# Incredibly common products which the store clerk never heard of **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225 "2021-09-23T21:29:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/443 "2022-01-28T16:33:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > > valves and pumps. > > My gf runs into this with Gore. She does advertising work for the company. Everyone seems to know Gore-Tex, their line of waterproof clothing, but she deals strictly with their medical division. A company called “gore” has a medical division! I guess I stand corrected regarding beadboard being common. It’s kind of an old fashioned element that maybe isn’t used much these days(?) I’ve always been interested in vintage design so maybe that’s why I’ve always been aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/444 "2022-01-28T16:35:47Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > A company called “gore” has a medical division! Hah! I never noticed that. Their [medical division](https://www.gore.com/) is their bread&butter. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/445 "2022-01-28T16:35:54Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > A company called “gore” has a medical division! _Been gored? Reach for Gore!_ ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/446 "2022-01-28T16:53:06Z")
In my local "super"market, asked the store shopper if she could point me at the molasses, since it wasn’t with, or even near, sugar or honey or any other sweetener you can imagine, which were all in the baking supply aisle. “What is molasses?” Dan ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/447 "2022-01-28T17:21:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > In my experience, Loctite is best known as a threadlocker, and its name is almost used generically to refer to the type of product. Yep. All you need to know is “red” or “blue” Loctite which signify “it will never come apart” or “it might come apart with enough force”. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/448 "2022-01-28T18:02:12Z")
I didn’t know that, thank you. The nice young man also didn’t know what I meant by threadlocker and it took a bit of explaining before he understood what it did (and he thought it sounded like a really good idea, too). He asked the person next to him at the desk where the Loktite was and the co-worker also didn’t know. The co-worker’s customer did know what Loktite was and where it was in the store so we all paraded to the paint aisle so he could do a little show and tell for the hardware store employees about one of the products on their shelves. > [@mixdenny](#): > > “it might come apart with enough force”. Heat works better than force IMO. Actually, what I do is heat it up and then start whaling on the breaker bar before applying more heat. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/449 "2022-01-28T18:33:13Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I guess I stand corrected regarding beadboard being common. It’s kind of an old fashioned element that maybe isn’t used much these days(?) I’ve always been interested in vintage design so maybe that’s why I’ve always been aware of it. It’s not that uncommon. really, if you’re into design at all. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/450 "2022-01-28T20:03:22Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > If you just ask for ‘Loctite’ I don’t blame him for not knowing what you mean. > [@beowulff](#): > > Oh, don’t be ridiculous. Would you say that if someone didn’t know what a “Kleenex” was? > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > The nice young man also didn’t know what I meant by threadlocker See, @Beowulff, this is exactly the problem. Hearing ‘Loctite’ without context, I suspected he was looking for ‘superglue’. I never even heard of threadlocker until now. So, I understand that it’s a type of glue to permanently fix screws? What’s the good of that? Isn’t the point of screws that you can unfasten them when you need to? If you want a permanent fixture, use a nail or a rivet or something. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/451 "2022-01-28T20:09:12Z")
More for nuts and bolts, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/452 "2022-01-28T20:40:03Z")
Yep when they might experience a lot of vibration. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/453 "2022-01-28T20:43:02Z")
You must be young. Loctite got its start as a threadlocker, and was the only one in that space for years. They only branched out to other adhesives later. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/454 "2022-01-28T20:57:04Z")
All motor driven vehicles vibrate and some of them are notorious for vibrating nuts and bolts loose which usually happens while the vehicle is being operated. This is something that many people take steps to avoid. Loktite and cotter pins are commonly used on motorcycles, cars, trucks, tractors, lawnmowers, wheelchairs, bicycles, planes, helicopters etc. While they can be found at automotive stores, they are also stocked in almost every hardware store in the US. While its not unusual for someone who isn’t familiar with how moving parts work to not know what Loktite is, people who work at hardware stores should have a passing familiarity with the sort of products they sell often. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/455 "2022-01-28T21:11:27Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > You must be young. Or British. > [@beowulff](#): > > Loctite got its start as a threadlocker, and was the only one in that space for years. They only branched out to other adhesives later. Over here, Loctite Superglue 3 was heavily advertised a few decades ago. It’s still the specific product I most associate with the brand name. Never heard of threadlocker. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/456 "2022-01-28T21:30:22Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Or British. Just about every Triumph motorcycle owner in your country has at least one bottle of Loktite in their shop. I don’t know what sort of store they buy it from, but Triumphs vibrate almost as badly as Sportsters. I used both colors of Loktite on my '74 Triumph Spitfire. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/457 "2022-01-28T21:36:59Z")
Sorry, but as you’re consistently calling it Lo **k** tite, I’d like to note that the product name is Lo **c** tite. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/458 "2022-01-28T21:38:13Z")
You are correct. I’m on my phone and I am a shit speeler with crappy eyes. Thank you for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/459 "2022-01-28T22:55:26Z")
I was making reference to the print makers of old “Currier & Ives” [Link](https://gallery.currier-ives.com/) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/460 "2022-01-29T04:27:45Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > Um, I don’t know what beadboard is. (Neither does my autocorrect, which changed it to headboard.) Anybody want to bother to define it? A type of paneling that is generally used on the lower portion of a wall for decorative purposes. It looks especially nice if you add a chair rail above it. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/461 "2022-01-29T04:47:31Z")
[Bead board](https://www.lowes.com/pl/Beaded--Wall-panels-Wall-panels-planks-Moulding-millwork/4294518226?refinement=658352189) My 3 seasons room has bead board on the walls and ceiling ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225/462 "2022-01-29T05:26:28Z")
Years ago, I was in a Builders Square big-box hardware store (think Home Depot or Lowe’s). I asked a clerk working there where I could find a yardstick. He had never heard of such a thing. He suggested I try a hardware store. Huh. Can’t imagine why Builders Square didn’t last. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredibly-common-products-which-the-store-clerk-never-heard-of/951225.md?page=24)