Yet another benefit of shopping local.

[MineralMan]

Earlier this week, my snowblower quit moving. It was still blowing snow, but the drive wheels weren't turning. Bad news, because we have another storm coming tomorrow that's expected to drop up to 10" of snow. I'm 65, and shoveling is not something I enjoy doing any more. Looking at the owner's manual, the troubleshooting section gave three suggestions about what might be wrong. From the symptoms, it sounded like the thing had a broken belt in the drivetrain.

So, this morning, I headed out to find a replacement belt. It's not too tough a job, but would have taken me a couple of hours. My first stop was my local Ace Hardware store, which is run by a local family, with people working there from age 16 to the middle 80s. On Sundays, it's the young members of the family who are in the store.

I went in and asked if they stocked belts for my brand of snowblower. They don't. But one of the guys in the store, in his early 20s, asked me what had happened. I described the symptoms. He thought for a minute, then told me I should check for a broken shear pin where the chain sprocket attached to the snowblower's axle. Now, I had looked closely at the exploded-view drawings in the manual, but hadn't seen that shear pin.

So, I ended my search, went home, took the cover off the bottom of the snowblower and, sure enough, the shear pin was broken. I had one on hand, and the snowblower was fixed in about 15 minutes. So, here's a young man, working in his family's hardware store, who was able to tell me what the problem might be with my machine. He saved my morning and helped me to fix something that could have been a real problem.

And I didn't even buy anything in the store on this trip.

This is one of the best reasons I know to patronize your local businesses. It's not a matter of price. It's a matter of the relationship between you and the people who work in that store. It's my first stop for all hardware issues, and I spend quite a bit of money in the store, but this young man would have provided the same information had he never seen me before. That is the difference between a local business and a big box store, where nobody knows much of anything.

I encourage everyone to patronize their local businesses whenever possible. My trip today to a local hardware store saved me hours and kept me from buying unnecessary parts. They know I'll be back.

[flvegan]

1. Had I the means, I'd probably return to the store

with a small gift for the young man and praise to his boss/dad/whatever about what a great help he was.

I agree with you, having had like experiences with smaller, local businesses. We have a small, family run small engine shop here that I rave about quite often.

[MineralMan]

4. I'll certainly compliment him to his father, who now runs the store.

I've done that before. When I needed to repair my garage door, they had the parts and advice I needed. Once I had it fixed, I made a special trip back to the store and thanked them for both stocking the parts I needed and for having the experience to give me some good advice on the job. They know me there, since I'm a frequent customer. I know the entire store, and always have a conversation with someone working there when I'm there.

A really great hardware store is a treasure. I do all my own repairs of things, and it's essential to have a good source. This particular Ace Hardware is spectacular, and stocks products with an intelligence that I don't find very often. I hope it stays in the family for another generation. I suspect it will. It's always busy and full of contractors and other professionals.

[flvegan]

6. I figured *you* would.

Sort of making the comment for the benefit of the internet.

Your second paragraph is dead on. A great hardware store is a treasure. I've also found, now that you mention it, whenever I have a repairperson (plumber, electrician, a/c tech) working at my house, they always and I mean ALWAYS send one of their guys to Joe's Plumbing Supply or something equally tucked out of the way. They never send someone to Home Depot or Lowe's. Kind of says a lot.

[MineralMan]

8. Yeah. The pros know where to go. If you see a hardware store

with a parking lot containing pickups and vans with signs on the sides, you know you've found the right spot.

[flvegan]

9. Agreed again.

Stay warm and out of that snow.

[MineralMan]

14. I will, as much as possible.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. You lost me at "shear pin" but I agree

if you can understand what they are saying, your local ACE Hardware is the bestest for help (and special orders). Patience is a virtue for the right fix.

[MineralMan]

7. Shear pins, or bolts, are used on rotating assemblies. They're designed

to break when excessive forces stop the rotation. They break or shear off at a lower force, relieving the stress, letting the assembly rotate freely, and avoiding breakage of more expensive components. They're cheap, easy to replace, and are crucial items. I just didn't know there was one installed in that particular place. I've replaced more shear pins on this snowblower than you can imagine. Each of those 15-cent parts protects an assembly that might cost $100.

Very useful things, shear pins.

[snagglepuss]

28. I don't own a snowblower but info like that is invaluable.

Kick and recommend buying local.

[lapislzi]

32. I have a zip-lock bag of shear pins

It's just another winter thing to be attended to in my little arsenal. They're called shear bolts for a reason.

[uppityperson]

3. Thanks for the story and I agree. Shop local, support your local community and help each other.

You have more snow coming? Aw dang, need to call my Dad. I hope it's not quite as much as last week's.

[MineralMan]

5. Looks like maybe half as much snow.

Best thing of all, though: The Vikings are Playing the Bears tomorrow night in the U of M Stadium...outdoors. Bwahaha! They've been hating on the Metrodome for a long time. We'll see how they like football in the snow.

L. A. Vikings sounds really good to me. We ain't building them a new stadium here.

[hlthe2b]

10. I have pledged to purchase 25% (minimum) of all goods locally

and as close as possible to 100% of grown/produced food in season. I think I exceeded that readily the past five years, but budget makes it tougher now.

I'd like to go further, but am convinced if everyone would do at least this much, we could keep local businesses profitable.

[Hawkeye-X]

11. Pete's Fruit and Vegetables are local to us

and they're quite good and reasonably priced. I've known Pete for over 25 years, and he has always given back to his community.

@hlthe2b - it's at Cedar & Holly if it's not out of your way....

(If you're in the mood for Greek stuff like cheese, squid, olives, Pete's the place to go)

[hlthe2b]

25. Ahh... good to know.

Thanks Hawkeye-X.... I'll check it out.

[MineralMan]

12. Yes. Now, a hardware store has many items in stock. Most of them

are not manufactured locally or even in this country. It's the nature of the thing. But, the business is local, employs local people, and competes with the megastores by providing intelligent stocking and good advice. Even though ACE hardware is a national chain, the franchise stores are strictly local businesses.

[Hawkeye-X]

16. Yep.

We have a local Ace's, but it was formerly Hugh M Woods, which was our hardware store for many years. It went out of business and a food store took over (low priced and bad quality). That too, went out of business, and Ace took the place back where it's supposed to be. It's still a damn good hardware store, far better than Home Despot (I looked for a specific bulb, which HD didn't have, but Ace did)

Hawkeye-X

[MineralMan]

20. Yup. When my mother-in-law had her first knee surgery, we wanted

to raise her couch higher off the floor, to make it easier for her to get up. I knew there were prefab blocks for that purpose, so I went to a medical supply store, then to Home Depot. Neither knew what the heck I was talking about. So I went to that Ace Hardware. I asked, and was told they were in Aisle 20. That was the last time I went into the Home Depot.

[BrendaBrick]

13. Nice story. I agree.

I purchase the ink for my printer at the local family-run office supply store.

[MineralMan]

15. Good choice. And they recognize you when you come in, I'm sure.

That's part of the benefit. You develop a relationship with local store owners. It's a big help.

[mulsh]

17. that sounds like my local Ace Hardware store.

I live in big bad Oakland and shop locally as much as I can.Our local Ace has always had fantastic staff many of whom have worked there for years.

In addition to helping the local economy you get to meet and know lots of great people.

[handmade34]

18. love the story

and yes, encourage everyone to buy local and buy USA made... (I miss my small town where if I forgot my money, the shop owner just told me to pay for my things the next time I'm in...)

about that snow... I got into town (staying near Eagan) Wednesday and got a nice chunk of my work here done... heard there will be snow and plan to stay in and do paperwork tomorrow. But, I love to shovel snow... give me a shout out if your snowblower breaks down again... :)

[Vickers]

19. I have a story about a "shear pin" and "alligators" and "dumbass teenagers"

and "aluminum johnboat" and "6 miles from camp" and "Okefenokee Swamp" that I'll tell you one day.

Stay warm, friend.

:thumbsup:

P.S. I'm totally with you about digging the local folks.

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. lol n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

21. Wonderful story! K&R.

That's one of the best things about living in a relatively small community and patronizing the same businesses. They get to know you, and vice versa, and they're likely to know what you're there for as soon as you walk in... :hi:

[moondust]

22. OT: American Express $25 credit for shopping locally before 12/31.

https://enroll.amexnetwork.com/US/sbs

To be eligible for this offer, you must register your eligible American Express Card between November 8, 2010 and December 31, 2010. You may only register one Card for this offer. Using your registered American Express Card, you must spend $25 or more at one or more participating small business merchants between 11/27/2010 and 12/31/2010 to receive the $25 statement credit.

Eligible merchants include any independently owned small businesses that accept the American Express Card. Purchases made online, at large, national chains, at franchised business locations and at government agencies are not eligible. Prepaid and corporate cards and ExpressPay transactions are not eligible.

[customerserviceguy]

23. My lady and I took advantage of that offer

when we thought it was limited only to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We were out in the Pacific Northwest, and were on a wine-buying trip (among other things) and we tried mightily to find a wine shop somewhere between Portland and Seattle that took Amex.

Every wine shop I could find with my Google Maps app on my smartphone said they didn't take the card. Yes, I know that Amex charges merchants more than Visa or Mastercard, but a wine shop is a high-markup operation, at least in my experience. We were looking for the harder to find stuff that you just don't see in the supermarkets.

Anyway, we found a grocery store that was not part of a chain, and bought wine there. As it was not an upscale market, we didn't have a great variety of choice, but were able to pick up a couple bottles each of Washington wine, and use our credit.

Sometimes small business has to reach out to accept the helping hand that is being offered to them.

[moondust]

24. Yeah, it's a pretty nice thing to do for small businesses.

I've never seen a company do anything like that before.

I stopped at a nice local coop grocery store and picked up some things. Checked my credit card account online a few days later and the $25 credit had already posted.

:toast:

[NV Whino]

26. Yep. We have a family owned hardware store, too

Those guys always come through for me. They have delivered large items "on their way home," helped me with all my crazy projects, given me advice and frequently don't charge me for things. I love them.

[jaxx]

27. Great story and kudos to your local ACE.

I shop local when at all possible. And most of the time it is.

[bvar22]

29. That had to be 7 Corners in St Paul.

I loved that place when I lived in St Paul.

[MineralMan]

34. Actually, it's one in Maplewood. Lots closer to my house.

[skorpo]

30. The owner of my local hardware store stayed open an extra hour for me on a stormy night.

The neighborhood and my family room were flooding. I called the store and explained my problem. Even though it was past closing time he said to come in. He stayed at the store until I found my way there through the flooded streets. He had a machine to remove the water from the carpet then shampoo it ready by the door. He also had the products I would need for the job ready for me.
I had forgotten my wallet and couldn't even leave him a deposit.
He said to forget the paperwork and we'd take care of everything when I returned the machine.
That was over 20 years ago and he's still in business. His store is always my first stop for advice on home projects and the products he carries.
BTW my first experience with a shear pin was when I hit bottom with an outboard motor in a remote channel while fishing. Replacing it was an easy job and I was fishing again in a short time.

[lonestarnot]

31. Have no knowledge of a snow blower, but must agree with the local sentiment.

Local hardware store also.