Originally Posted by
Toolmaker51
Hats off to our collective 'old man'.
It's pointless trying to forget certain things individuals count as history. Nearly all those giant retail corporations vaporized, or so reduced to appear so. Cashways/ Payless, 84 Lumber, K-Mart, Thompson - Sutherland, J.C. Penney, Sears Roebuck, National Lumber (became Home Depot), Buena Park Lumber (is Ganahl) Eagle Home Improvement (now Lowe's)...lots of industrial suppliers too. Last three years, I've done a lot of driving, none of those are visible.
All had appreciable service, loyal customers, good distribution, identifiable brands, owners, CEO's.
Now, so few replacements equal those, aren't supporting US manufacture very well, and think online support equals that retired tradesman in hardware, electrical or plumbing.
Nope!