<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#3333ff">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.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#3333ff"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#3333ff">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.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#3333ff"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#3333ff">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.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#3333ff"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color:#3333ff">Best--Michael Oritt</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 9:11 AM Bob Spidell <<a href="mailto:bspidell@comcast.net">bspidell@comcast.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div>
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.<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>On 6/23/2024 2:32 PM, Leonard Hartnett
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Bob" Once upon a time, there was
a family owned hardware store in the city where we lived for
40+ years. </font><font size="2" face="Arial"> 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<font size="2" face="Arial"> part of the history of the city. </font>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. </font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"> The Other Len<br>
1967 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII BJ8<br>
HBJ8L39031</font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"> 224,925 miles</font></div>
<div> </div>
<blockquote style="border-left:2px solid rgb(0,0,0);padding-left:5px;padding-right:0px;margin-left:5px;margin-right:0px">
<div style="font:10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial;background:rgb(228,228,228)"><b>From:</b>
<a title="bspidell@comcast.net" href="mailto:bspidell@comcast.net" target="_blank">Bob
Spidell</a> </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="healeys@autox.team.net" href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net" target="_blank">healeys@autox.team.net</a> </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, June 23, 2024
11:48 AM</div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Healeys] Moss
Motors merger</div>
<div><br>
</div>
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?<br>
<br>
OTOH, this is a small, specialty business, and it may be the
only way some of them can survive at all. Time will tell.<br>
<br>
Bob<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
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