Best/Worst Places to buy home improvement stuff
And so, I’ve returned, if for no other reason that to break up Mr. Hays’ apparent monopoly on our sweet Metroblog.
This weekend has been almost productive. Anticipating a promised break in the rain (I stopped checking the weather reports on Wednesday, because I chose to cling to the silly hope they’d remain accurate), The Missus and I went out and bought some soil, some plants, a lawnmower, some gardening tools, and other various accoutrements (probably entirely misspelled…) for our weekend amusement.
Needless to say, much of it went unused. After two days, I’ve finally given my yard a rudimentary haircut, as well as done some weeding and such. I’ve also been spending time with my sad dog, because she’s been feeling lonely this week (she spent a couple days at the vet getting fixed) and needs the attention.
I failed to hang the new hose, to place the new half-barrel that we’re going to grow my tomatoes in, or to turn over the soil in the planter box (where I just discovered two random carrots, believe it or not).
So, next weekend will be busy.
Seeing as I’ve been buying a bunch of home improvement-type stuff, I’m curious on people’s opinions on places to go for various needs. We hit Sears for the lawnmower, and Home Despot for the rest.
I’m a fan of Home Depot, despite my gut feeling that going to the Walmart of home improvement centers is bad for my soul. I also give Fred Meyer’s a lot of my cash in this area.
Not a fan of Target, which usually has somewhat chintzy stuff in this department.
Give me your opinions. I covet your insight…
Which Home Depot is it? At Mall 205 I generally have one of two experiences: I can’t find what I want, or I find the spot where it used to be. Sometimes I find it and there’s no price, too (but rarely).
I have been to Lowe’s a few times and I think they’re all right. I’ve been disappointed with my last few Craftsman purchases from Sears as far as tools go, but our lawn mower seems to be holding up nicely.
I like Parkrose Hardware too, sometimes you just need something different than the Depot can give you.
I actually like Fred Meyer more than I should probably admit for stuff like this. Although for gardening stuff? Portland Nursery (as long as one’s independently wealthy, that is) has it all over any chain – hands-down.
Wilco farmers co-op is nice for things like fertilizer or peat moss. Seeds too. I’m not sure where the closest one to Portland would be. If you’re down the valley though, there’s one in Silverton.
When I hit Home Depot, I tend to go to the one at Airport Way, or my favorite, near Carmen Drive down I-5.
Other than Portland Nursery or Sunlight Nursery (or whatever they’re calling the old 7 Dees on Powell), is there any place to buy good moss for creating a bedding in the bottom of a hanging pot for setting flowers in? My wife has great creative vision, but little patience for random searches.
On the Craftsman front, I’ve been told that if your Craftsman tool breaks, you can just take it to Sears and they’ll replace it, no questions asked. That said, I could never see being truly disappointed with what you get, unless you’re just finding the tools to be non-functional altogether…
I don’t know about garden stuff (though there is a cute little nursery place on N. Mississippi), but if you are redoing the house, try the Rebuilding Center on N. Mississippi and the Habitat for Humanity left over stuff store on N/NE Columbia Boulevard (it’s not far from I-5).