two cashiers. On the plus side, at least it's clean... the HF store looks like a Calcutta flea market.

...dave

 

[MustangRick]

I shop at HF and Cummins because they are cheap. I accept that service because you get what you pay for. I consider Sears as half way between HF and flagging the Snap On truck. I remember when I considered most of the sales guys at sears as genius's. Now you just talk to them when you want to pay or you can't find something. Last week, one advised me to search for side hanging cabinets on sears.com because I would get better results then him looking them up.
It seems like our economy has forced a gap between bargain basement and the best. The only thing in between are scam artists and lucky finds.

 

[Ign]

Its too bad because they are about the only store of their kind to carry what they do.

Around here we have a chain called Big R which carries a lot of what Northern does as far as straps, chains, and general ag stuff as well as a decent selection of power tools. Maybe you should look for alternatives to Northern as well?

 

[ImportTuner]

Didn't know Northern Tool had stores; I purchased everything from them online ... anything in the store that is not in the catalog?

 

[Roospike]

Sounds like Wal-Mart today.

It used to be "we support USA" "USA jobs" "Made in America" "service and a smile in every isle" ..............

NOW its all china krap! and..........HELLO!?!?!.... and then you have to walk 4 miles back up to the front to find any help , and its not like they can help anyway.

So by all means ...............Rant away.

 

[Will H]

I'd agree that Northern is slacking lately. There is a store near my parents house in NC, and I stop in everytime I'm in town. Last time I was there I bought a bunch of stuff, including a shop stool. Got home to Michigan, and discovered all the hardware was missing. Called the missing parts number on the instructions, and they didn't want to help because I bought it in store, not online. (I'm really not sure why that phone number is there if that's the policy...) I told them the situation, and they finally gave me the part number and phone number to the manufacturer. When I called the "manufacturer", it was an importing company/distributor who claimed the part number didn't match their system. Tried again with northern, but no luck, so I gave up on them and found everything I needed at Home Depot. I'll be thinking twice about anything I buy there in the future.

 

[engnerdan]

I guess I am spoiled here in MN, the Northerns here always seem to be well staffed, they don't alwasy know everything about the products but you get that everywhere you go.

 

[james]

I think everyone here is right--profit has overtaken customer service. I worked at walmat around 89-90, when sam walton still owned it. It was a great place to work. They starting pay was 25-30% above min. wage, sundays were time and a half, benefits were great,and "made in america" was our slogan. All over the store were signs showing product they had brought back to american manufacturers and how many new jobs it provided. You had to train to become a department head and were paid accordingly, so the employees tried pretty hard. Sam died and everyone knows what the company has become. SHop your local hardware if you can. I love the little convieniance/hardware/gunshop by my house.

 

[Blue]

Huh. Good point on the "Made in USA" signs that Wal Mart used to have. I had forgotten all about those. If I remember correctly, inside most stores there would be a big sign saying soemthign to the effect of:

"32,217 jobs created by Wal-Mart purchasing items made in the USA"

Or some such. That was like maybe 15 years ago or so. Of course, they don't have signs like that now. Maybew they should put up signs saying how many jobs in China they're responsible for.

Oh, and to second what soemone said above, I never knew Northern Tool had real live bricks-and-mortar stores.

Also, remember, when you need something, try and shop local first. I'll pay and extra 20 cents a quart for motor oil at the local NAP than go across town to the Auto Zone.