On 2017-09-02 10:53 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> On 9/2/2017 10:29 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> I may be hard to please. I usually like to walk around and shop on my
>> own and without being hassled by sales clerks. Sometimes I am looking
>> for something specific and need help. If I don't get it I am likely to
>> walk out and try another store.
>
> Unless I'm in Costco, I expect to be able to find someone to ask if I
> need something.Â* Happens more often in the big hardware stores, you
> could grow old trying to find some specific thing.Â* I try to look it up
> beforehand and note the bin number, but sometimes I'm not sure of
> exactly what I need and I want someone around I can ask.

In some of the larger stores it is hard enough to find a clerk to help
you, and finding someone who actually knows about the products is darned
near impossible. Some of the Canadian Tire stores are really bad. One
time I was looking for .22 rifle and asked the woman at the sporting
goods counter to show me one. She handed me a shotgun, and when I said
no, the .22 rifle she asked what was the difference. At another CT store
I went to the auto parts counter and asked for an inner tube, told him
the size of the tire and explained that it was for my lawn tractor
wagon, and he asked "What's an inner tube?".

There are a few good hardware stores where I prefer to shop instead of
the larger stores with better prices. They are more likely to have what
I want and they can give me good advice. My new go to hardware is in a
small town about 10 miles down the road. They have not branched out into
patio furniture, cookware, toys etc like most of the larger stores, but
they have everything hardware.... hand tools, power tools, nuts, bolts,
nails, rope, straps, electrical. The don't have a lot of lighting
fixtures, but they have all the rest of the wiring needs. As soon as I
walk in the door they offer help, but then they leave me alone.

I also frequent a great store in St.Catharines. They have all sorts of
good quality outdoors equipment, gear and clothing. There is usually
someone standing by the door to offer help as soon as you enter, and
they are very helpful. I went in the other day with my wife. We were
both looking for things. One woman helped me right away and I got a nice
pair of hiking shoes. While she was helping me and another woman helped
me wife. We walked out of the store about 15 minutes later and between
us had spent more than $250. There were still clerks there to help
anyone else who was looking for something.