Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day to
get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

Variety mostly. For a single item like your pump, you go to the "real"
plumbing or HVAC supplier. For a big project you quote out to the
various plumbing, electrical, building matl., etc. suppliers. But for a
small project like perhaps a bathroom semi-remodel, the convenience and
savings in gas and time you get by finding everything in one location
may exceed the higher price.

Pete C.