Why I Hate the Blue Borg

Bigdog72 · 04-26-2008, 07:47 PM

Today is Saturday, right? This is the day when all of us working slobs get to take care of the big chores. I go to the local Blue Borg this morning at 9AM along with about 200 others (seemed like). I finally had to make good on my promise to LOML that, if she let me buy all those tools, I would make several projects for her. So we went this morning to pick up material for an arbor. It's bad enough that whenever I go to this store I can't find what I need but today they chose to block most of the aisle where all the PT lumber is. I could understand if they were restocking but it looked like many carts full of packaged orders plus several immovable fork lifts. I tried to find a blue jacket to clear things up but after a waste of 45 minutes I left ticked off.

Darling LOML asked if we could go to the Orange Borg later in the day. In and out in 30 minutes with everything I needed.

Moral to my story, don't go to the Blue Borg on Saturday morning. But, if all Blue Borg's are managed that way then Jimmy Johnson will need a new sponser for his stock car!

NC Scroller · 04-26-2008, 08:15 PM

Best time to shop the BORG is between 7:00 and 9:00 on Friday. I refuse to do the Saturday at 9:00 AM the the 400 others and 2 check outs open. Almost as bad as K-mart.

NCPete · 04-26-2008, 08:20 PM

Geoff, did you make the trek down 401 to the North Fayetteville store??? I find that one to be generally very well managed, and well stocked. I also have some friends that work in there - good people to know when things are marked down - they tend to get more marked down. the GM there likes to reduce his non-stock inventory quite regularly. The other Fayetteville location, I try not to visit.

I think a good general rule is to never visit on Saturday mornings.

JackLeg · 04-27-2008, 08:27 AM

Here in Albemarle, "blue" is our only option. However, to their credit, this store has friendly folks, and for the most part, helpful. Not necessarily knowledgeable, but helpful, and the manager seems to be interrested in growing his business.

BUT, I do go mostly during the weekdays.

JM2CW

newtowood · 04-27-2008, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by JackLeg

Here in Albemarle, "blue" is our only option. However, to their credit, this store has friendly folks, and for the most part, helpful. Not necessarily knowledgeable, but helpful, and the manager seems to be interrested in growing his business.

BUT, I do go mostly during the weekdays.

JM2CW

Reggie, we are getting the orange borg in Salisbury. Not too far of a drive depending where you live in Albemarle. Construction has already started.

CaptnA · 04-27-2008, 09:03 AM

Always somthing isn't it?
Its funny, they blue and orange are 'competitors' right?
The closest to us is the blue. What is so odd is the property was bought by orange - who decided they were too close to their other stores in the area; and decided to lease the property to blue who built within 15 miles of three other blue stores......
Go figure?
Blue builds - and orange makes a buck~
In Nebraska where loml hails from they have a third option. Menard's.
After visiting them numerous times piddling on some jobs at her mom's house, I was awestruck by selection, price, and customer service. Things I can't recall saying about ANY retailer in ages. I think they would put a hurting on the local guys.... one can wish.

NCPete · 04-27-2008, 09:09 AM

when I was in California, we had Orchard Supply Hardware. impressive store, too.

alleng · 04-27-2008, 09:12 AM

Do like I do....climb under the tape. That will get someone to come over to help you real quick!

skysharks · 04-27-2008, 09:29 AM

Geoff, I feel your pain brother.
Been there done that, and got quite p, o'd about it.

So now I ignore the blocked isle stuff for the most part.

Now saying this you do have to watch your surroundings, i.e whats going on in the next isle over in case something falls off the high shelf into your isle.
See where I'm going here!
Anyways I will attempt to contact an employee to my dilemma, ie I need 3 sheets of 3/4 Oak ply but the isle is blocked. If no one is around, I go and get it myself. What are they going to do to you??

Nothing.

I know what happens most of the time. They get these young kids that start to stack shelves or what ever and then when their break time comes up, they stop what their doing, drop everything and leave.
But then again it's not always their fault, other circumstance arrise that is out of their control.

But to us guys that would like to go in and shop, seeing a blocked isle with no one in it and no one around really eats on you.

Oh by the way I used to work as a Sub Contractor for the blue borg.
So now I go in. If the isle is blocked I look to see why it is. If no one is in the isle I will go and look at one isle over on either side. If still no one is around I then go into the isle and get what I need to and get out.
Nothing ticks you off more then to go into them there stores in a rush and after 20 minutes of hunting for an employee you cant get ahold of one. So I don't let anything waste MY TIME anymore.

Travis Porter · 04-27-2008, 10:05 AM

I seem to be a bit fickle. For a long time, I have been avoiding the blue borg, but I am now getting frustrated with Agent Orange. Seems the local stores employees have attitudes and are just to busy to help you load up your cart or move anything heavy. Then, if you need something like wire or rope cut, you have to hunt and hunt and hunt for some one. At least blue has the buttons for assistance.

Needless to say, I am not enthralled with either one. The only reason I go there is convenience.

Glennbear · 04-28-2008, 04:04 AM

Originally Posted by skysharks

Geoff, I feel your pain brother.
Been there done that, and got quite p, o'd about it.
So now I ignore the blocked isle stuff for the most part.
Now saying this you do have to watch your surroundings, i.e whats going on in the next isle over in case something falls off the high shelf into your isle.
See where I'm going here!
Anyways I will attempt to contact an employee to my dilemma, ie I need 3 sheets of 3/4 Oak ply but the isle is blocked. If no one is around, I go and get it myself. What are they going to do to you?? Nothing.

I know what happens most of the time. They get these young kids that start to stack shelves or what ever and then when their break time comes up, they stop what their doing, drop everything and leave.
But then again it's not always their fault, other circumstance arrise that is out of their control.

But to us guys that would like to go in and shop, seeing a blocked isle with no one in it and no one around really eats on you.
Oh by the way I used to work as a Sub Contractor for the blue borg.
So now I go in. If the isle is blocked I look to see why it is. If no one is in the isle I will go and look at one isle over on either side. If still no one is around I then go into the isle and get what I need to and get out.
Nothing ticks you off more then to go into them there stores in a rush and after 20 minutes of hunting for an employee you cant get ahold of one. So I don't let anything waste MY TIME anymore.

Well said, without a 45 mile drive I only have the orange store and service is usually pretty poor, I think I am going to make an effort to adopt your attitude with blocked aisles etc.

Keye · 04-28-2008, 09:22 AM

Feel your pain. Hate any color BORG on the weekend. Still wish we had a blue one. The other color one does not understand how to price something where all the paper work is missing, the box is missing and at least one part is also missing. They seem to think 10% off is a great deal. When I did have access to the blue one I found some really good deals at times.

jeff... · 04-28-2008, 09:42 AM

Around here all we have is the blue BORG and builders discount, builders discount is small. I really dread going to the Henderson blue BORG and only do when I have too. If blue had some competition they might be a little more pleasant. They act like they are the only game in town, because they are...

I hear you brother

JimmyC · 04-28-2008, 10:16 AM

Generally the blue borg by me is pretty good, help wise and crowd wise. I just wish that they had better lumber. It takes a halk hour of picking through two by fours just to find a decent half straight ones. And, I'd like to know what management brain came up with the idea to restack all of the boomerang shaped wood back onto the piles every night

.

Jimmy

norm932 · 04-28-2008, 01:03 PM

OK, guys and gals
I'm going to get on my band wagon for a minute. I remember the days of the local hardware store you could walk in and see the same guy who had been there since you was a boy. He had good durable products and good help and advice and even directed to a local professional if needed. Now we have orange, blue, and wally circus, god please help us. We go in with the masses of people I believe are there just for exercise and entertainment (I have things to do!). You ask an 18 year high school student for help with your project, (you have been there, I see). Well my advise is to search out to smaller places of businesses, do some planning, support your local businessman who is there and wants to really help. I also bet your project turns out better because of the quality products and great advice. Ok I step down from the wagon now, knowing the old days are gone and the worst is yet to come.

Here is a link to where the professionals go:
http://www.littlehardware.com/home.html