Hydraulics in the retail environment? I'm aware of distributors and behind the counter sales of hydraulics, but are there any actual retail companies in the States (or Canada, but as far as I know, there is only Princess Auto) selling hydraulics?

By retail, I mean a store or department of a store dedicated only to hydraulics, with displays, merchandising and shelving full of hydraulic items.

In the States there are companies like Tractor Supply that have Hydraulic and Pneuatic equipment that you might find on the farm.

On the Internet there is Surplus Center

http://www.surpluscenter.com/hydraulic.asp
and

Baum Hydraulics
www.baumhydraulics.com/

For two that I am familiar with.

Tractor Supply Company appears to be carrying fewer hydraulic items these days, and employees, I'm told, aren't well trained in the field.

Surplus Center seems nice...great selection.

At risk of tooting our own horn, Princess Auto here in Canada has 32 stores (and growing), but we sell much more than hydraulics. The company is on pace to do close to $400 million this year, $22 million of which will be just hydraulics. We have a network of team members trained in hydraulics, right from store team members to buyers and trainers. It's a unique retail environment, so it seems...

Josh;
Are these the persons that sized the pump and motor for your customers Wind Mill?

quote:

We have a network of team members trained in hydraulics, right from store team members to buyers and trainers.

Who does the the Training of the Hydraulic Persons on staff? Do you know what their credentials are?

I am the one who sized the pump and motor.

Our company has 6 MHT's, 4 HS's, and our technical coordinator has his BSc, MHT and HS. Our company trainer is a FPS accredited trainer/tester with MHT, HS and also BSc in agriculture. We have 4 levels of team member training, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 then the MHT. Each program is 2 weeks long. I am a level 2 specialist, soon to take my level 3 and MHT testing. Most stores have 1 or 2 Level 2 team members, and 1 or 2 Level 1 team members.