Headed for trouble?

Tools of the Trade, Sept-Oct, 2004 by Chris Oldham

Your SSSmokin' article has me wondering if soon I'll not be able to find a straight, flat pine board. If trends continue with the "big box" stores opening a new store every other day, every quality lumberyard we pros use will be out of business. They've already had to adjust to losing the small homeowner sales that were a large part of their bread and butter.

Also, if tools and other goods will be made outside the U.S., who will be left with a job to buy my services? I personally feel like I'm buying from a traitor to my country if forced to purchase non-American tools when the buy-American option has been taken away from me. So I do look to see where things I buy are made.

I know the big boxes want the tradesman's business and want to eliminate the mom & pop stores. In a free market that's fine. However, if they really want my attention, they will have to make quantum leaps in service and quality of product to equal a local full-service lumberyard. It's a long list starting with knowing my first name and what I do when I walk in the front door.

Chris Oldham, Master Carpenter

Naugatuck Conn.