I am lucky enough to have a makit hardware store about 2 minutes drive down the road. Same thing, park at the front door (not 200m away like the green shed) walk in, name your item and they take you straight to it.
Run by 2 brothers whose father bought the business 50+ years ago
2 months ago, had tilers coming to do the bathroom floor in 2 hours and work out the seal at the back of the dunny was leaking (which would later necessitate ripping up the grout they were about to lay around the base of the pan) - run down and say I need a toilet screw fixing kit, caroma flush pipe boot and a rubber floor flange. Bang, all things in my hands within 30 seconds, maybe 5-8% more than bunnings and 100% less hassle.
Other day, 4mm vinyl tubing - bunnings 10 metre lengths, ran straight down to the local and bought 2m off a bulk role.
Then theres a mitre 10 nearby that I wouldn't p*** on if it was on fire
