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I live about an hour drive from the nearest Rockler store so when I travel to the general area I like to stop in and look around. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I go there. I usually buy a book or two and generally walk up and down the aisles just looking at things and getting ideas too.
While browsing I stopped to look at parallel planers because I don't have one and hope to purchase one in the near future. I looked at the Delta model 22-590 13" planer. It was priced at $600. I remembered thinking that a few days earlier I had seen the same model at Menards for much less, but perhaps it was a lower end model.
After I got home I checked it out online and found that it was the exact same model and it was $175 more at Rockler. Even though the online Menards advertised price says clearance sale, it has been the same $425 for the past 9 months at my local store.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=29962&site=ROCKLER
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...lta-13-thickness-planer/p-1805227-c-10089.htm
While I was checking it out a sales clerk asked me if I needed help. I asked him if they sell many of these models compared to the other more expensive models. He said it was their best selling planer and they can hardly keep them in stock. I don't think he was joshing me because he could have easily pushed me to a more expensive brand. I thanked him for answering my questions and continued looking around.
I wouldn't think much about a $25 or even $50 difference in price but $175 is a massive difference for the same exact product. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting the Rockler store and picking up a thing or two that can't be gotten at the home stores but it reiterated in my mind the importance of shopping around and comparing prices.
I am new to this forum and relatively new to the "hobby" of woodworking also. I read the new members section often and see many other folks that are new to woodworking. I am sharing this if for no other reason, than to remind other newbs to shop around...that $175 difference can buy a lot of other tools and supplies.
While browsing I stopped to look at parallel planers because I don't have one and hope to purchase one in the near future. I looked at the Delta model 22-590 13" planer. It was priced at $600. I remembered thinking that a few days earlier I had seen the same model at Menards for much less, but perhaps it was a lower end model.
After I got home I checked it out online and found that it was the exact same model and it was $175 more at Rockler. Even though the online Menards advertised price says clearance sale, it has been the same $425 for the past 9 months at my local store.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=29962&site=ROCKLER
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...lta-13-thickness-planer/p-1805227-c-10089.htm
While I was checking it out a sales clerk asked me if I needed help. I asked him if they sell many of these models compared to the other more expensive models. He said it was their best selling planer and they can hardly keep them in stock. I don't think he was joshing me because he could have easily pushed me to a more expensive brand. I thanked him for answering my questions and continued looking around.
I wouldn't think much about a $25 or even $50 difference in price but $175 is a massive difference for the same exact product. Don't get me wrong, I love visiting the Rockler store and picking up a thing or two that can't be gotten at the home stores but it reiterated in my mind the importance of shopping around and comparing prices.
I am new to this forum and relatively new to the "hobby" of woodworking also. I read the new members section often and see many other folks that are new to woodworking. I am sharing this if for no other reason, than to remind other newbs to shop around...that $175 difference can buy a lot of other tools and supplies.
