03-24-2006, 06:24 PM
Cathy - Thank you for the compliment. It really was fun to do and not all that difficult a project. I could have made it quite ornate, but decided simple fit the plan better.
Why is steel so expensive here? Because they can sell it for just about whatever they want. If you need it, you need it. Like so many things here, the retail price charged does not always seem to be tied to the wholesale cost paid. I know, I know... I've heard it a million times: "it costs a lot here in Hawaii because it is imported from the mainland." Last time I checked, Kona coffee sells for less at the Safeway stores in Washington state than it does here and macadamia nuts were a bit cheaper at the Wal-Marts there too. Go figure.
I sure agree about trying to keep money on the island and I try to shop 'local' as much as possible. I do buy from HPM once in a while. I also like Argus for lumber. But if I need specific hardware and/or tools, I usually don't have the time to drive all over to hear the inevitable "Sorry. Out-of-stock. The next shipment is in 4 to 6 weeks." And even at Home Depot I hear that all to frequently.
Why is steel so expensive here? Because they can sell it for just about whatever they want. If you need it, you need it. Like so many things here, the retail price charged does not always seem to be tied to the wholesale cost paid. I know, I know... I've heard it a million times: "it costs a lot here in Hawaii because it is imported from the mainland." Last time I checked, Kona coffee sells for less at the Safeway stores in Washington state than it does here and macadamia nuts were a bit cheaper at the Wal-Marts there too. Go figure.
I sure agree about trying to keep money on the island and I try to shop 'local' as much as possible. I do buy from HPM once in a while. I also like Argus for lumber. But if I need specific hardware and/or tools, I usually don't have the time to drive all over to hear the inevitable "Sorry. Out-of-stock. The next shipment is in 4 to 6 weeks." And even at Home Depot I hear that all to frequently.