I've used Home Depot's "Ship to Store" for a bunch of oddball tools and materials, that they carry, but don't stock in the stores.   It's been very handy.   They'll also "ship to home" sometimes for an added fee if you're not near a HD.    I don't know how they do it.  I buy a can of stuff for $3, they ship it UPS for free to the store, with packaging, check me out and it's still only $3.

 

And they do have some oddball stuff.   I'm thinking of ordering that box of 50 flamingos.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/stuff-we-love/20-weird-things-buy-home-depot/?trkid=soc-fhm-facebook/1/

Edited December 5, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
tags added

and here I thought you were talking abuot the employees...

they just throw it on the truck each week with the rest of the normal stuff from the warehouse/supplier.

Oh, I want that Spider!!!

 

I have a plastic Jerky gun. It's great for making stuffed Calamari! 

Even more odd, there must be a mass market for all of it otherwise they wouldn't carry the stuff

"Oddball things at Home Depot"

 

Erm, i thought you might have seen me at one.

I ordered something from HD.  Once.  It was painful to see it overnighted to West Phoenix (they allow you to see the journey), then sit in WPhx for 8 days before making it the 20 miles to "my" store.  If I need to order, I try very hard to make it Amazon.  Usually, they have better selection at lower cost, blindingly fast delivery.  BUT NOT ALWAYS.  There are predators on Amazon that charge multiples of other prices, looking for the unwary.

I ordered some Formica and had it shipped to my home ( I live 8 miles from a HD). NO charge. AND, as we were looking to get it as soon as possible (job at our church) I asked (chat - on line) if it could be shipped any faster than the standard shipping times. The on line chat lady contacted the supplier and had it shipped within 5 days versus 15. Great service and NO charge...same cost as the pieces in store.

1 hour ago, Gary Hanscom said:

I ordered some Formica and had it shipped to my home ( I live 8 miles from a HD). NO charge. AND, as we were looking to get it as soon as possible (job at our church) I asked (chat - on line) if it could be shipped any faster than the standard shipping times. The on line chat lady contacted the supplier and had it shipped within 5 days versus 15. Great service and NO charge...same cost as the pieces in store.

good to hear a good review, so many times we only hear about the bad ones.

Herb

2 hours ago, Gary Hanscom said:

I ordered some Formica and had it shipped to my home ( I live 8 miles from a HD). NO charge. AND, as we were looking to get it as soon as possible (job at our church) I asked (chat - on line) if it could be shipped any faster than the standard shipping times. The on line chat lady contacted the supplier and had it shipped within 5 days versus 15. Great service and NO charge...same cost as the pieces in store.

Great to know Gary, thanks for the review, like Herb said, good reviews are good to hear.

I've used them several time. I could never find extra fine and extra, extra fine triangular files for sharpening my hand saws. One day there they were on clearance in an email flyer. I ordered several of each for a very good price and had them within a couple of days. Did the same with a couple of Stanley folding utility knives. I could only find them on Amazon and they we twice the price that HD had on their website. Again, just a couple of days to get them.

 

Many of the bigger stores are learning...they carry much more on the websites instead of stocking slow selling item in the store. They can afford to sell and ship and still make a profit. No stocking, inventory, etc. involved for the store. Get it shipped in with the regular stocked items and you come pick it up.

 

Go take a look at Walmart's website. You would be surprised at all of the quality woodworking tools available. You buy them and pick them up at the store or have them shipped directly to your house. Not available in the store, but they are online. If you can wait for Amazon you can wait on the others. It will get better and better as they polish their marketing/shipping systems.

58 minutes ago, schnewj said:

I've used them several time. I could never find extra fine and extra, extra fine triangular files for sharpening my hand saws. One day there they were on clearance in an email flyer. I ordered several of each for a very good price and had them within a couple of days. Did the same with a couple of Stanley folding utility knives. I could only find them on Amazon and they we twice the price that HD had on their website. Again, just a couple of days to get them.

 

Many of the bigger stores are learning...they carry much more on the websites instead of stocking slow selling item in the store. They can afford to sell and ship and still make a profit. No stocking, inventory, etc. involved for the store. Get it shipped in with the regular stocked items and you come pick it up.

 

Go take a look at Walmart's website. You would be surprised at all of the quality woodworking tools available. You buy them and pick them up at the store or have them shipped directly to your house. Not available in the store, but they are online. If you can wait for Amazon you can wait on the others. It will get better and better as they polish their marketing/shipping systems.

 

I forgot to mention, when I lived a lot closer, I'd do "ship to store" with Do-it-Best hardware.  If I ordered by 5 pm on Sunday, it would be delivered on their weekly delivery truck by Wednesday.

 

I've used Wal*mart a few times, but they do not have very good customer service at their pick up desk.   I complained once that 5 employees walked by and I had to wait for one particular one to get back to me.   There was no "I'm here" button.   When I complained, I was told they didn't do much business there so they don't staff it.    Reminds me of the old story about a small town wanted the commuter rail line to stop there at 7am so people could get to work and not have the first stop at 8:45.    The response was, "We sent an agent there and found no one waiting for the train at 7am."

5 hours ago, kmealy said:

I've used Wal*mart a few times, but they do not have very good customer service at their pick up desk.

I've used theirs several times now at our local Super Wally and also one in a neighboring county. My CS experience for both has been phenomenal with it far exceeding the standard in-store service...No doubt my day of disappointment is looming because, well, they're Wally World...  

Amazon will eventually damage sales at your favorite woodworking stores. I buy a lot from Amazon but realize the damage I do. Amazon is like fuel prices...

I bought 12- 24" HD  Kreg Automaxx sliding  clamps($179)  and 12- 8" SD Kreg Automaxx sliding clamps ($129). These prices are now double and I've waited on a sale for the 40" Sliding clamps (4-$200).  The waiting on that deal kills the positive sales from local stores..

 

32 minutes ago, BillyJack said:

Amazon will eventually damage sales at your favorite woodworking stores. I buy a lot from Amazon but realize the damage I do.

 

you might want to read these threads...

http://thepatriotwoodworker.com/topic/19594-i-was-scammed/

http://thepatriotwoodworker.com/topic/19289-beware-garrett-super-scanner-v/

 

I'm pretty cautious with purchases from Ebay and Amazon. As far as Ebay I compare and "REALLY" read the descriptions  and feedback. As far as Amazon it's the same. I never buy from new on the block sellers from either... I bought two tires the other day from Amazon from Amazon warehouse...But because of the KC warehouse I'm paying TAXES(lil scream)

 

Edited September 24, 20178 yr by BillyJack

do take the time to read those two threads... and the attachments/links...

I have ordered from HD a few times.  The experience is ok, but the shipping is pretty slow.  The stuff leaves the warehouse 60 miles from me, near Atlanta - then goes to Columbia SC, about 4-5 hours from here where it usually sits for about a week, and then it gets shipped to the local store.  If it is something I can wait for I do not mind.

Amazon - that is another story.  I think my feelings there have been expressed in one of the threads Stick referred to.

Cal