Home Depot - the exception.What is the rule?

[Punamom]

HA HA your funny stillhope.
I would say "quote all you want as long as ...."
But half the stuff on punaweb is the same thing said 20 different ways. So while I'm on the hook...


ABSOLUTELY BUY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN LOCALLY.

The prices are very comparable. Some things are even cheaper than some places on the mainland.
Our biggest problem is selection and variety.

Its very vital in this economy especially living on an island to buy local.
Once you've lived here awhile it all becomes simply apparent.

Of course your neighbors having a yard sale just to pay the electric bill or buy some groceries keeps that fresh in your mind.
Basically it comes down to, you buy local or your neighbor goes hungry and if we can't be supportive of our communities what kind of folks are we?

If you like Bali-Thai kine stuff you can find a great selection at great prices but if you like mid-century modern you may have a problem, but you could always go to oahu to shop, after Kona of course.

I'm sure you've heard how once folks live here they change what they like, to be more symbiotic with their environment.

Not to mention most of the stuff folks bring will just not hold up here and end up in the landfill.

Which brings up things that need servicing like appliances, cars, loans, insurances etc...
Defiantly buy those here, for the reasons above and your own piece of mind, just try and get something serviced here that you didn't get here.[:0]

So bring your money and have lots of fun meeting your neighbors when your shopping in their stores.[]

[StillHope]

Thanks,Punamom!
I am glad I have your permission to quote.
I am not kidding.Because that phrase was amazing tool how to deal with so called highjacking (with humor and patience) and be able to get the attention back.
Actually ,I want to buy exclusive rights on it.(We will discuss it when I am on BI).
Anyway,I was thinking long and hard whether to ship my stuff or not.
But decided to ship.
For instance,I have a Tempur-Pedic mattress which I really need.It cost $1600.It's not "sellable" item and I have to buy it again -here goes 1/3 of a price of the shipping.
You see- I lowjack my own thread again...
Anyway,thank you for the response.Something to think about -the life in general..

[Beachboy]

quote:

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Originally posted by StillHope

And the Puna style is..?

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furniture purchased in yards sales,garage sales etc.,etc.. To be honest with you, my neighbors went this way 100%, and their place is awesome. Plus they moved to Puna from the east-coast, and it wasn't feasible for them to ship all their furniture. Just to costly in my opinion to do that. If I remember correctly, I paid 3 grand or more to move from Honolulu to Puna. The majority of my charge was from the weight of my belongings.

Anyway, you'd be surprise on how much nice stuff you can find here cheap. But if you feel you need new products, the Big Island is very limited on furniture stores...especially on Hilo/Puna side.


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Without these remarkable people the island would be nothing. With them it's a carnival. They are generous,courageous and comic. They awake each morning to a fresh day that has forgiven the previous day's outrages. In the pursuit of money they are irresponsible. In the pursuit of happiness,dedicated. They are the perpetual adolescents of the ocean, the playboys of the pacific.

James Michener on Waikiki Beachboys

[EightFingers]

I build my own furniture and will do so again when I get to Puna. Maybe you can get someone to build for you?

[ElBee]

I recently came here from the mainland. I had been reading this board which made me nervous about coming. i don't know where some of you people are from, but magnify your complaints about violence, wild kids, and traffic (you don't now traffic) about 30 times and you have a good idea of most cities on the mainland. I've found mostly wonderful, friendly and welcoming people and pretty good prices on stuff. Some things are quite a bit cheaper. Between Home Depot, Macys', Sears, Wal-Mart, and let's not forget Ross, you can furnish a home at mainland prices. Ross is crazy cheap. I think they get a container every couple of days. I like Furnitureland quite a bit. Prices are very good, nice folks and sometimes they'll give you a nice deal. Good selection of mid to high quality furniture. Koenens but all high end and expensive. There's also Amercan Mattress. All prices I've seen are comparable or less than I would have paid on the mainland. I can buy some food cheaper by going to farmer's markets and food stands. Some food is quite a bit higher depending where you shop. Puna Fresh regularly has a lot of in store specials which make some of the prices reasonable. All in all I'm spending about the same for food and getting much better produce in the bargain. It's also worth condsidering joining Costco in Kona. Prices are exactly the same as Costco on the mainland. If you are buying TVs, computers, stuff like that, or quantities household items, you much more than pay for the drive in low prices. Electricity kind of trumps all the other stuf though. Twice as much as I was paying. And gas. But some easy adjustment can help to offset these costs.
It's always scary moving to a new place, especially when it is very different from home. But although there are many things to learn and many adjustments to make, the beauty,power, and unique qualities of this island make it very worthwhile. The good advice is to come with a very good nest egg.

[Hotzcatz]

How the heck are we supposed to know the difference in price between mainland stores and here? We've never even heard of most of those stores let alone know what prices they charge. A lot of the stuff isn't anything we'd be shopping for anyway and checking prices online does us no good since the shipping will kill us. If you've got stuff you like and a container bring it along with you. If you don't like the stuff after you've brought it, sell it at a yard sale later.

People don't generally care very much about "stuff" here. Hawaii is about being outside, not inside. Visiting friends, going to the beach. Your friends won't care what your furniture looks like and if they do they aren't your friends, then are they?

[kani-lehua]

ashley furniture at waikele, o'ahu, abruptly closed their doors in 2006 leaving customers irate and demanding refunds and/or the furniture that they had ordered.

"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."

microsoft error message with haiku poetry

[StillHope]

Thank you,Kani-lehua.
With Ashley you have good prices but watch out!They brought us ripped leather couch and said they will send someone to repair!
I noticed it right away and they didn't want to take it back,made me talk to their supervisor,and while i was on the phone,they just took off!
They came back later that day,but it was a day from a hell.
But the price was still great.
Sharper Image,on the other hand ,has absolutely perfect customer service,but their stuff is priced accordingly.

[Greg]

Costco has some good sofas and stuff. I've never really considered buying one, but often use them for a short nap when visiting Kona.

[StillHope]

Lol,Greg!
When I saw your name with an arrow,I already had some idea where the arrow is going to point )):..
I always enjoy your posts,I just need your permission to quote you once in a while...