Shop local first and support the businesses that support The Batavian

Posted by Howard Owens on July 12, 2009 - 9:08pm
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They're commonly called "bicycle-shaped objects" -- the bikes Wal-Mart sells. They're built and designed to be cheap, not reliable. The same could be said for the lawn mowers you can get at Home Depot -- for $120 to $130 you can get a lawn mower, that if you're lucky, will last the summer, and then you can replace it next year.

People think of the Big Box Stores as low-price leaders, but there's an adage we all know: You get what you pay for.

When you shop on price alone, you may just be throwing your money away.

The advantage of the local retailer is that his or her reputation rests on the products in the store, and the service that goes with the sales.  The typical local business owner went into a particular line of work because that's his passion. He or she is an expert in the field. That passion and expertise makes for a better shopping experience.

And sometimes you'll be surprised -- the lowest prices aren't always at the big boxes.

Here at The Batavian we're thankful for the men and women who own so many of Genesee County's great stores and restaurants, because without them, there would be no site in town like The Batavian.  If you appreciate what we're doing, please support the sponsors listed below, and when you do, please let them know that you saw their ad on The Batavian and it influenced your patronage for that day.

Posted by Chris Olin on July 12, 2009 - 10:57pm
Out of curiosity, do you (or anyone else lurking this topic) know of any local hardware stores that supply tools like wrenches, power tools, soldering equipment, torx bits, and so on?

I checked a few places one day, but they only sold parts and not tools.
Posted by Howard Owens on July 13, 2009 - 6:44am
I'd check Crocker Ace in Le Roy or Gui's Ace in Batavia (Gui's is part of a regional group of of Ace stores, and Crocker is owned by two guys in Le Roy ... Ace is a national brand, but the stores are independently owned).
Posted by Andrew Erbell on July 13, 2009 - 8:20am
If you want quality, go to Sears and buy Craftsman tools or find out who the local Matco Tool Rep is and contact him/her directly. Tools from either place will still be in use 100 years after your dead. The same can't be said about ACE Hardware hand tools and their power tools would only apply if you buy Dewalt.

I'm not sure what point Howard is trying to make about buying a lawn mower from the local Hardware store either. They aren't going to service it if it quits. If you want that assurance for you push mower go to Cedar Street and plan on spending $300 or $400 (or more) for a cub cadet. At least you won't have to walk in the eeeeeeevvvvviiiiillllll Wal-Mart. You might catch a disease or something.
Posted by Peter O'Brien on July 13, 2009 - 8:24am
BTW the bike I bought at Walmart is still in great shape even though its kept out in the rain.
Posted by Howard Owens on July 13, 2009 - 8:52am
Andrew, who said buy a lawn mower at a hardware store? I said buy local, and support The Batavian advertisers, which would inevitably lead to Cedar Street.
Posted by Timothy Paine on July 13, 2009 - 12:09pm
I do try and do my best to shop local. I can't say that I always succeed, but I try. I'm one of those guys that spent almost $700 on a Cub Cadet push mower several years ago. I got one with electric start in case I was out of town for a few weeks and my wife would have to mow. For the first several years I thought it was the biggest piece of crap I ever bought. It was never set up and delivered in the City as promised. I finally had to go get it 2 weeks later and they were still putting it together when I got there (I was told it was all set to go 2 weeks earlier). No one went over the mower and how it worked or its requirments as promised. It kept breaking hubs, 3 in two years at about $28 each. It vibrated horribly and half the time the self propel didn't work. They never offered a solution or any warranty to the problem they were just happy selling me parts. Finally my father and I took it apart and found several things that had been put together wrong. We had no manual and just used common sense when we put it back together. It now is very smooth, the self-drive is always working and I now really like the mower. Next time I buy a Cub Cadet I'll look for the best price. I was really let down by the promise of service from the local dealer on Cedar Street. Even after all I went through my sister spent several thousand on a zero-steer a few years later. All I'm going to say is I got off easy compared to what she went through. At least I finally ended up with a good mower.
Posted by Jeff Allen on July 13, 2009 - 8:29pm
I have been waiting to brag on my locally purchased lawn mower. In 1983, my dad took me to Crockers Hardware in LeRoy to buy a new Toro rear bagger push mower. I thought it was the coolest thing (except for actually having to mow the lawn with it). After many years of reliable service from Crockers, I bought the mower from my dad for 35 bucks. 26 years later, my son mows our lawn with it every week with only 2 pulls to start each and every time. I have pictures of it but don't know how to post them (yeah I know it sounds creepy that I have pictures of my push lawn mower, but I am really proud of the little champ!).
Posted by John Roach on July 13, 2009 - 8:55pm
Bought a snow blower from Batavia Cycle Center. Great product,great service, and local.

Who makes, and who sells, good paint sprayers?
Posted by Howard Owens on July 13, 2009 - 10:50pm
Jeff, post the pictures -- go to "create content" and then "add image" (or something like that) ... just follow the prompts. It's easy. Write a caption for the picture. Likely, we'll put it on the home page.