A diatribe on big-box hardware stores: forgive me, I’ve had another soaking-wet epiphany
What’s wrong with big-box hardware stores?
You go there to replace an icebox water filter. Naturally you go to Plumbing. Now, Lowes has a Whirlpool filter which takes a shove-connect 1/4 inch tube—but half the time one of the other tube inserts won’t take and it leaks like a sieve. Or Niagara, if it pops out. Soaked from head to foot trying two of those.
Which ran a major monster Lowe’s out of ALL their supply of filters for icebox icemakers.
So I go to Home Depot.
In this case the filters are in the Appliance Department, and they sold me one without a shove-in connect: it needs a brass plug, and two brass quarter-inch screw-downs to create a connection. Fine.
Back to Home Depot to get the connectors. THEY sell the filter, but not the connectors. Huh? For what? I fear I rather well lost it well enough I had about half a dozen HD employees trying to find a solution: plumbing didn’t have it. They had the ‘vampire’ saddle tap that can take the tubing FROM the pipe. But no connectors. They have another package that has connectors for a ridiculously reinforced spendy hose (like a firehose!) that is another variety of 1/4 inch hose…but my filter is downstairs near the water source (recommended by their own instructions) and they want me to fish this 8 foot hose 15 feet up to the fridge to connect it. Nope. I don’t think so.
After a great deal of handwaving, they produce another filter that does come with the two essential connectors packaged with it.
I rather imagine I’m now infamous at HD. All I wanted was a connection that has to be in at least every house in America with an icemaker and a GE brand fridge, and probably many more brands, not to mention other applications. Low pressure 1/4″ water delivery does not require a braided-fiber reinforcement.
But no, we’re supposed to throw up our hands and call the plumber to change out a friggin’ water filter cylinder.
Not this household. Not if I have to resort to aquarium supply to get connectors.
I really miss Snyder’s Hardware, wooden floor groaning under the weight of 50 years accumulation of bits and bobs that fit almost anything or can be made to fit.
Quarter inch hose, f’ gosh sakes? A common appliance need?
I can do without the 10 choices of garden benches and pots from Thailand. I’d really like a hardware that stocks ordinary connectors.
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I've had the same issue, and my husband works at a Home Depot. We end up having to special order these stupid little connectors for a dishwasher (and the icemaker) that we bought from them and had delivered. We added all the recommended parts for install, however for some reason it didn't make the list. We ended up having nearly a month wait for the connectors to have ice and a working dishwasher.
First let me tell you how impressed I am that you know that you actually have to REPLACE the filter in your fridge, let alone your home improvement handiness and ability to do so. I use to work for a water company and whenever discussions of water filtration in fridges came up, crickets were often heard on the other end of the line. In regards to your complaint to the big box stores not carrying what you need, I completely agree with. Having been in Retail I think it comes down to the fact that Big Box stores only look at sku's and carry what sells the most. Not stocking what needs to go with what. The people doing the ordering are often at the mercy of accountants, who do not always have the needed expertise you find in our endangered Mom and Pop stores. I've found this problem in Walmart and in Michaels, just to name a few. Or, if they don't have the item in stock you'll get the famous, "We can order it in for you, but you'll have to buy (insert obscene number)"
There is no easy solution, we can only support and appreciate those loved local stores left. But in this day of instant gratification, I fear the joy of discovery one finds from wandering through an old store is also becoming a thing of the past. I sympathize.
