How's your local welding store??

[hooda]

I want to know how your local welding store is. Please state your area, but not necessarily the name of the store. This is why I ask. It seems that, as a guy that's been out of the welding "scene" for some time, going into a welding store, I felt like once I was sized up as an amateur looking to part with less than $50.00, and not a commercial whale forking out $2000.00 a month, I was not treated the way I felt that a customer should be. This has happened at every welding store in the area, with 1 exception, and unfortunately that 1 exception has an employee who is a sanctimonious, condescending little **ick that would rather be surfing ebay than helping a customer make a decision. I guess that what I could equate it to is going to a regular auto parts store, vs. walking into a racing shop. In my experience, The auto parts store is going to give you about the same level of service wether you're buying a $4.00 PCV valve, or a $600.00 set of brake rotors. The racing shop will politely tolerate your request for the PCV valve, and possibly refer you to the auto parts store to get it, perk up a little for the rotors, but still consider you a waste of time until you've established yourself as a customer by buying a $7500.00 crate motor. The biggest difference is that the auto parts store has a much larger base of competition, big box retailers nipping their heels on oil and filter prices, and the internet, dealerships, and independent shops on the upper end. Whereas the racing shop relies on customers spending much more per capita to pay the rent and light the lights. Our friends at the LWS seem to not realize the impact the internet is having on people similar to those found on this site, we are finding VALUE here. If you have had a positive or negative experience, please post it.

[dirtyfarmer]

There is a family owned welding shop that actually has two or three locations, that is very friendly. They will sell tungsten by the piece if that's what you want, sell filler rod the same way. Pick out what you want, 6 of these, 12 of that, whatever, they weigh it , no hassle. Prices aren't bad either. When I needed to buy an argon tank, I stopped there to get a price then was going to compare to another national store (Airgas) that was nearby, well, I ran into the owner in the parking lot, real nice guy. He asked me my story and told me his. He kind of talked me into getting a 80 cu" bottle, explained how handy they are, and said any time I feel I need something bigger, he'd give me full purchase price towards the bigger tank.(which I wound up doing). Anyway, I feel very welcome there.

[dgarnier]

some what the same experiance - called around to price out tanks and refills. Called some of the big names and got some outragous prices. Called some big name local shops and got even worse pricing. Found an independent shop right by the house that was friendly and quite fair on the tank price and rental, plus they are open on Saturday.

Then for supply I shopped around on the web and found the best prices turned out to be another local shop. So I called in an order and the fella didnt seems to thrilled with my order, but hey its 150$. So later this week I am going to stop by to place that gave me a good price on argon to see how there prices are on filler rod, tungstons and consumables. I am hoping they have a price close to the other place so I dont have to go back. I know I am never going to spend as much as a weld shop, but hey that is no reason to jack me around.

[A/C Guy]

Phx, Az is the area.

Vern Lewis Welding treats everyone very nice, but they are the most expensive place to shop. They also B.S. customers, so you never know if they are giving you the straight scoop or just saying whatever it takes to sell you something. I almost bought a Dynasty 350 tigrunner from them, but the regional manager blew the sale. $7K sale blown out the door because he tried to screw around on the pricing and jerk me around.
Phx Welding Supply is exactly like your bad experience.
Praxair stores have the nicest people, are flexible on pricing, and give everyone the same respect and service whether it is for a $2 cable lug or a $3500 welder.

Funny, most of my HVAC supply houses sound exactly like your bad experience. I spent over $140K at one and the counter people still treat customers like garbage. So I started buying from their biggest competitor this year. This is the third year in a row that bad counter help has driven me to change product lines and start buying from another supply house.

[dgarnier]

stopped by on my way home yesterday and 4043 was just about twice the price. 3/32 %2 lanthinated was 48$ for a 10pack but they would have to order them, they only had pure, zercoinated, and ceriated. So this place will just be my argon supplier, while grumpy will get my filler rod business

[Ram48]

I use a smaller family owned shop that uses airgas for the tanks. Real friendly and helpful. I went in and told them up front I knew nothing and was learning as a hobbyist. They answered all my questions helped with mig tip selection, and even GAVE me a bunch of tig rod for Aluminum. Needless to say I get my gas and consumables from them now.

[welderdude]

The town I live in has only 1 family owned welding supply shop. I have had pretty good luck there and they are always nice too. I usually get my gas cylinders filled there, but plan on buying my rods from there now also. They have given me a few samples of different welding rods that welded better than the Hobart rods I use. I also bought some er70s-6 1/16 tig filler rod for 4 dollars per pound which is pretty cheap compared to ordering it and paying shipping.

[WILD BILL]

The only 2 LWS I have been in have both been great to deal with and I even told them right up front I was a mere hobbyist.

Would you believe the first was Praxair and the second AirGas.

[Ray]

To my disappointment the Very last independently owned Supply firm just sold out to Air Liquide this week. So now they only have 1 competitor, Air Gas. And Liquide has 5 stores that used to be Mom and Pop kind of places. There is no Praxair here for some reason.
I guess I’m going to have to breakdown and see the AirGas folks, as Liquide charges about 20% more, but it’s getting to the point they have a monopoly on Gas and charge accordingly.
Found out when calling for some C25, now I’m majorly bummed.

[Tritium]

No local welding store near me. I have to travel 80 miles to Airgas but they seem friendly so far although the counter person denied any knowledge of lanthinated tungsten even though it is in their catalog.

Thurmond

[dgarnier]

my LWS told me the only people that use lanthinated use it for working on nuke's...and thats why they dont carry them

[Tritium]

I am using lanthinated because I saw the testing of tungsten over at weldingtipsandtricks.com and they seemed to hold up better. I found a tri-blend tungsten at diamondground.com and they offered free samples so I ordered a couple of those but have not received them yet.

Thurmond

[deranged]

I have 3 welding supply stores in my area (Holland & Grand Rapids, MI). I personally deal with LWS in Holland exclusively, I have never felt like they are treating me any different that any customer that shops there. I have even had them spend good amounts of time trying to track down a new mig torch for my 16 year old Century welder that I didn't buy from them and they don't even sell the brand. The only time I have a bad experience is self inflicted when I spend TOO much money with them.

[shawn]

i have a airgas and a praxair in my area and a couple mom and pop shops. suprisingly the mom and pop shops had the worst customer service. airgas knocked $100 off my welding hood and $50 off the purchase of my 125 bottle. i told them i wasn't new to welding but getting my own setup since i was always borrowing my buddies and just a hobbist. everytime i've been in there they always take really good care of me and the 1 time they couldn't help me they sent me to a competitor because they knew he had it in stock. i've only been into the local praxair once and he spent an hour trying to help me find consumables for my pu205's plasma torch and ended up not being any help but he sure tried like hell. the mom and pop shops asked me what welder they were for then turned up their nose and told me to buy a real welder

oh and this is in the corpus christi, tx area

[wruehl]

I stopped by my LWS and was floored by the prices, they are a local chain, Rockford Industrial Welding Supply. They wanted $200 for a new 125 bottle then almost $100 to fill it. Then I figured they would make me exchange if for a used one at the next fill so I would pay through the nose for nothing more than a used bottle in the end. I ended up getting an 80 (C25 mix) for the MIG, and a 125 (Ar) for the TIG for $75 each on Craigslist outside of Chicago.

There is a place up in Beloit WI that I want to check out when can sneak up there on the bike next week. They look Mom & Pop and have MUCH better prices than RIWS.

[Salty]

I have 2 LWS in my area, I primarily use the one that is closest to me. They are nice and they know I am a hobby welder. There prices are high so buy most of my stuff on line. If I need some filler rod they have a good selection an I can buy 1 pound at a time. I am not sure about the prices on gas refills but I think they are high as well. So my LWS is convenient friendly and expensive.

[Zoomie]

I went in and talked to my local guys at Machine & Welding Supply after work and told them I was just learning. Aaron an older guy behind the counter walked thru the shop showing me things to consider (or not, and why). Good inexpensive regulators, good cheap wire brushes (he said to go to Harbor Freight) cups etc. He explained why he thought certain products were good and why others weren't (returns, customer complaints, price). I pulled out my shopping list and he went thru it and told me what I didn't need initially from the list which I thought was pretty cool. He basically asked how close I was and asked If I had good filler rod storage, I said no. He told me I lived close so just buy a pound or two then come back and get fresh. Prices were pretty much in line with online cost if you count shipping. I really enjoyed dealing with Aaron and MWS and I wont hesitate to go back.

[Ram48]

I went to a welders supply here in Charlotte NC Its a small family owned business, has been around from the 70's and The folks there treated me well. I was only upgrading to a larger argon bottle and told them I was just a hobbyist. the owner talked to me for 1/2 hour and answered all my questions about Helmets, and tig torches like I was spending $1000a month there for years. They even took $30 off what he told me the cost would be when I called for the larger Argon tank. I spoke with him about the Everlast line of machines and asked if he was interested in possibly becoming a dealer, He said he may be,(Oleg PM or call me) as Blue and Red wanted him to buy way more machines every month then he could move.

[Zoomie]

ram48,
I think I've been there. Are they just off 85 in the charlotte area? I can't remember which exit!?!

[ducksface]

I went in to get a co2 bottle filled, they filled it and refused to charge me anything. He sold me my extension cord at the old copper prices, and then stabbed me good and hard on some tig rod. All in all about even, and I'm happy to be treated well.