If you have no knowledge of wiring, plumbing, or home improvement in general, and you are intimidated by the giant warehouse type stores, then you may get better service for very basic issues at McLendon (with Home Depot the secret is to find the person who actually manages that department... if you can). But if you know what you are doing and are shopping based on selection and price, then Lowe's or Home Depot is usually the better option. That's why they have displaced the traditional hardware store. People have a tendency to romanticize what they perceive as "Mom and Pop" stores. They nostalgically want to believe local stores are better then the evil big chains. While I have no love for the big guys and like the idea of a local store, I have been consistently disappointed with the level of service/knowledge/selection at the White Center McLenden Hardware. The selection is not great, the store is crowded because the isles are small, and the parking situation is just awful. While the staff is more plentiful then the big box stores, they do seem unmotivated, and they are not terribly more knowledgeable (they may know the difference between a hex key and a pipe wrench, but are not a great help).
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