I've had the same experience as many of you - my local Home Cheapo doesn't have what I need and/or it is poor quality and/or extremely overpriced. The local smaller hardware and factory supply places are better, but still not all that great.

I'm been ordering hardware & electrical components from McMaster-Carr & Digikey for a long time, both at work (well, the purchasing department did the ordering at work) and at home, as I find them FAR better than Amazon for most hardware.

Home Cheapo shelves seem to be getting leaner and leaner when it comes to the stuff I need. They say it is because they have to reduce inventory to reduce costs and be competitive, but it looks like a downward spiral - carrying fewer items makes them less competitive. Lowes is a little better, but not by much.

I happily shop both local and online. The readily available stuff locally is just a few blocks away and the specialty stuff I know will have to be online. MCMaster-Carr is pretty great for a lot of things, Amazon for electronics, and KEF for camera gear.

I just recently tried to buy a battery for my camera. Wanted to spend locally so stopped at Best Buy on the way home from a party Saturday afternoon. I went in and asked for some help. No one came after about 5 minutes so I walked out. Guess they'd rather sell people tv's. Ordered it next day late afternoon on Amazon. Got it that same night @7pm for the same price, free shipping.
I don't think I'll waste my time trying to keep my tax dollars local next time.

I figure everywhere is local to somebody. I sell enough online to even it out. Trying to buy local sucks and costs way too much between the gas and time driving around and getting bent over paying for their overhead

Some things are better bought locally. Like a new wheelbarrow I bought a couple weeks ago from Ace Hardware. I actually had to drive up to Daytona because our Ace Hardware was closed several years ago. We have a Home Depot here but their wheelbarrows were more money for a less desirable designed product.

Then today I received in the mail a replacement right rear tail light for the Silverado and new headlight wipers for the Volvo - both purchased from eBay.

I buy where I get the best deal for the best product for my needs and at an acceptable delivery speed.

Many times it's local. But having other options really helps!

Is buying at a big box store really shopping locally?
I guess it helps the employees, but do the profits stay local?

My wife and I both have allergies, and a cheap facial tissue is just not an option unless it is the only possible choice over a paper towel. We use a Puffs Plus lotion and if you blow your nose much, it is the only option to use.

We literally buy them by the case, and local warehouse stores stopped carrying them. They have some store brand version instead. I am not buying a case of off brand ones to see if they are as good. The local grocery stores or pharmacies selling Puffs Plus by the individual box mark them up a ton and it is just a needless expense.

We had to order a case of Puff Plus Lotion on Amazon. Easy choice.

I buy locally, almost exclusively. Once in a great while I will buy something from some company like McMaster-Carr that is simply not available locally. I make it a point not to buy anything at all from Amazon. I will occasionally buy auto parts from an OEM dealership outside of my area, whom I’ve cultivated a relationship with and bought from in the past.

I try to buy locally. We had two hardware stores that really had the local needs down pat and were staffed by the same folks for twenty years.

One has been sold and is now an Ace...close Sundays!

The other is still excellent but 12 miles away.

I will generally call them first since thay do not have a website with a search engine.

Failing that, I'll go up the Ace website and TS then call. I really hate wasting gas.

For things not hardware/feed/farm related, I am 90% online shopping.

Living in farm country I can usually find the fasteners I need. Closest place is in the nearest town a few miles away and they are usually pretty well stocked for the farm and auto repair places.

If not, there are two larger stores that will have them about 12 miles away.

We get most food locally also.

If it is something I want to handle I get locally.

All the other junk I buy is online.

most feasters I find in hardware stores are low grade ones. faster specific stores have more options.

this place is in Quebec but they have a giant catalogue of fasteners and are great to deal with especially for those hard to find automotive type fasteners. https://www.spaenaur.com/en/

i go to garage sales sometimes and Ill buy up their old collections of mismatched stuff, I like having options and hate going to the store, I've taken apart a few cars and I always save that hardware. if I can cut down a bolt or make my own washer on my lathe and it takes under an hour, its just not worth the gas and an hour of my life to go shopping. If I'm stuck or need a bunch for some specific reason I will but its surprising how often I don't need to.

I'm with you in this one

Most of 'local' is sourced from larger distribution networks, and has markup true, but these stores also have a better ability to buy from local sources with spoilage items such as food. You can see and examine the product. And they are sure nice to have around when you need that certain missing widget for the project which needs to get done today. At one point Sears and Radio Shack had everything under the sun. But I've gone into Lowes too many times to find basic items missing or insufficient stocked. I mean, who needs only two gutter protectors.

there's a local machine shop that will custom make bolts from whatever metal you want. just bring in the part you need so they can take measurements. costs not that much. I've been replacing the fasteners on my motorcycles with ones made from aircraft grade aluminum.

i live in podunk. but am surrounded by oil fields. and the shop exists to serve them. but they get bored during winter and are happy to take small nothing jobs like mine.

I'm assuming place like this exist in the big city.