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Business & Tech

Go Here, Not There! - Volume I - Limerick Hardware

In our first issue of Go Here, Not There!, we take a look at grills galore at competing stores. Thanks to SF Corkboard for its contribution.

Go Here, Not There! is a tool. Use it to get the best deals on goods while supporting local, independently-owned businesses. As American consumers, we were born to believe the better deal equates to less dollars, but other factors matter just as much: the quality of the product, the fit between the product and the consumer, and an expert staff trained to understand the importance of both. Go Here, Not There! and get your money’s worth while protecting the fabric of our neighborhoods and local businesses.

It’s an eye-sore on your deck. The ignition button broke. The propane hose is leaking. And the cooking surface is coated with so much grease and hardened food not even Mr. Clean himself could scour it off. Yet there are many months of good grilling left before snow and ice force us to cook indoors in our ovens. It’s time to purchase a new grill. The big box stores are tempting with their “lowest prices available,” but dig deeper, and the little guy rises to the top.

Dollars are what everyone wants to save, and it turns out that , located at 712 W. Limerick Pike, has your back. A family-owned business, the hardware store has three generations of owners working under its roof, as well as over 40 years experience in the trade.

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For those interested in old-fashioned charcoal cooking, Limerick Hardware matches Lowes’ and Home Depot’s prices to the penny - if not better. The cost of the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill is $329 at all three stores, and Weber’s One-Touch Platinum Charcoal Grill checked in at $249. While Limerick Hardware and Lowes currently offer free delivery, Home Depot charges a truck delivery fee, and some of their products are only available online.

While charcoal has seen a revival lately, there are many out there who still prefer the touch of a button and the ease of gas grilling. The Weber Q 300 Gas Grill sells for $349 at Limerick Hardware, $349 at Lowes and $329 plus a $75 shipping fee at Home Depot, making Limerick the clear winner for the thrifty. Those grilling to feed larger families may want more cooking space, and the Weber Summit S-400 Series delivers. So does Limerick Hardware. Their price for the S-470: $1,799. Lowes: $1,822.78. Home Depot doesn’t carry the product.

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For master chefs, a traditional unit might not fulfill grilling fantasies - but the Cypress Bayou Classic will. Made of insulating ceramic (translation heavy), the product boasts the ability to grill, BBQ, smoke and bake. Limerick Hardware: $599, free delivery. Neither Lowes nor Home Depot carries this product, so for the sake of comparison we checked elsewhere. From the manufacturer: $789.95, includes shipping. From Amazon or BBQ Guys: $799 plus shipping.

So it’s a fallacy that the mom and pop store is more expensive than the chains, but money isn’t the only important ingredient when you’re shopping for a big-ticket item. Product knowledge and training are critical to matching the needs of the consumer with the perfect purchase. Limerick Hardware owner Bill Coulston believes it’s important to “sell the customer what they need and what they want, not what I want them to buy.”

Since Limerick is a Weber Alliance Dealer, they have options other stores don’t. They can provide the Weber Summit and Genesis Series with stainless steel on the inside of the units. The Genesis line is available in several super-cool colors we couldn’t find everywhere else. And if needed, replacement parts are more readily available from this official Alliance Dealer than they are from the big boxes. Add to these benefits a fully outfitted accessory aisle and you’re well on your way to great grilling.

Go Here, Not There! – get a great deal more than a great deal!

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