On Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:06:53 -0400, John
wrote:

On Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:52:45 -0500, Steve Turner
wrote:

We do have a small home-town Ace Hardware store that's about the same
distance as the new Home Depot. They open at 11:00 this morning and
I'll be waiting on their doorstep. I don't know why I only think of
going to them *after* I've been screwed by Home Depot, but one of these
days I'll learn...

Keep in mind that HD (and Lowe's) didn't get to be a behemoth by
selling top-quality stuff. They got there by selling stuff cheap, and
that usually translates to selling cheap stuff.

When it comes to brand names, they generally are cheaper. Sometimes
not, though. OTOH, I don't think there is a real lumber yard within
30 miles of here (just drove past that one and it didn't look like it
was open to the public).

When it comes to hardware, paint and the like, I prefer to start at
the local hardware store. Maybe a tad more expensive than the Borg,
but better quality stuff sold by knowlegeable and friendly people that
I like doing business with. And I like knowing that my money stays in
town, too.

No real hardware stores here either. As far as the money staying in
town, they don't make screws, or steel for that matter, here either.
If there were a decent hardware store in the area I'd go there. I
really don't like the BORG or the blue place all that much but they do
have some hardware.

When it comes to paint, I go to paint stores. It is a little more
expensive at SW, or BM stores but the paint is better and the
service/help is *much* better. For painting supplies the home centers
are still significantly cheaper.

I use HD and the like as a last resort except for brand-name power
tools where I must admit they have a far better selection and better
prices.

Yep. HD has really been slipping here recently. I almost never go
there for tools anymore.