Jack Stein wrote:

Yeah, price threaded inserts at Lowe's and then at Grainger... A real
eye opener. Small hardware stores (that are left) sell as much junk as
the big box stores. You can find good and bad deals at both.

Lowes and HD are good for commonly needed items and they sell them at
reasonable prices. Small hardware stores often sell oddball items that
the big box stores don't handle. We used to have a small chain of
hardware stores here called H&E and the store that was right down the
street from me had antique plumbing parts that I couldn't find anywhere
else within driving distance, including plumbing specialty stores. I
don't know that they cost any more than I'd expect to pay for a similar
product at Lowes or HD, I'm just hoping none of my old plumbing fails
now that the chain has gone out of business.