[Healeys] Moss Motors merger

Mon Jun 24 08:20:16 MDT 2024

Moss's acquisition of Rimmer Bros. and the phenomenon of Ma & Pa hardware
stores' becoming part of the Ace brand are both examples of the
acquisition/consolidation trend that now dominates business and
professional organizations, including physicians, dentists, veterinarians,
CPA. attorneys, hospitals, funeral homes, pharmacies, specialty retail
stores, restaurants, etc. etc.--you name it and and you don't have to look
very hard to find an example of where an individual proprietorship is now
owned by or affiliated with some larger conglomeration.   The former owner
has moved to Florida and oftentimes his place has been taken by someone who
was flipping burgers last week.

In almost all cases the promise of better prices resulting from "economy of
scale" never materializes and personal relationships and quality of service
suffer because of sales quotas that must be achieved or due to limitations
placed upon time that can be spent with a customer, client or patient.  My
local Ace now has about 25% of its square footage devoted to either
its "outdoor department" or what I call a home store. Many of the retail
sales personnel know a lot less than I do about what they are selling. Big
Box "hardware" stores are even worse with employees who receive little
training and little or no experience.  Plus you can only buy fasteners in
prepacked quantities to defeat shoplifters and in plastic enclosures that
defy opening without a box cutter or the like.

True story:  I once went into a national hardware chain store in need of a
nail set.  When I was unable to find one I asked a young sales clerk for
help and he told me they only sold nails by the box.

Best--Michael Oritt

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 9:11 AM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:

> Ace is definitely a cut above the big box stores for service and selection
> (stores are much nicer too). But, prices are higher. They're they only
> place around here to get Stihl equipment.
>
>
> On 6/23/2024 2:32 PM, Leonard Hartnett wrote:
>
> 
> Bob"  Once upon a time, there was a family owned hardware store in the
> city where we lived for 40+ years.   Then Home Depot, Walmart, etc. moved
> in.  I cannot attest to any facts but I believe that that competition with
> its buying power was what made them become an ACE hardware store.
> Thankfully, I have not seen any major changes in service or product.
> Several times, when unable to find what I am looking for at the major chain
> store, the salesperson will recommend that I go to that local store, still
> referring to it by its original name, not an Ace store.   It is still
> part of the history of the city.  I was able to buy two (2) wood screws
> that I needed, not a pack of 6 or more.  I now refer to it as a museum.
>
>               The Other Len
> 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII BJ8
>                 HBJ8L39031
>               224,925  miles
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net>
> *To:* healeys at autox.team.net
> *Sent:* Sunday, June 23, 2024 11:48 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] Moss Motors merger
>
> I'm generally not in favor of private money snarfing up independent
> businesses, larding them up with debt--dunno if that's the case here, but
> these guys like to use OPM--laying off staff, taking a big cut then pawning
> the remains off to 'the greater fool(s)' (see: rural hospital systems). I
> have a personal experience: I went to the same optometrist for over 30
> years, then he sold out to one of these; a relatively small one, like this
> appears to be. He was a 'car guy,' into VW vans, and we'd trade articles
> off-hours and he always seemed to give me a little extra attention (at
> times, his staff would have to pull him out of our conversations). After he
> was acquired, he seemed harried and I felt the staff was really trying to
> expedite all appointments; I suspect--but don't know for a fact--he was on
> a some sort of quota or mandatory revenue system. I've heard lots of
> similar stories and I can't think of any where a product or service has
> been improved after the money boys took over. Anybody?
>
> OTOH, this is a small, specialty business, and it may be the only way some
> of them can survive at all. Time will tell.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
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