"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
link.net...
EMT wrote:

I have noticed also the selection of other plywoods has disappeared. A
goodly number of years ago, one could purchase firply in a number of
thicknesses and finishes. I personally still have some remnants in
my scrap
bin of 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4" firply. It used to be
available in sanded, unsanded, and thicker sheets in tongue &
groove for
flooring. Now at the BORG and the few remaining lumber yards in sanded
undersized 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4", and they consider this a full
selection.

Ever hear of the 80/20 rule?

A statistical rule as follows;

80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers.
80% of your sales come from 20% of your products.
80% of your profits come from 20% of your sales.
80% of your problems come from 20% of your customers.

The list goes on, but you get the idea.

With the advent of the large scale use of computers, it it possible to not
only minimize the amount of inventory to maximize profits, but also
minimize the number of people working at any time to minimize costs.

That's why you won't find high end and/or very smsll/lsrge size clothing
at your friendly department store.

Also clothing and shoes are ordered and supplied by the manufacturer in
"lots" of all the sizes they want to sell with only one item of the extreme
sizes and gradually more of average size, if you ask them to order a pair of
size 13 shoes, they have to pay extra for it and pay the shipping for one
pair which makes it totally uneconomical to place that order.