[Lynn]

Chuck,

I like to buy locally when I can and when I am not getting horribly raped by doing so. But I also like to use locally owned stores as well. If we don't patronize them somewhat, then the merchandise available locally will only be what some computer program says will sell at the big chain stores because the locally owned hardware store will have folded. ACE hardware used to have a pretty good supply of items (expensive, but available), but the last time I went into the local ACE the guy told me that the local owner/operator can now only order most of their stuff from the standard ACE inventory which has the same limitations I ran into at Home Depot (Lowe's has the same situation as well.) He says that ACE has dropped some of their specialty wholesalers who carry more complete lines.

For instance, I set up a cable pull for my inside door handle the other day, so I went to Home Depot to get the hardware. They had 1/16" cable, but they had NONE of the hardware to go with it. What good is cable with thimbles, clamps or ferrels?? No human setting up inventory would do this.

It may soon be that ordering online will be the only way we can get some of the odd items we'd like to use in our cars, that is if the online vendors don't go the way of the big chain stores :-(

Lynn