The Sometimes Blog - June 29th

[a1gutterman]

...A family named Anderson, opened up a new "True Value" hardware store in my neighborhood and I was thrilled. Gave them all the business I could. Guess it wasn't enough, as they closed within a year and a half. Guess the housing crisis got to them.

In what could be the oldest Lumber/Hardware store in Federal Way, WA, is a family owned True Value store called New Lumber and Hardware. They are the original owners, 2nd and now 3rd generation. I do knot recall if they have always been a True Value store or knot, but they are struggling to stay in business. They must compete with both a HD and a Lowe's, less then 3 miles away. As a contractor, I have found that my 10% discount, at the True Value, brings the price just about even, almost every time, with the HD and Lowe's prices. When I built my own house, I compared prices and bought every thing, except the window pkg and the OSB, from the True value store. BTW, the True Value store gives every customer with a lumber pkg free delivery, and they had to drive 40 miles to make those deliveries. The two Home Depot shipments also cost me a $50 delivery charge each time, and they came from a store only about 10 miles away. With the great personal help at the True Value, there is just no doubt as to who gives the best deal.