01-22-2015, 04:50 PM
ACE versus Do It Best (HPM) versus Home Depot
Hands down ACE wins on selection of nuts and bolts. My local ACE in Philippines even stocks some genuine bronze washers $5ea.
Quality at Home Depot in that department is worst. All Chinese junk in prepackaged blister packs.
HPM is the high volume dealer on basic nuts and bolts used to build houses and not autos.
ACE always suffers from a smell problem owing to home and garden kept inside.
Tools, HPM has largest selection for specialty tools like nibblers. Home Depot wins on tool price.
Hand tools I vote ACE. Home Depot seems keen on disposable low quality sets usually purchased as a present.
Floor tiles and factory finished wood flooring.. no question Home Depot. But don't forget the two specialty flooring shops. You almost need a map as these are two shops harder to find. However, frequently I found a better deal there.
Kitchen..If you have the budget...HPM carries and reps the highest quality. They also sell the lowest quality as part of packaged homes.
Largest problem with HPM is understanding how they operate as 7 different stores.
Roofing plant
Truss plant
Kitchen & Bath
Contractor sales and service (open to all despite name)
Retail store
Warehouse store
A casual customer will only see the retail store.
The door manufacturing area may or may not be open and is store 7.
One hidden deal most don't know about is the HPM warehouse store. Rows upon rows of items not seen in the retail store. For example window parts. Also hidden back there are special orders that were never picked up. Entire sets of windows for a home can be sitting there for years.
Disclaimer: I used to work at HPM
Hands down ACE wins on selection of nuts and bolts. My local ACE in Philippines even stocks some genuine bronze washers $5ea.
Quality at Home Depot in that department is worst. All Chinese junk in prepackaged blister packs.
HPM is the high volume dealer on basic nuts and bolts used to build houses and not autos.
ACE always suffers from a smell problem owing to home and garden kept inside.
Tools, HPM has largest selection for specialty tools like nibblers. Home Depot wins on tool price.
Hand tools I vote ACE. Home Depot seems keen on disposable low quality sets usually purchased as a present.
Floor tiles and factory finished wood flooring.. no question Home Depot. But don't forget the two specialty flooring shops. You almost need a map as these are two shops harder to find. However, frequently I found a better deal there.
Kitchen..If you have the budget...HPM carries and reps the highest quality. They also sell the lowest quality as part of packaged homes.
Largest problem with HPM is understanding how they operate as 7 different stores.
Roofing plant
Truss plant
Kitchen & Bath
Contractor sales and service (open to all despite name)
Retail store
Warehouse store
A casual customer will only see the retail store.
The door manufacturing area may or may not be open and is store 7.
One hidden deal most don't know about is the HPM warehouse store. Rows upon rows of items not seen in the retail store. For example window parts. Also hidden back there are special orders that were never picked up. Entire sets of windows for a home can be sitting there for years.
Disclaimer: I used to work at HPM
Former Puna Beach Resident
Now sailing in SE Asia
HOT BuOYS Sailing
Now sailing in SE Asia
HOT BuOYS Sailing
