General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Would you buy a $22 American made shovel when an $8 China made one is available? [View all]HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)The hardware store only has two locations and the second one just opened about two years ago (closer to me than the first). I went in there a few months ago to find a screw for my back brace (lost one) and one of the clerks spent about half an hour helping me find the best one for the device. Go to a chain store and see if you get that kind of service. Besides, the chain stores sell everything in odd quantities (3, 5, 7 in particular) so you have to buy two or more plastic packages to deal with whatever you need them for. And you can't test anything to see if it fits. The hardware I go to (Ritter's) still has the pull-out trays like ALL hardware stores used to have.
Then there's the issue of food. The chains are way too expensive for too little food, and don't even get me started on the beer prices. We go to the smaller local "chains" or individual restaurants and they're far superior in cost, quantity, quality, and service. On top of that, the staff knows you when you walk in and knows what you want to drink.
As for Mexico v. China, one is a slave labor camp and the other is Mexico.