[sphinx]

I had an interesting buying experience on ceiling fans. We were rebuilding a screened in porch. We live in DC, so we wanted a ceiling fan to move some air on hot, muggy days; it would be protected from direct rain but would still be outside and exposed to high humidity. Our contractor volunteered to pick something up but my wife wanted to look at styles. The contractor said ok, but he very strongly advised against the big box stores and directed us to Dan's Fans in Laurel, MD. That was 20 years ago and that location is now closed; I don't know if that shop was related to Dan's Fan City, which is a national chain still in operation. (I'm guessing it probably was, but I don't know.)

Anyhow, Dan's Fans turned out to be a tiny, square, cinder block store in a row of tiny, square, cinder block stores in an early 1950's style, block-long strip across the road from the Laurel Mall. It looked unpromising but when we walked in, it was stacked floor to ceiling with fans. There was an older fellow sitting in back, behind a counter stacked with more fans, with the wall behind him stacked with more fans. And this guy turned out to be an expert. We got the 15 minute expert dissertation on ceiling fans: what's your space; exposure to the elements; ceiling height; etc. It all depends on how much air you need to move, which depends on ceiling height and total space, and the pitch of the blades and strength of the motor matter. And of course, some makes are higher quality and more durable than others. He made a recommendation. We went with it, and 20 years later, that fan is still the best air mover I have ever experienced, still going strong, and still completely silent in operation.

For the umpteenth time, if quality and durability are important, don't go to a big box store if you have a specialty store available. That's true even for mundane items. You don't know what you don't know, and the clerk at a big box store probably doesn't have a clue either.

[AFreeBird]

And that 20 years and still kicking fan brand is?

[Bell Bouy II]

Was asking a builder in SW Fl why one guy could sell new construction at a much lower rate than him and others.
He told me all his electrical, plumbing and other hardware comes from HD and its all low grade made in China
Plumbing and electrical are all lesser gauge and basically crap.
He said pay now or replace and pay later.
Made sense

[Cold Heart]

The clerks at the big box stores can pretty much tell you which isle something is on rapidly and accurately.

They just don’t know what it is.

[USS Alaska]

For the umpteenth time, if quality and durability are important, don't go to a big box store if you have a specialty store available. That's true even for mundane items. You don't know what you don't know, and the clerk at a big box store probably doesn't have a clue either.

In 1998 we added a screened/glass enclosed addition to our home and had a Hampton Bay fan installed.

It has been running 24/7 for over 22 years, winter, spring, summer and fall.

We reverse the direction from October to March.

It has been going like the Energizer Bunny for over two decades and it came from Home Depot.

Is Home Depot a 'big box store'? Does 22 years qualify as durability?

Don't be too hasty to pronounce your version of the 'truth', there are a load of great products that come from box stores.