On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:58:58 -0600, Klein wrote:

On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 12:33:59 -0600, Newps wrote:



Jay Beckman wrote:

A Lowes and a Home Depot
built brand new right across the street from each other


You see that everywhere you go. These two are attracted to each other
like nothing I've ever seen.

The best looking and largest lumber and hardware store I've ever seen
anywhere was built recently by Kenyon Noble in Bozeman, MT. This
company has been here since 1889. Motto - "We're not the best because
we're the oldest but we are the oldest because we're the best."

It is just a couple of blocks away from a fairly new Home Depot and a
couple of blocks in the other direction from a Wal-Mart that was built
first.

Wal-Mart? Bring 'em on!

Home Depot can be a pain in the ass. But they're displacing the
neighborhood hardware stores that are moribund anyway. Went into HD
the other day looking for a 2 x 4 cutoff for a minor project. Found
one in the bin, along with some other fine woods cutoffs, but it
hadn't been marked with a SKU, so the two clerks at the contractors
cash register insisted I'd have to pay the 8-foot price. Fasteners not
so good either. Need a couple of 10-32 Tee-Nuts for the same project.
No joy. Went to the local HW store (They're an ACE affiliate, but
they stock like a real HW store) and found 'em in the bins. In favor
of the local HD, they hired this 70-year old woman who works in
plumbing, and she is a virtual encyclopedia of practical plumbing
knowledge. Probably used to own a hardware store.

Don