Tales of the Village - convenience factors

@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
January 15, 2019 8:05am CST
We have a small hardware store in the village. Actually that's a lie, it's really not so small but compared to all the chains of mega-stores that are more typical these days, it's quite a small affair. I've long believed that if you need anything practical, it's probably to be found SOMEWHERE in the store - but heaven help you if you need to find it. I went in and headed straight to the counter as I knew I'd struggle to find what I wanted. Did they have any metal curtain hooks? The store man rubbed his chin thoughtfully and then took me straight to the curtain hook display. They weren't cheap at £1.25 for 6 but I only needed 12 hooks so I was happy to pay £2.50 for my requirements. The last time I bought such hooks on Amazon I'd paid £3.69 for a pack of 50 so these were not such a bargain. However, if I'd gone into town for the hooks, I'd have paid a couple of pounds in fuel, a couple more for parking and probably have been tempted into buying a load of other stuff I didn't really need. Sometimes it's better to pay more for less and have it a five minute walk from home than to order online and wait several days or to travel further for a better price.
10 people like this
9 responses
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
15 Jan 19
I love that kind of shop. Always reminds of The Two Ronnies Four Candles sketch and Arkwright's carnivorous till.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 19
That's EXACTLY what it's like. Only the guy behind the counter doesn't wear an overall.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 19
@WorDazza You'd be very welcome.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
15 Jan 19
@boiboing I want to live where you live!!!
2 people like this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
15 Jan 19
If you can walk there, it is well worth it. I would have to walk about 3 or 4 hours before I could spend a dime.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 19
That's a good money saving situation.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
15 Jan 19
@boiboing It means getting into the car for every little errand.
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
16 Jan 19
@MALUSE If we lived in the closest city of 20,000, we could walk for most of our needs. We live out in farming country. The closest little village with a store is 20 km away. Thee hard thing is having our family spread across this country.
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
15 Jan 19
I love those stores, we have one not far from home, but for some things they are too expensive. I needed to replace the push starter rubber button of our gas mower last summer. I asked at our local store and they wanted 15 Swiss Francs for 1 button (more or less $16). I ordered from Amazon and I got 2 for the price of $1.50... I could start a business considering how many own a gas mower here.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
15 Jan 19
@boiboing Your cats are making a mess with your curtains I suppose.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 19
@LadyDuck Actually these are the bedroom curtains and so far they've left the new ones alone. I wanted to hang them differently to make them a bit longer and the hooks I had on them weren't suitable.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 19
Fortunately I needed just the 12 hooks so it was still a good deal. I've just rehung the curtains and they look much better now.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
16 Jan 19
When we moved here we had one of those shops. It closed down a few years later, unfortunately. Such a shame.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
16 Jan 19
I'm very happy that our village can support outlets for most of our daily - and less frequent - needs. We have 2 pubs, an Indian restaurant and a Chinese takeaway, a chip shop and two coffee shops, a small supermarket, a greengrocers, a butcher, a post office, a jewelers, 4 hairdressers (yes! 4), the recycling centre and a health centre. Oh, and not to forget, a library.
@just4him (317245)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Jan 19
Wise choice to go to the counter to ask if they had them. Your logic is flawless in getting them at the local hardware versus online.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
18 Jan 19
Thank you. I think I'd like to have such a shop that can surprise everybody with things hidden away in corners.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317245)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Jan 19
@boiboing That would be fun.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35762)
19 Jan 19
Now that's putting a good spin on shopping! I like that positive rationale and in this case it all evens out in the end.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
21 Jan 19
Buying more than you need or will ever use just to get a better unit price is a fool's shopping folly.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13158)
• Ireland
15 Jan 19
@boiboing I ordered a book from amazon last week. The package arrived today on time but inside were a pair of Dame Edna type spectacles. I informed Amazon, received an apology and a promise of a replacement asap. The best bit however is that they said I can keep the glasses free of charge. What am I going to do with a pair of Dame Edna glasses?
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 19
Give them to the charity shop maybe? Or get a wig and some make up and take up a new role as a transvestite.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20039)
• United States
15 Jan 19
I don't have any stores walking distance here.I lived in a small town when I grew up, and we had a convenience store, a library, and a post office in walking distance. I bought some shower curtain hooks last year from Amazon. I love them.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Jan 19
Brass curtain hooks for me are a classic example of 'small objects of desire' - little, inexpensive things that make life infinitely better than the plastic alternatives.
1 person likes this
@Janet357 (75646)
15 Jan 19
You are right. I never buy online. Because what if the items have defects, you will return them and it will take time before you can have them.
1 person likes this