PVC DC Pipe- a trip to the cleaners!!!!

[JackLeg]

I have a "Commerial Account" at Lowe's. Means absolutely nothing. If you aren't a contractor, you pay shelf price.

In Alan's case, "retail" is one thing, "GOUGING" is another! JD

[Glennbear]

I feel that Alan was indeed gouged but it is just one more reason why I have chosen to avoid the whole 6" piping thing. My system will be 4" augmented by a highly efficient air cleaner and blowers mounted to assist dust collection at select machines. I feel that a "push- pull" air flow will be quite efficient at controlling airborne dust.

[DaveO]

Originally Posted by JimmyC

Dave,
I understand the whole retail/wholesale thing, but just charge 20% more for walk-ins. If these places don't want walk-ins, all they have to do is post it on their doors. But, I'm sure if they did it, people would start buying from other places, including lawnmowers. I won't purchase John Deere products because I believe that they are generally overpriced anyway.
I am fairly sure that Alan will never purchase anything from John Deere.
Good word of mouth is strong, Bad word of mouth is powerful.

But in the end I guess they just didn't want his business, I know that they won't get mine.

Jimmy

Jimmy I agree with you 100%. I wasn't defending JD, I buy very little from them, because even their contractor prices are high, and I can get the same product from a locally owned establishment for better, with better service. But if you look at it from their perspective...90% of the homeowners who purchase from them don't realize that they are paying an inflated price for the same thing. They feel that they are shopping where the "pros" do and are getting professional products. There's a fool born every minute. Yes, eventually they will lose business as people and this global economy find out their pricing structure, but their money isn't in the HO/DIY'er, it is in the contractor, and they will continue to keep them them afloat.
Dave

[JackLeg]

Johnny Cash said it all: "Bad news travels like wildfire, Good news travels slow."

[JimmyC]

Originally Posted by DaveO

Jimmy I agree with you 100%. I wasn't defending JD, I buy very little from them, because even their contractor prices are high, and I can get the same product from a locally owned establishment for better, with better service. But if you look at it from their perspective...90% of the homeowners who purchase from them don't realize that they are paying an inflated price for the same thing. They feel that they are shopping where the "pros" do and are getting professional products. There's a fool born every minute. Yes, eventually they will lose business as people and this global economy find out their pricing structure, but their money isn't in the HO/DIY'er, it is in the contractor, and they will continue to keep them them afloat.
Dave

Sorry Dave,

That rant wasn't for you, I'm just amazed at how some businesses treat people, and then when they are suffering for business they find someone else to blame for their problems, and not their own business practices.
When I lived in NJ I had a 100 year old house that needed alot of work and spent between $5,000-$7000 a year at the same lumber store, one of the guys at the counter gave me contractors prices because I paid with cash, when he left my prices went up because they told me that I wasn't a contractor. I went to another yard and proceeded to spend $9,000 on material to build a 18' x 36' garage/shop, and the next year I purchased pavers for my driveway ( 19 pallets of them), along with concrete for edging and extras, that went for $8,000. These two purchase were single purchases, I also bought much more. A lot of small contractors don't even make purchases like that. So now I don't give my business to places that don't have 'patience' for me.

Jimmy

[Alan in Little Washington]

Happy ending.

To close out this thread- I did not need the new piece of pipe afterall- when I reworked the drops I actually ended up with a couple of extra pieces. Only one section of pipe is two pieces with a coupler (from Lowes).

I will be taking the new pipe back to JD for a refund. If I do need more pipe someday, I will return as a "contractor." FYI, JD keeps buying up small landscape suppliers, recently buying an entire chain, so there should be a JD Landscapes supplier just around the corner from most places- just need to take your contractor ID when you go to get DC pipe.

But I will keep be keeping my JD spin steer lawnmower.

[mkepke]

Originally Posted by McRabbet

My purchase in October was at $15.99/10' length at a mid-sized plumbing supply house in Spartanburg, SC (I bought 130 feet for myself and Purple Thumb). We need to find a source like that and get the North Carolina Woodworker Pony Express geared up!. I need to check their current pricing, but if there is interest, I could go buy some and bring it to the Picnic in May. They also had better pricing than Lowe's on fittings and even had sweep elbows at a decent price. Let me know folks -- I can give them a call and get some fresh pricing.

Rob - I'd be interested. Do you need a materials estimate - I haven't drawn that out yet.

But I need to get off my duff and improve the DC in my shop. 4" crappy flex hoes really isn't a solution.

-Mark

[McRabbet]

I'll need to check current prices for straight pipe and various fittings -- let me know and we can aim at picking some up for you -- the offer holds for any others (e.g., Jackleg - Reggie Medlin), just let me know so we can work up an order.

[gdoebs]

I had the same experience at JD in Greensboro. They gave me the name of a contractor that could get the pipe for me. On my way back to work I drove pass Greensboro Pipe Company. Their sign said "Open to Public" so I went it. I got my 60' of 6" S&D, numerous fittings etc for $220. I think the pipe was $1.87 or so per ft. I love this place!

[Alan in Little Washington]

I took the pipe back and got a full refund. But JD got the last lick- I originally paid with cash, but the guy said they don't carry much cash and refunded to my credit card!!