Do We Really Need…?
Another Home Depot is under construction in Daly City right now, adding to the two other locations on this side of the bay, and only about a mile away from the other two. My concern is for the local hardware store owners. Will people stay true to the local guys or venture south to the big HD? Anyone that has ever been to the Colma location knows that it is a nightmare, so many people that the only time to go is really late before it closes.
“20 to 40% business loss
….when Home Depot (and its big box cousins) strangles a community like this, hardware and home improvement retailers go out of business in record numbers. Those that do survive typically lose 20 to 40% of their business.” from Cole Hardware
while i sympathize with small specialty stores, and appreciate the one located steps from my house where i’ll continue to go for what i need since HD is so far away . . . .
the reason the colma one is so slammed is because it serves a very large area – there isn’t one in SF (yet). the economic realities suck for the little guys – but the fact is if the big place can provide what you need for less money, why not go there – especially when, presumably, you need HD goods to outfit that house you just mortgaged your soul to buy.
Home Depot can get bent. Frankly, every time I see one of these monstrosities go up it makes me want to vomit. Every time I’m forced to go into one, I get the worst service I’ve ever received, from the most incompetent employees, because they treat them so bad they can’t keep anybody good.
The world would be a better place if the “Wal-Mart” of Home Improvement would just disappear from the face of the earth.
In reply to CD above: Why not go there? Because they suck! Because you’ll spend so much time trying to hunt down an idiot to try to help you, and waiting in the mile-long line to return things, that it’s not worth it to save the $3 on a hammer.
If not for the big retail stores where would all those people work? What? Lots of little mom & pop stores? Dan, get a grip!
As a San Franciscan, yes we NEED Home Depot here! Target, Walmart, Ikea, HD, Lowe’s, all of the big box retailers we DO need!
Otherwise we travel outside SF to get them, and that makes NO sense. Plus, people can ride MUNI to get to these places and it will give JOBS to people out there. What is wrong with that?