I was just having a similar discussion with my step dad last week. I suppose that after all the brick and mortar stores close due to lack of sales, the online retailers will have a heyday raising prices and lowering service standards.
That being said...I’m guilty of shuttering the local shops. My weed whacker broke this weekend so on Monday I checked out the prices on Amazon and ended up buying 3 different yard tools. I went to my local Ace Hardware then the exact 3 items were $50 more each! I would have to spend $400 locally to get what I got for $250 on Amazon. The Amazon order was waiting for me when I got back home from work today. It’s hard to compete with that.
Te old story still holds....if you don’t support your local retailers they’ll be gone.
Yea, I've found Ace to be much higher than both Lowes and Home Depot on virtually everything....
I only go to Ace for small things that I need right away because they're just a half mile away and I don't have to fight mega traffic.