CW wrote:

Cute acronym but is has nothing to do with the origin of borg. It was first
used, comparing the large home centers, with the borg from Star Trek. The
borg were a race of half living being, half machine who assimilated all
they came in contact with.


You forgot " - leaving behind vacant buildings once occupied by mom
and pop hardware stores, plumbing stores, electrical and lighting
stores,
paint stores and lumber yards - all of which were staffed with folks
who knew the local area, the developers who built the houses, an
most
important - what parts were in them that'd need repair or
replacement,
or in the case of the local lumber yard guy - would get you what you
wanted/needed or provide options if he didn't have the specific wood
you wanted/needed.".

But aren't things the Borg sells MUCH cheaper than mom and pop store
prices?

Well, if you only look at the amount on the sales receipt the answer
is
Yes!. But if you account for the time you waste waiting "an
associate"
to tell - or better yet - show you were the item you're looking for
is in
this vast warehouse - things start to balance out a little. And if
you
want some advice or suggestions on what you probably need and how
to install it - well forget the BORG.

Case in point - a personal experience.

Tub/shower hot water valve leaks and there's a Drip Drip Drip sound
that keeps you awake. You shut off the water, remove the stem,
replace the gasket that shuts off the flow of water, put things
back together and turn the water back on. Problem solved. Until
a week later. Drip Drip Drip.

You repeat the "shut off the water, remove the valve" process
but examine the new gasket more closely. It looks ok. You stick
your finger into the hole and feel that the surface the gasket is
supposed to seal against feels a little rough. So you go and get a
flashlight, shine it into the hole and have a look. The brass "seat"
is pitted and has some small chunks missing.

Now it looks like the part in the wall is going to have to be
replaced.
You can either open up the tiled wall it's behind OR open up the
other
side of the wall to do the replacement
And then your going to have to either heat the valve piece to release
the sweat solder joints or cut off the copper pipes it's connected
to.

Then there's the price of the new parts - which you can get at the
local BORG for "only" a hundred bucks, give or take a ten spot. AND
the fun and games of installing new parts to existing plumbing. You
look in the Yellow Pages and call a few plumbers. The "estimates"
you're given elevate your blood pressure and kicks up your stomach
acid production level by a facto of five. Your vacation plans are
quickly
becoming merely wishful thinking.

BUT - if you had the local mom and pop plumbing store, you'd
be told that you a) didn't need to replace the entire part in the
wall b) could borrow a tool to get the replacable brass seat
in your faucet out so you could bring it back and he/she would
help you find a new one to replace it and c) wouldn't spend more
that $5 for the new part.

So which way sounds "less expensive"?

Try taking a circuit breaker that's crapped out to the BORG and
try and find a replacement. "Oh, we don't carry that kind of
breaker - that's a Square D or out of an old XYZ breaker box.
Nothing we have - or are willing to special order - will fit your
breaker box. BUT - we can sell you a brand new - custom deluxe,
super whipzam box AND breakers for "only" .... (by then you've
stopped listening).

"Well do you know of anyone else in the area who might carry,
or can special order, one of this specific breaker?" - you ask
knowing what the anwer will be.

rant mode off

charlie b