Any idea what's going on with Hartville?

[squall_line]

I noticed that Hartville dumped a whole bunch of opened packs of paper on eBay recently, with Buy it Now instead of their usual auction.

Today, they listed more accessories, none of which have retail packaging and all as Buy it Now.

To the untrained skeptic, this looks like a store display for a brand being closed or shrunk drastically.  Usually store displays don't disappear unless there's also a loss of dealership agreement or a physical location closes.

Or is this just typical for Hartville to do once in a while?  I hope things are still well for them.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Dunno...but it sounds like they've sorted through some returns and are dealing with them. Many returns are more about buyer's remorse than actual defects.

 

[squall_line]

That's fair.  This feels different from their normal listings for some reason; they usually do one item per week if they have, say, multiple MW-1000 extension tables or something.

It popped into my head again this evening and I got to thinking that they may have bought out a local contractor or similar.

My brain needs an "off" switch...

 

[RustE]

Could be stuff from store demos?  And with how bad the shipping companies are around here, it could just be damaged product.  They also went more into online sales last year and consequently got more returns.

 

[Packard]

Hartville sells on Amazon.com.  These could be returns.  I think Amazon customers are more likely to return goods than direct-to-Hartville customers are.

 

[squall_line]

Could be stuff from store demos?  And with how bad the shipping companies are around here, it could just be damaged product.  They also went more into online sales last year and consequently got more returns.

Hartville sells on Amazon.com.  These could be returns.  I think Amazon customers are more likely to return goods than direct-to-Hartville customers are.

Definitely fair points about online returns.  I certainly wasn't wishing ill upon them, just wondering out loud.

 

[RustE]

Certainly wasn’t taken as a negative remark.  You have me curious though, since I haven’t been down there in a while.  They have a discount area in the basement with all sorts of stuff, and maybe it just got too full with a decrease in foot traffic.

 

[Christophl]

I ordered 3X a hard ETS 150 pad and each time they sent mediums!  Off Amazon....I called them and told they had a stocking problem and they had no interest in my feedback.  Not sure I'll be using them again..

 

[squall_line]

For what it's worth, Hartville seems to be cleaning out a whole bunch of returns, old stock, or something on eBay.  All listed as "without retail packaging", which leads me to believe they're in-person returns.

Tons of abrasives, consumables, and other fun items.  I think all of the CT VA-20s sold out, but the MW 1000 extensions are available, hoses of a bunch of sizes and lengths, long tenon stock, Conturo adhesive packs, parallel guides and extensions in Imperial and Metric, etc.  All 10% or more off with free shipping, from what I can tell, with quantity breaks as well as "make offer" buttons active.

They even started adding batteries today.

Like I said, a bit odd and out of the norm for their past 5 months, but maybe not abnormal for an annual cycle.

 

[Packard]

I would not assume anything nefarious.  I've found Hartville to be a reliable vendor. 

 

[bimes]

scored a good deal on a 36mm non-antistatic hose, make sure to try the make an offer button if you are looking at any of the buy it now items.

 

[festal]

Whats the link to their listings?

 

[mike_aa]

I concur that Hartville is reliable and they are a great bunch of people.  I've dealt with them online and in store for more than five years and always great service. 

Maybe they are having a major clearing of their warehouse and want to make room.  I had one of the items on my watchlist for a day or two and today they sent me an offer lowering their buy it now price.

Mike A.

 

[Cheese]

I had one of the items on my watchlist for a day or two and today they sent me an offer lowering their buy it now price.

So what's not to like about that?  [big grin] [big grin]

Even the "King of Sand" has to eventually move merchandise, even if it's only grain by grain.  [smile]

 

[bimes]

Whats the link to their listings?

https://www.ebay.com/str/hartvillehardwareoutlet?_pgn=2