I stopped in today to grab some two cycle oil, chainsaw files, etc.

The shelves were bare. The last time, the inventory was only skimpy.

I'm predicting that the new owners will morph this thing into something I have no intention of frequenting.

Good bye, Fleet Farm.

That's a shame. The one in Fargo looked good last month when I was there.

We just had a Blain's Farm & Fleet open down in Kalamazoo a couple of months ago. It's a GREAT store. 190,000 sq. ft. We had nothing like it around here but Tractor Supply, their prices always seemed high to me. It's my go to store now.

didn't know fleet farm got sold, hope it doesn't end up like cabelas

WE have a new Fleet Farm . It even has a lumber yard Indoors. Looks like Its going to give Farm And Fleet a run for the money

New Fleet Farm here as well. FF has always been a better store than Farm & Fleet - my and many others opinion...

"IF YOU CAN'T GET IT AT FLEET FARM,YOU DON'T NEED IT"

I'm usually at Fleet Farm about once a week. Only time I've seen shelves picked over is the week before deer season. If I am going for something specific, I'll check the website for availability before I make the trip, although that's not a perfect system.

Gary, I was in that one last week, in Deforest. Not impressed at all. Have you been in a Fleet Farm up north? Say Stevens Point, or over to Winona? No comparison. Not only are they trying to compete with Farm and Fleet, but also Menards. What's with all the grocery aisles?

Too bad.

The one in Duluth is crowded every time I go there. Waited in line for 35 minutes on black friday. Tons of inventory. Hobart welders were on sale cheap.

We have a couple around here. I spend a lot of money there. The only change I've seen was adding some groceries. I've not seen the items they have gotten rid of. Still the best store around here by far.

You could always ask the new management as maybe they are bringing in "new stock". Our grocery was purchased by a distributor in Ohio and it is driving the locals nuts in they keep trying to force Ohio product like Barillos on people when all they want is Creamettes.
At our Runnings store, we have the opposite problem in things are on the shelves, but the prices are over the top like Ace is now. I agree though on Blains in I have ordered from them online and their prices are great and they have things I need.
Without plugging Amazon, you can order allot of stuff from there, free shipping and if you have a Discover with 5% cashback, you get a really good buy online and delivered to your door. It is where I got a Zareba fencer replacement when all the farm stores here would not carry the product.

OK, maybe I don't really need two cycle oil, chansaw files, chainsaw bar oil, etc. Heck, I might as well just get rid of the wood fired boiler and burn fossil fuels.

Most of the posts here make me feel like I'm in some kind of time machine. Six months ago I would have make some of those comments, myself.

So much for ancient history. Here's a current event: The Mill's Fleet Farm in Brooklyn Park Minnesota SUCKS, and is getting worse every day.

BTW. Blaines and Mills ain't the same thing. AND Mills recently sold out to an investor group. The stores were pretty much unchanged for a bit, but, at least the couple I (used to) frequent in Minnesota are going downhill fast, now. So, does anyone know where I can find my chainsaw support items. I just might try Dicks.

Mills Fleet Farm used to be my all time favorite store. Friends from out of state would stop in and tell me how wonderful it was to have such a store that not only had everything you could want but at reasonable prices. And to top it off, the staff was kind and very knowledgeable. Since they've sold out, they no longer have what a guy needs and if they do, it's junk!! The employee turn around has been outrageous and now your stuck with some young collage student that doesn't want to be there and doesn't know anything! Local radio station keeps telling us to buy local, but if this is what I have to deal with I'll buy on line!

Your experience is quite different than what we are experiencing in our area. Employees here are well pleased with their jobs. I am actually thinking about applying for some part-time options.

Bryce

Local Fleet Farm has also had issues with inventory.

Wife buys her dish washing soap there.

Was out of stock for over 2 weeks that we watched for it.

2 weeks to get a common household item?

We had a bad storm here in the end of Aug. FF was out of ALL chain saw bar oil and 2 cycle engine oil about 2-3 days after the storm hit.
I went into FF about 2 weeks ago to get some 2 cycle engine oil for the chain saw and they still had none in inventory. 3 MONTHS LATER!!!!!

I no longer buy chain saw bar oil, chains, or engine oil at FF, I buy at the small local dealer, costs a little more but he always has it on hand.
I don't waste my time at FF for that stuff any more.

I often find items out of stock there frequently.

One of the only reason I shop locally is cause I can get it when I need it.

If I go to the store and its out of stock I wasted my time and money, I might as well order on line and save my time and money.
Having stuff on hand and inventory is the big advantage of a local store. That goes away then I'm ordering on line.

They also rearranged the store and the new layout sucks.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger...... The Hudson store has turned into a Walmart. As you walk through the door, you're right in the food and clothing aisles, and all the man stuff is crammed back in the corner. They've added many more shelves crammed with cleaning products, household supplies, food items, pop.... typical Walmart items.

They should have two entrances, one for guys and one for ladies shopping for a sweater!

The local Menards is killing them.

Hey muskrat love, I've been in the Hudson store at least once a year for last several years. Walked out with an armload of Duke 160s just this past summer.
My brother in law moved there several years back and when we come up to visit we always hit mills fleet farm in hudson.
They used to have a great army surplus section too but I e watched that dwindle down to just a row or so way on south east end of store only.
We do not have fleet farm stores down here where we live, sort of wished we did.
Jim

A few new store openings in my neck of the woods. The new store in Oconomowoc, WI is really nice- great selection, well stocked, boy I'm hoping it doesn't see the same digression described above!