Notre Dame Hardware Store: A Shopper’s Guide
Why You Should Visit
- Extensive Product Selection: You’ll find a wide range of hardware, tools, and home improvement supplies. They even carry CanAm and Honda products, based on my observations. The store is well-stocked and offers items for various projects, including snowmobiles.
- Fast and Knowledgeable Service (Sometimes): The parts and service department is known for its quick turnaround time. In my experience, staff members are very helpful and thoughtful, offering knowledgeable assistance in selecting snowmobiles and other items.
- Convenient Location: It’s a regular hardware store with a convenient location in Happy Valley Goose Bay, making it a go-to spot for local needs.
Why You Might Consider Alternatives
- High Prices: Be aware that prices are significantly higher than elsewhere. Expect to pay a premium, especially for items like caulking ($15/tube vs. $6 elsewhere), duct tape ($16/roll vs. $8 elsewhere), and lumber. Pressure-treated lumber, in particular, is noted for being both expensive and of questionable quality. There are no discounts or deals; you’ll pay the sticker price, which often includes freight and PDI charges exceeding the MSRP.
- Inconsistent Service: While some shoppers report excellent service, others have experienced significant delays with warranty claims, waiting months for simple repairs. One experience detailed a frustrating encounter with an employee who insisted a customer check the lumber yard’s accessibility before purchasing lumber, even though the customer was already inside the store to make the purchase.
- Potential for Substandard Materials: I found the quality of the pressure-treated lumber to be noticeably less than desirable. I had to sort through many 2x6s before finding a few usable ones, and the 2x6s were inferior to the 2x4s.
- Limited Options: The business operates in an environment with few competitors, creating a somewhat monopolistic situation which contributes to the elevated pricing.
