It's a dilemma I struggle with. I have two small hardware stores near me. Rancho Lumber (home or Bill Ding) is in Huntingto Beach, and has or will order almost anything. But the prices are often 1.5 to 2 times what I pay at home Depot. Probably more like 5 times on something like doorskins (guessing). I'd like to support them, but I just can't afford it.

> All of this points out,better than any other argument,why you
> should suppport you local merchants-hardware,pharmacy,bike shopbaker,etc.My
> village,for the first time in 120 years,has no hardware store-driven
> out of business by Home Demon.I drive 3 miles past it to get to a
> mom&pop hardware store.