Hardware stores have gone to shit | Poal: Say what you want.

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Now I'm aggravated. The manufacturer took the time to label them as 3/8, and the time to engrave 3/8" onto the bit so you know what size they are, but not the time to MEASURE if they were actually 3/8". I pull up the reviews and they're all wonderful...except for one person buried several pages deep pointing out that this manufacturer's 3/8" bits are not, in fact 3/8, because who the fuck needs quality control? Great, so it's not just a one-off screwup, it's an entire company who're math-avoidant after marrying their cousin for 12 generations. And for added fun, now I know everyone singing their praises for the first few pages can't measure either. Biden must have been talking about those contractors when he started rambling about incest at the latest debate, because how the hell do you work in the trades and not notice your drill bits are wildly out of spec.

Back to the hardware store I go to return this garbage. My eyes are assaulted by the hamplanet staffing the returns counter. She can't figure out how to return a drill bit and has to get help. I suspect she may be related to someone in the drill bit manufacturing industry. She finally figures out how to return a mother trucking drill bit that hasn't even been used.

Oh well, I'll just go buy a bit from another manufacturer. IDGAF if it's twice the price, I just want to build shelves today. I make my way to the drill bit aisle. Oh, you want a DIFFERENT manufacturer who shares the same understanding of math as you? Best I can do is an entire wall of the same darn company. Joke's on you, we don't stock anybody else.

I reassure myself that there are other hardware stores and pull out my phone to see if they have drill bits in stock. Cool, they've all included a handy "in stock for pickup today" filter. Hey, cool, one of them has what I need in stock for pickup today. Wait. Why. The. Flying. Flapjacks. does it say "Available for pickup today...by July 10th?" It's July 5th, are we in the Twilight zone where next week is today?

I contact the store to inquire what their major malfunction is. Turns out it's not in stock and they'd have to ship it in. "In stock for pickup today"? That's "just a suggestion". I resist the urge to "suggest" they look beyond family reunions for dating prospects.

I give up on hardware stores and go home. I guess I'll order this from Amazon, because at least our megacorp overlords know what 3/8" is.

I'm building some floating shelves and needed a 3/8" wood auger bit. I bought one, got my new jig out, and tried to slide the 3/8" bit into the 3/8" bushing. Doesn't fit. I scratch my head, double-check that I grabbed the correct bushing, and try again. You'd think I was trying to cram it in sideways - it isn't even close to fitting. I look at the package to ensure I bought the correct bit. It says 3/8". I look at the bit, assuming some minimum wage factory worker put the wrong bit in the carton. The bit itself says 3/8". Now I'm wondering if Factory Retard sent me the wrong bushings. I dig around in my garage and pull out some other 3/8" bits. Not wood auger bits so they won't work for this project, but at least I can sanity check my sizing. They all slide right into my 3/8" bushing without an issue. Now I'm aggravated. The manufacturer took the time to label them as 3/8, and the time to engrave 3/8" onto the bit so you know what size they are, but not the time to MEASURE if they were actually 3/8". I pull up the reviews and they're all wonderful...except for one person buried several pages deep pointing out that this manufacturer's 3/8" bits are not, in fact 3/8, because who the fuck needs quality control? Great, so it's not just a one-off screwup, it's an entire company who're math-avoidant after marrying their cousin for 12 generations. And for added fun, now I know everyone singing their praises for the first few pages can't measure either. Biden must have been talking about those contractors when he started rambling about incest at the latest debate, because how the hell do you work in the trades and not notice your drill bits are wildly out of spec. Back to the hardware store I go to return this garbage. My eyes are assaulted by the hamplanet staffing the returns counter. She can't figure out how to return a drill bit and has to get help. I suspect she may be related to someone in the drill bit manufacturing industry. She finally figures out how to return a mother trucking drill bit that hasn't even been used. Oh well, I'll just go buy a bit from another manufacturer. IDGAF if it's twice the price, I just want to build shelves today. I make my way to the drill bit aisle. Oh, you want a DIFFERENT manufacturer who shares the same understanding of math as you? Best I can do is an entire wall of the same darn company. Joke's on you, we don't stock anybody else. I reassure myself that there are other hardware stores and pull out my phone to see if they have drill bits in stock. Cool, they've all included a handy "in stock for pickup today" filter. Hey, cool, one of them has what I need in stock for pickup today. Wait. Why. The. Flying. Flapjacks. does it say "Available for pickup today...by July 10th?" It's July 5th, are we in the Twilight zone where next week is *today*? I contact the store to inquire what their major malfunction is. Turns out it's not in stock and they'd have to ship it in. "In stock for pickup today"? That's "just a suggestion". I resist the urge to "suggest" they look beyond family reunions for dating prospects. I give up on hardware stores and go home. I guess I'll order this from Amazon, because at least our megacorp overlords know what 3/8" is.

[–] • 5 pts

I just remember Fuck Joe Biden saying one lucid thing: "Americans need to lower their expectations." I find myself reciting that phrase a lot.

[–] • 4 pts

Link for reference:

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/gardening-tools/gardening-hand-tools/7006149?x429=true

A couple of years ago I needed this manual edger to clean up the sideway and driveway. It's a lot easier with one of these and more cost effective if you have a small amount of feet to cover vs. $300 gas powered one. Less likely to fuck up as well and dig into the yard. I went to both Lowes and Home Jewpot and those people thought I just transported forward in time. One lard wokey bitch laughed at me and said they stopped making those in the 1940s. Not kidding. I think OP is right about inbreeding.

[–] • 1 pt

Those are great. Power tools arent great for edging because they risk damaging any sprinklers along the edge.

[–] • 2 pts

Oh, you want a DIFFERENT manufacturer who shares the same understanding of math as you?

lmfao

(edited )

You are wrong. Tuck your tail - and move on. Spade bits and auger bits are not meant to be used with drilling jigs....period.

Both loose tolerance bits are for niggers (spade ?.) wanting to make holes quickly without precision. Or, for craftsmen who know that the only thing going through this hole is a bolt, and precision doesn't matter.

No 3/8" spade bit will ever fit your precision 3/8" drilling jig - think about it. Running an ill-fit spade bit through your jig will surely destroy it. Slow down. Get over your oversight and use a regular twist drill bit - as the jig was intended for (check the instructions nigger). The 3/8" twist drill bit will fit with an oil/air gap...snug. You learned, now go learn something else. Send pics of your completed shelves - worth the effort to get better at woodworking. Show us the holes.....

Nobody else here sees the oversight? Surely, this place is full of fast talking niggers. Complain about something real. Drilling holes in wood - nigga pleaze.

I've made mistakes too - Mea Culpa - we'll learn. We all can help.

[–] • 0 pt

Good news, my new 3/8" auger bit is actually 3/8" and fits my 3/8" drilling jig. Props to Japanese bit manufacturing for actually being within tolerances.

Homeless Despot and Lowd's aren't "hardware stores." They're appliance/carpet/garden stores that happen to have some building supplies.

At least your gear grinding equipment seems to be in working order.

Hah!

I walked into an Ace Hardware and asked for a hammer drill. They had no idea what I was talking about, so I showed them the Makita on their shelf and explained what it did, and showed them the masonry bits.

I've learned in the last 5 or so years that the Pareto Principle is accurate across the board and literally 80% of people are incompetant and propped up by the other 20%.

And maybe they're being cheeky and it's like the "Free Beer Tomorrow" sign in every shitty Irish pub. Available for pickup today, when today is July 10th. At least July 10th comes, Tomorrow never does.

I walked into an Ace Hardware and asked for a hammer drill. They had no idea what I was talking about

That's depressing. Hammer drills arent a specialty item, they're ubiquitious for masonry work.

I feel for you man, but where have you been over the last 10 years? Hardware stores have dropped off a fucking cliff over that time, and covid times sealed the deal.

Wonderful rant. I hope you get your shelves up. Which way out of this competency crisis?

"Available for pickup today...by July 10th?"

Sounds like Ace Hardware...lol

China doesn't know what 3/8" is. Where'd you think the first bit was made?

Name names. I've had good luck getting the right bit size at Lowe's, but if that was your first choice, kind of silly to recommend it.

Das kapitalism for you.

Cheapest possible workforce, cheapest possible suppliers, maximise profits.

The irony is that it reduces their profits to zero in the long term when they go broke, but quarterly stonks price bro!

Pride in work product and customer satisfaction... that's some of that White supremacy for you. Low value, low trust everywhere I look

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