Anyone else fed up with tractor supply?

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Once again I took my small argon bottle down to Tractor Supply for exchange. Once again they had no gas last night. Guy says "Praxair did not bring our shipment this week, might be because we didn't call it in."  This is at least the fourth time I know of they have been out in just a few months.20 min drive to the next town over and I now have a gas contract with Liquid Air. Call them on Friday gas is delivered Tuesday. Screw Tracturd Supply and there empty bottles of gas, overpriced junk, mispriced products and crappy customer service. Sorry for the rant, but this has been festering for months.Gas contract = now I have some helium to play with Lincoln PT185 TIGLincoln 175 MIGLincoln 240 amp AC StickLind Needle Arc plasma welderPlasma cutter, soon???
Reply:TSC has inventory management issues.  I have contacted Corporate on a couple of occasions.In Nov, I changed pulleys on my Cordwood Saw to speed up the blade speed.  Needed 2new belts.  Went to TSC, they had 1 belt.  Talked to the cashier, told her I needed 2 belts.  She said they couldn't order another one until the one in my hand was sold.  I said, "Why can't I put this one back, and you just order me 2 belts".  Nope, had to buy that one.  So I did.  She checked with inventory over the computer and located more belts at other stores (only 1 in each store also).  She gave me a rain check.  Told me the girl in charge of stock would be calling me.  I went to the manager and asked why they only carry 1 belt in each size.  Being a farm supply place, do they realize that most farm equipment runs with more than 1 belt?  Her response was "I can't increase my inventory yet as we are a relatively new store.  I looked at a shelf behind her and pointed out a couple dozen "Talking Fish" novelty items for Christmas.  Didn't matter.  She was only going to stock 1 belt in each size.A friend bought 4 bags of hog feed last year.  Thought to himself, price is right, and TSC is a lot closer to the place he'd been buying feed.  Went back the next week to get more.  Told it hadn't been ordered yet.  Wanted to give him a rain check.  Tell that to the hogs, he said.  Seems they only stock 4 bags of the feed.Fast forward to Feb 14th.  Still no call.  I had already picked up 1 more belt at another TSC, in Jan,  and really didn't need my rain check belt.  While at TSC for something else, I checked the belt display.  Yup, the belt I had ordered was hanging there.  Seems they only ordered one belt, not 2.  Just replaced the one I had bought.   At the register, I handed the "rain check" to the cashier.  She checked the date, wanted to know if I was called.  Nope.  What a crock.There is an Email address you can contact Corporate with.  I told them what I think of their Management Team, and their Inventory System.
Reply:I don't usually shop at TSC...But I stopped Sunday, and asked the cashier what the deal of the day was.She took me to the coat rack and sold me the close-out thermal lined denim jackets (made in Bangladesh) for less than 15.00 each!So I'm happy with TSC.Good Luck
Reply:I feel your pain when it comes to rain checks.  But, I have to say I do like Tractor supply for selling a wide selection of fasteners, by the pound.  Most any other place, I have to buy several small packages, and get too many parts.  Or I have to buy an enormous package, and get way too many parts.With TS, I can walk in, and buy exactly the right number of bolts, nuts, and washers, in whatever grade I need.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:I have also been happy with my experience with TSC.  They pack a lot under a relatively small roof.  However, based on your experience, there is definately room for improvement...Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Like most companies they have their good and bad points. Don't forget, they are staffed by the new generation, from corporate on down to the sales clerks. The standard of customer service in most large stores now seems to be "if we have it and you can find it, we'll sell it to you".The staff in the one I go to once in awhile does seem to be more helpful than in most stores, for example Wal-Mart and Home Depot. They still don't follow up too well. I wanted to look at a 4" box blade last May. TSC didn't have one in stock but the guy offered to order it. I told him I wanted to see it first. That was fine, he would order one and call me when it came in. I could look at it and I wasn't obligated to buy it. Don't guess it ever came in because they have never called. On another note, Sears and a couple of other stores have done the same thing about other items I was interested in.
Reply:For those in the South East,  if you have a Agri-Supply,   they are worth a 100 mile drive if you really want something.  Or anyone else can order from the online catalogue.  But it is only a fraction of what they have in store.  TSC  looks like a dollar general next to Super Walmart.  We have both here.  Unless you do need welding gas,  it has everything TSC has and about 1000 percent more.  It is the REAL TRACTOR SUPPLY STOREEsab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:The TSC near me, of which is about 30 miles away, is staffed by farm folk, from the Manager "She knows more bout farming than I do, even though I grew up on one" down to the handlers!They are all friendly, knowledgeable and helpful people, and if I need something, they know what I am talking about and where it is in the store!I guess it just depends on what store you go to, and where that store is located!Unlike the Orscheln's farm store here in my home town, the manager came from the big city, and they staffed it with teenagers that have never seen a tractor up close, let alone know what a clevis hitch pin is, or what the difference is between a screw and a bolt!#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:[QUOTE=paweldor;268601]In Nov, I changed pulleys on my Cordwood Saw to speed up the blade speed.  Needed 2new belts. Trivia for today.Dual belt systems should have matched belts, that is belts with the same lot number.  Different lots vary in size and the short one wears faster.A butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:My Local TSC don't even carry 100% argon just C-25. But they do keep a good stock of rods, mig wire and other comsumables like mig tips and grinder/cut off wheels. There good in a pinch. I don't buy feed off them as I can get it cheaper at a feed store. The other good thing about TSC is they keep a good selection of wheels for carts and such. Finally there one of the few chains which will deal with you on setting up your Ag exemption
Reply:[quote=Magnetic Mechanic;268649] Originally Posted by paweldorIn Nov, I changed pulleys on my Cordwood Saw to speed up the blade speed.  Needed 2new belts. Trivia for today.Dual belt systems should have matched belts, that is belts with the same lot number.  Different lots vary in size and the short one wears faster.
Reply:Originally Posted by dakookMy Local TSC don't even carry 100% argon just C-25. But they do keep a good stock of rods, mig wire and other comsumables like mig tips and grinder/cut off wheels. There good in a pinch. I don't buy feed off them as I can get it cheaper at a feed store. The other good thing about TSC is they keep a good selection of wheels for carts and such. Finally there one of the few chains which will deal with you on setting up your Ag exemption
Reply:Well, the main problem i have with tractor supply is the majority of the products that I have seen in them are low quality and WAY to expensive!  The only thing that I have bought so far from Tractor supply was some of the Hobart F-clamps, and I have bought some rods from them in the 25lb boxes..I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:The TSC here will only stock one item that you would typically need a pair of, like trailer springs, spring hangers, equalizers, etc.  For a while I would buy the 2 clamps they would have in stock every couple of weeks.  One good thing about them though, they always  hire hotttttt girls to work the register DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Well, when they ran their 20% off, plus $4.95 shipping specials about a month ago I bought a 125EZ Hobart welder for a "tote- about" 110 machine.  I paid $269.99, with discount, and shipped for the $4.95.  I had it in 2 days.  was a good deal for me...and I was VERY impressed with the way this little (but, it is 50 pounds!) unit welds! Got it to do the seemingly endless chain of requests to fix broken Lawn Furniture, Plant Stands, etc. for the galleries I sell through, plus clients who have some of my art.  Its always been "Hey, you weld,...Can you fix..??." I just put it in the back of the Honda, toss in an extension cord, and do it next time I'm in their neighborhood.  The little guy has already come close to paying for itself.  One gallery, which is more of an Antique/ Neat Old Stuff shop, has offered to set up a "the weldor will be here on Friday Afternoon", or whatever, because she knows  many of her customers have expressed a desire to get this-or-that fixed...always some piddly little thing too small to take to a "real weldor" at a shop."Good Enough Never Is"MIller AC/DC  ThunderboltHobart HH180, 125EZRiland Cut 40 Plasma oxy/act  outfitTons of "stuff", all treasures to me!
Reply:I have no beef with the ts store here, they did have only one headlight for my tractor and had to order the other, no biggie, but this reminds me of the Dewalt dealer ship store i went to for new brushes for my chop saw, 75 miles (round trip) I get home and discover there is only ONE brush in the package, Now how many motors use just one brush???? I call (and i was foaming) Girl says "we sell them singly" Smart chick.....So i ask to have one mailed out, Yea, would have coast me the equivalent of another 5 gal. gas. So i drive all the way in there again  Here is another one, the local hardware store in town sells nails one at a time, I went in for some small box nails 1-1/2" ....5 cents each !!!! can you believe that...I'm not talking about 6" spikes either, NAILS..... Unreal....
Reply:For the most part I'm happy with tractor supply. None of the local stores deals in welding gas as far as I know, and they do have a large quantity of chinese junk, but they also have a good selection of decent stuff, and are open on sundays. Like everything these days, you really have to know what you are buying.
Reply:Nailed the slats back up on the ol' soapbox.  Don't wanna fall downTractor Supply is to the ag world what Wal Mart is to the retail world.  Big box, no selection, and hit tha door if'n ya don't like it.I can go to Stillwater Milling and buy everything mentioned, except for welding stuff(and that only applies to machines, I can still buy consumables there), and get better stuff.  It's the only place around here that still handles Cross hydraulic cylinders, the Cadillac of cylinders(Prince is good too), and for about 10% more than the trash they sell at Atwoods/TSC.I put up a rant about 2 months ago about the mega agri suppliers.  Didn't like them then, and I sure don't like them now.  Try asking someone there to get something in that you really need, might as well be talkin' to a wall.WE'RE BEIN' RIPPED OFF. STICK WITH THE LITTLE LOCAL DUDES."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldFor those in the South East,  if you have a Agri-Supply,   they are worth a 100 mile drive if you really want something.  Or anyone else can order from the online catalogue.  But it is only a fraction of what they have in store.  TSC  looks like a dollar general next to Super Walmart.  We have both here.  Unless you do need welding gas,  it has everything TSC has and about 1000 percent more.  It is the REAL TRACTOR SUPPLY STORE
Reply:Yeah,They'll take your money.  What do you need?  Its off highway 41 in Tifton.  Exit 59 I think.  Its the Loves truck stop exit. Turn left at the exit turn right at love's.  1/4 mile past Love's on left.  No more than a .5 miles off I-75.  Of course there is one in Statesboro as well, not as big though.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldYeah,They'll take your money.  What do you need?  Its off highway 41 in Tifton.  Exit 59 I think.  Its the Loves truck stop exit. Turn left at the exit turn right at love's.  1/4 mile past Love's on left.  No more than a .5 miles off I-75.  Of course there is one in Statesboro as well, not as big though.
Reply:You might not need it, but oh will you want it.  Bring your own shovel for the bolts though.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:TSC is definitely the place to go for Bolts and screws by the lb. I'd hate to think if I had to pay by the piece. Also things like tires, casters, and drugs (for the pets).Other than that, our store here is pretty lame, and the tools come from HF."We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities. "   - Oscar WildeMaxstar STL150Eagle CPM30 Bender
Reply:TSC is fine when the store is BRAND NEW, but once the inventory is gone, it's gone.  Our TSC has stuff that has never been replenished and the store is several yaers old now. I agree about the fasteners by the pound though... they even stock a wide variety of Grade 5 bolts.Not a beginner, not a pro !
Reply:Originally Posted by PlanewelderTSC is fine when the store is BRAND NEW, but once the inventory is gone, it's gone.  Our TSC has stuff that has never been replenished and the store is several yaers old now. I agree about the fasteners by the pound though... they even stock a wide variety of Grade 5 bolts.Originally Posted by littlefuzzThe TSC here will only stock one item that you would typically need a pair of, like trailer springs, spring hangers, equalizers, etc.  For a while I would buy the 2 clamps they would have in stock every couple of weeks.  One good thing about them though, they always  hire hotttttt girls to work the register
Reply:Around these parts TSC is like Harbor Freight but with higher prices. Lowe's is just about as bad. I bought a Porter Cable Job Boss compressor. I need a new air filter. Salesman told me Lowe's doesn't carry parts, they just sell the machine.
Reply:Originally Posted by A_DAB_will_doI feel your pain when it comes to rain checks.  But, I have to say I do like Tractor supply for selling a wide selection of fasteners, by the pound.  Most any other place, I have to buy several small packages, and get too many parts.  Or I have to buy an enormous package, and get way too many parts.With TS, I can walk in, and buy exactly the right number of bolts, nuts, and washers, in whatever grade I need.
Reply:A tire that cost 89.00 at a tire shop was 149.00 at TSC.I cant buy 3/8 x 3 1/2 carraige bolts at TSC.They dont stock them.They can order them at hardware store prices, twice what I pay.
Reply:Hey Farmer, do us all a favor and check the dates on some of these threads. He's another one back from the dead in 2009..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:This thread is like most TSC employees.......a zombie
Reply:Originally Posted by A_DAB_will_doI feel your pain when it comes to rain checks.  But, I have to say I do like Tractor supply for selling a wide selection of fasteners, by the pound.  Most any other place, I have to buy several small packages, and get too many parts.  Or I have to buy an enormous package, and get way too many parts.With TS, I can walk in, and buy exactly the right number of bolts, nuts, and washers, in whatever grade I need.
Reply:Here in Va there used to be a CT Farm & Home store (TSC put them out),carried every thing TSC and more and better , picked up a set oF 3/8 drive SK sockets ,they had truck parts, tools, hardware by the pound,  Guns and Ammo . 30 years ago TSC was pretty good carried more inventory of a better quality. The only complaint I had with them was the kid loading my fence posts was trying to drive them through my 100 gal fuel tank.
Reply:The local Tractor Supply store near me in Northern California (home of high taxes, nice weather and nasty politicians) is a good store. It would never occur to me to purchase shielding gas there. I didn't even know that they sold it. Better to get an account at an LWS. Everything else that the TSC has is good. They have great prices on nuts and bolts, farm gates, V-belts, and tools, all of which I've bought there in the past. I don't see a problem.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:I find the older threads are better for info.The new threads are lacking in useful information.
Reply:Around the Midwest there are several farm oriented outlets; Blain's Farm & Fleet, Rural King, Farm King, Big R, etc. and several private owned stores. I really don't get into a Tractor Supply as they are definitely more expensive than the others, and merchandise quality has degraded in years gone by. I get a lot of my fasteners from Mcmaster, and Hagerty Industrial Supply as they really are no more expensive than the farm outlet stores with my discount and they have near everything I'd ever need, including less than common fasteners.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Stopped at TSC today for some steel fence posts.Got a bag of OIL DRY, they had just one on hand.Needed a wye connector for my outdoor faucet,they were out.Bin price said 10 bucks.At HF they had the wye fitting for 5 bucks...Identical parts, The 4 hose manifold was 20 bucks at TSC 10 bucks at HF.It pays to shop around.Old threads and old welders know stuff you dont know.
Reply:Hey Timberwolf,I live in Ottawa and own a TSC argon tank - that needs a swap out.Kemptville or Arnprior store? I always phone first because the chances are high that one store won't have it.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:I just wish my TSC would start carrying shielding gas again. None of the Northeast stores have had it since 2012 when they got in some disagreement with Gas Pony. My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:Sent the wife up to TSC to pickup some square trailer U-bolts last week. They only had two packages (four total) in stock. I needed 8 (four packages). In their defense, nobody else had any the size I needed... so four was better than zero. But, why no inventory? I would have expected to walk in an get all of them. I was happy when I called the gal was very quick and confirmed the inventory before the wife went.
Reply:We just got a TSC store in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada last year I believe.  First impression was a lot of stuff was more expensive than the local Princess Auto store but more of it was from name brand manufacturers than PA which seems to be turning into a Canadian version of Harbor Freight.  While looking around I talked with an employee about TSC in Canada and the US stores.  He said TSC Canadian stores were not actually owned by TSC US.  He said a Canadian hardware company had licensed the name, logos etc in Canada.That being said my ordeal over gas bottles goes like this.  I inquired at all the local gas suppliers, Linde, Praxair, Liquid Air and at that time the largest bottle I could purchase was approx 30 cft.  My c25 rental bottle was empty and I wanted to purchase replacement bottles.  A Praxair employee told me that TSC had 80 cft bottles for sale, price was little more than a small bottle at lw stores.  So I went to TSC and they had none on hand but promised me 2 bottles of c25 and to call when it came in.  Over a month went by and several visits to TSC and no gas.  The store staff blamed Praxair which supplies TSC with not replenishing supplies, manager said TSC could not order it, it was up to Praxair to restock it.  I was at the local Praxair begging them to sell me some 80 cft bottles of c25 which they said they could only rent to me.  Praxair guy said they supply TSC from the local store and he was sure they had just dropped off c25 80 cft at TSC.  Manager came over, listened to the story and called the delivery truck driver who confirmed he had just dropped of c25 80cft bottles at TSC.  I scooted over to TSC and sure enough they had them.  Bought two as I have two migs, a LN25 and a miller feeder, so I wanted at least one spare bottle as they are still relatively small. I also want to buy oxygen, acetylene and argon bottles once my rental bottles empty out.To sum up TSC offers the largest bottle available for purchase here.  I am somewhat concerned about the availability of refills.  I was lied to by a TSC manager who said she could not order gas from Praxair, her boss later told me she was wrong.  As for Praxair, my thanks for their help with this even though they could not sell me the bottles themselves that I wanted.I am tired of paying hundreds of dollars a year in cylinder rentals and don't get why I can't buy what I want.end of rant."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:For the moment, we have two TSCs locally. One down below Anderson, one north of Redding. They are not the same line item for line item for sure. It's almost like you'd have to go from one store to the other to get everything you needed. Kind of pops your bubble. Something you saw in one store the other doesn't have."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt