Hydro Kareless

    

I happened to find my way into the Hydro Kare grow shop this week and wasn’t sure what to make of it. It’s a discreet trailer-like structure located just west of Best Buy on Miller Rd. While this shop is smaller than most of the others I’ve been to, the clear echo and lack of merchandise gives you a rather open and breezy feel.  Free from the constraints of what one would call a normal or profitable business, Hydro Kare allows the customer to browse without the burden of products or information; instead one is left in an almost empty room to come to their own conclusions… I’m guessing in some sort of spiritual way.  I really tried searching for something new and semi-interesting, but to no avail. Usually when I go into one of these places, there’s at least one product that sets it apart from others, but here there was nothing; same dirt, same lights, same buckets, same price. At this point I started to wonder why this place was open.  I didn’t even hear so much as a “Hello” from the two behind the counter. Finally I made my way forward to make my introduction and to see what was in the display case. The owner was reluctant to respond with any more than a nod and his wife didn’t even look up from her book. Clearly they had some sort of aversion to the natural byproduct of business … profit.  In a small side display case there were a dozen or so glass pieces crammed in the corner as if they were trying to hide them. Upon closer inspection I found the pieces to be cheap and overpriced. Now I know why they were hidden. 

I started to head for the door when a small table caught my eye. There was a stack of magazines with a bold label that read Rose Bud, and featured Jack Nickelson on the cover. I ended up standing there for almost an hour reading and wasn’t ever bothered. It had a great article about new cameras that helped me figure out which kind I should buy for reporting. By the time I left, I felt as though I had really found some quality information that I’m not sure I would have gotten otherwise. Overall, I would have to say that this place is lacking in almost every way a business shouldn’t.   If you asked me, I certainly would not shop there.  However, the reality is that there is a need for a hydroponics store in that area, and as inadequate as it is, Hydro Kare is better than nothing.  Undoubtedly, if for some reason I ended up living in that area and needed something simple they would unfortunately be the obvious choice.  By the way, I think I am going to buy the new Canon Rebel T1i camera.  It’s a 15 mega pixel cam with interchangeable lens, an official apache style strap and “a compass in the stock.”