Marketforce hardware stores

I haven't seen a posting for one in a very long time. Does anyone know if they're still done? If not, based on my experience today they really need to be. The thing that really distinguished them from the big box stores was their level of 'helpful' service. This morning, no associates visible anywhere for a very long time and I had to almost tackle the first one I saw as he was zooming past. Asked my question, got a very feeble response. No acknowledgement when I left.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

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I wouldn't do them even if they were available.

I refuse to evaluate "essential workers" who are stressed out, understaffed, underpaid, and risking their lives every day to go to work. I think they are doing more than enough just showing up for work every day.

I don't have any trouble auditing gas stations, taking exterior photos, or drive-thru fast food, as these operations seem to be going forward quite normally after adjusting to the pandemic. But grocery stores, big box stores, other retailers, etc.? No way.

In my area, all stores are open as long as they follow the mandated guidelines (which include social distancing, mask wearing, etc.) Things feel pretty back to normal, but thanks for the reminder that they're really not.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I wouldn't do them even if they were available.

I refuse to evaluate "essential workers" who are stressed out, understaffed, underpaid, and risking their lives every day to go to work. I think they are doing more than enough just showing up for work every day.

I don't have any trouble auditing gas stations, taking exterior photos, or drive-thru fast food, as these operations seem to be going forward quite normally after adjusting to the pandemic. But grocery stores, big box stores, other retailers, etc.? No way.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

It's actually pretty scary out there. And those poor workers! I live in a small town, and I know our grocery clerks and the employees at the other stores all make only minimum wage. We don't have ANY major employers so they aren't getting any hazard pay, either.

Every store has a sign "Please wear a mask in the store". Every store has a stock of totally free masks right by the front door. Is anyone wearing masks? NO. The employees are, and the stores put up shields between cashiers and customers, but I just cannot forget they are risking their lives every single day.

I can choose to stay home and not work. Since they are deemed "essential", they had to go to work even during shut-down.

The little bit I can do is tip, everywhere I go. Bag my groceries, get a tip. Carry them to the car, get a tip. Hand me my fast food order, get a tip. Check the air in my tires, get a tip. It ain't much, but it's what I can do.

I haven't seen the shops for the hardware store, but I have shopped at the hardware store. There are 4 in my area I do shops for. One is right down the street and is my hardware store of choice. I have shopped there several times since March. All my hardware-type purchases have been at this store since the corona. I am attempting to support my favorite stores during this bad time and this is one of my favorites. They offer online ordering and curbside delivery. That's what I've been using.

Yes, I really like the idea of supporting the local shops. However, their website was incorrect (it said they had an item in stock when they didn't, which is probably a Corporate issue but still irritated me). The associate I finally tracked down pointed me in the direction the item "should be at" and scurried off. Unfortunately, the item I was looking for needed to be purchased today, and ordering/waiting for it to be shipped to the store was not an option.

@roflwofl wrote:

I haven't seen the shops for the hardware store, but I have shopped at the hardware store. There are 4 in my area I do shops for. One is right down the street and is my hardware store of choice. I have shopped there several times since March. All my hardware-type purchases have been at this store since the corona. I am attempting to support my favorite stores during this bad time and this is one of my favorites. They offer online ordering and curbside delivery. That's what I've been using.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I asked a scheduler about these shops. She said that was the only one that has not returned. There was no date on the horizon.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

@ceasesmith wrote:

I wouldn't do them even if they were available.

I refuse to evaluate "essential workers" who are stressed out, understaffed, underpaid, and risking their lives every day to go to work. I think they are doing more than enough just showing up for work every day.

I don't have any trouble auditing gas stations, taking exterior photos, or drive-thru fast food, as these operations seem to be going forward quite normally after adjusting to the pandemic. But grocery stores, big box stores, other retailers, etc.? No way.

Not sure how a gas station store clerk/manager is under less stress/in less danger than a hardware chain worker. Maybe it's a regional difference? In my high-population area (Long Island) the stores attached to gas stations are usually very tiny and cramped, and they're busy. Around here I'd actually feel more comfortable being a worker in the hardware chain where at least there's some floor space to work with.

Also NY has a mask mandate, businesses are allowed to refuse service to those who won't wear masks. We were the coal mine canary in that we got pounded first by the pandemic, so in my experience New Yorkers are pretty good about wearing the mask. Not perfect, but pretty good.

Thanks for the information.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I asked a scheduler about these shops. She said that was the only one that has not returned. There was no date on the horizon.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

"Not sure how a gas station store clerk/manager is under less stress/in less danger than a hardware chain worker. Maybe it's a regional difference?"

For one thing, their supply chains are not as disrupted as major retailers. No shelves with "sorry, temporarily out of stock" in any of the gas stations I've been to. Interaction with employees at the gas station are very limited, and the audit is revealed. I'm not taking up their time with stoopid questions like "And is this the hottest pepper?" or what's the best way to cook a steak. I'm not judging their product knowledge or anything.

Haven't really had "out of stock" signs in our stores since the depths of the pandemic here in April.

I noticed the other day how bare the cleaning products shelves of my local grocery store still was. Didn't really make sense to me.

@KokoBWare wrote:

Haven't really had "out of stock" signs in our stores since the depths of the pandemic here in April.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I work for a very busy gas station. Our stress level is extremely high. We frequently order supplies (twice a week). The supplier doesn’t send cigars, cigarettes, cleaning supplies (for customers purchases), quick snacks that people love buying, tissue, etc. We get yelled at, treated like peasants, get money thrown at us, all while trying to provide friendly service and clean up after adults who act like untamed animals, while praying we don’t get sick.You guys have no idea. On the flip side we finally have more masks and sanitizer than we can handle-at a higher price of course.

Storm, you have my sympathy and empathy. I'm sure you handle it with grace and courage.

More than I could do.

I am sorry so many people are asshats.

Thank you for your share. It helps to know what people who do the work you do have to face each day.

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230

I do them when the fee goes to $10 or more. I did one before March. Haven't seen any posted since then.

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