Outdoor Supply Hardware — Attraction in Sunnyvale

When Orchard Supply Hardware was acquired and then subsequently shuttered by Lowes, I was heartbroken. OSH was my place to go when I needed specific items or parts and particularly when I needed how-to advice. The Outdoor Supply Hardware stores that have opened since carry on many of the traditions that I so valued. Although not near my normal haunts, I visited this OSH location yesterday. I am very impressed with the cleanliness and organization of the store. The floors are immaculate and the merchandise is well organized and neatly presented. The staff was friendly and courteous. I had one great but so-so experience: I was seeking a particular PVC irrigation pipe joint to join 3/4 slip to 1/2 FIP. The bins of all the PVC connections and joints are nicely arrayed and organized. However, previous customers while shopping evidently failed to return unchosen items back to correct bins. The labels on the bins list the contents, but the notations of the particular items therein were very often covered by what I guess are inventory locator bar code stickers. This makes it difficult to identify the exact description of the items that were in the bin. With many of the bins not labeled, it was difficult to infer the organization of the bins. I will say that the selection of specific items of this type was enormous unlike the leading generic home hardware stores. I did find the exact item I needed. Although I only found the one. I only needed one and it was in the wrong bin. Just lucky. But mission accomplished. To quote Arnold,...

I sometimes shop here, but I won't be returning. Earlier during the day, I had purchased some sealant from another store to seal my kitchen faucet, but realized once I got home that I needed another caulk gun to apply it. My wife was finishing a smaller caulk job in one of the bathrooms and just needed a separate tube of Dap Kwik Seal for that job. I stopped here to pick up the caulk gun and the small tube of Dap Kwik Seal. When I went to check out, some 325 lb guy who works at the store (not the cashier) observed what I was buying then felt compelled to chime in with his idiotic opinion by telling me that I can't use the caulk gun with the small tube of Dap Kwik Seal. He assumed that I was buying the Dap tube to use with the caulk gun, as if I didn't know what the caulk gun was used with or how to use it. Highly insulting. His stupidity, ignorance, and lack of sophistication left me speechless, and soured me to the store in general. I'll take my...

I knew I had one of these Outdoor Supply Hardware stores literally around the block from me, but I had been going for just plant stuff and would usually drive further to Home Depot for everything else. For some reason when I had time, I decided to walk the entire store. I kept getting blown away by the amount of high quality stuff they have, which is all neatly organized in a store that’s actually pleasant to be in (unlike the chaos that you have to suffer through at Home Cheapot). They have lot of home essentials like lighting, networking cables, adapters, hand tools to save you in a pinch, and just so much more - they literally have everything! Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever have to drive further than around the block for any of my projects around the house anymore. Helpful staff. This...