OSH Review — Home Improvement Comparison (2012)

Orchard Supply Hardware, known as OSH, is a chain of stores and an online business selling hardware, home improvement and garden accessories.

The products include, tools & accessories, paint and equipment, hardware, a garden department, household and home improvement products and they sell top brand names, such as Bosch, as well as lesser known makes.

They have hammers and chisels, power tools, lawnmowers, garden hose holders and other hardware items, with a small range of garden furniture. Unlike other hardware stores the emphasis here really seems to be mainly hardware, and making it easier for a person to do work in their house.

The site is well laid out and easy to use. Each category has sub divisions that make it possible to only look at the type of equipment you want, and a search for an item gives results that are 100% relative and only shows the items you asked for. These can then be sorted by price or brand.

OSH have a low price guarantee, which says, “If you find an identical branded item priced lower at a local retailer's store, Orchard Supply Hardware will match that price.” This assures customers they are getting good value. They also have a 90 day exchange or refund if customers are not satisfied with their purchase.

orchard-supply-santa-rosa

Orchard Supply Hardware was born, in San José, California, as a cooperative, with local farmers starting it as a place to get supplies at more reasonable prices. The business expanded and grew until it is the chain of stores and internet site customers know today. The difference between this and other similar stores can be seen by the customer comments at the end of this article. The staff and customer service are knowledgeable and want to help customers get the right piece of equipment. This store is about serving the clients in such a way they will come back and bring their friends, unfortunately an outdated concept in today’s “throw away society”.

OSh gives advice on their site for anyone undertaking a home improvement project, such as how to install a dimmer switch, and this is useful for the average person who would like to do a DIY job, but is not totally sure how to go about it.

OSH

Has many competitors, and in some cases there is little to choose between them – products are similar and so are prices. That means ease of use of the web site is all important, as a site that makes it easy to find products and buy them will win over other sites where it takes a long time to find an item. This is where OSH excells.

Home Depot

Home Depot search gives an amazing number of results, but not all are the item you asked for, a search for hammers brings up post pounders. While these are “sort of similar”, a post pounder will not drive a small nail into a piece of wood, and you have to search through the list to find what you want.

This site looks nice, but is not easy to use if you are looking for certain products. There is a section “tools”, but the list of categories does not include hand tools, and finding these requires a search for each specific item.

Lowes

Lowes says, “Shop for appliances, paint, patio furniture, tools, flooring, hardware and more at Lowes.com”, yet it is hard to find tools, especially hand tools. Like Home Depot, you need to put each item into the search bar separately, as they seem to focus mainly on appliances, outdoor living and power equipment. Prices are only available when you give your address, or more precisely your zip code – yet do that and you get a map with all the stores selling that equipment in all of America. You then have to enter the zip code again, but more questions come up – and on it goes. All this just to know how much a hammer costs – and even then, at the end there was no price, just where to go to buy it.

OSH

Hammers, (38 different ones), start at $4.47 - $37.49

DEWALT DW715 Heavy-Duty 12 In. Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw $299.99

Palisades 7 piece Cast Dining Set $524.99 (see photo in next section)

Home Depot

Hammers, (93 results, but not all hammers), start at $3.97 - $79.97DEWALT DW715 Heavy-Duty 12 In. Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw  $329

Martha Stewart Living Augusta Collection Dining Set (7-Piece) $399

As Lowes does not give prices, it was not possible to compare OSH with them, but as regards Home Depot, there was little difference in price for small items, with Home Depot coming out a few cents cheaper, but when it came to bigger products and higher prices, OSH was considerably lower on the whole for tools but not garden furniture.

Here are a large number of satisfied customers who found exactly what they wanted in the OSH store:

“Every time i come here , i find what i need. Whether i come for paint, tools, gardening supplies, or paint, i can always get what im looking for. Their selection is enormous, and rarely lack the products that i want. I am very pleased with their paint selection. I am also satisfied with their wide variety of tools. Finally the hardware section always has what you need for the do it yourself-er.”

“O.S.H. is my go to place when I can't find what I'm looking for any place else.. I guess I should just come here first. I always find small bolts or screws here that I might need or brackets. Whatever it may be, they usually have had it. The prices aren't too high either.”

“OSH is the first place I go to for hardware needs. Not only do they have decent products and prices, but any problems I've had, there is somebody there that can help me solve it. The employees are very friendly & knowledable & OSH is my favorite store ever!”

“Recently I got a great deal on a patio furniture set and today I got an amazing deal on a fridge. Yes, OSH sells appliances as well. I learned that they are affiliated/owned by Sears and carry Kenmore at the same price.”

“Although this is still a chain hardware store, it still has  neighborhood feel to it, run by people who not only care to be there, but know a thing or two about what they sell and what these things are used for.  Plus, unlike the big box warehouse stores, it is quite easy to find someone to help you.  I find it a much less stressful experience going here for small things to make repairs or simple projects VS the big warehouse joints, it's just quicker.

And for certain cuts of wood, OSH has far beter quality.  It might cost a little more, but I'd rather have that option then have to pick through a pile of junk lumber.”

“I LOVE OSH!  We were trying to attach a tall cabinet to the wall with earthquake straps. So, we got in our car and drove over to OSH.  I walked in and described exactly what I wanted to the sales associate, and he took me straight there.  When he pointed... he was actually pointing at the straps I wanted, and described to him.”