The HF store in out town seems to get very little traffic. We have a Menards here and they get pretty close to HF prices, and sometimes beat them. Even the local farm store can get close to and beat some HF prices.

I've probably been in this HF store a dozen times, and usually walk out empty handed, or just buying little stuff. I check the prices at the other places before I go to HF, so I know how the prices compare. It seems almost all hand tools are made in china these days, so the price or who owns the local store becomes more important to me, if the prices are nearly the same, I will support the local stores, even though they are franchised. Our local HF is owned by HF corporate. .