Shopping Frustrations
Why is it, that these big box stores (Rona, Home Depot, Lowes, et all) all seem to have thousands of items, and yet they never seem to have the item you actually need? Or, even if they do carry the item, they ever-so-conveniently happen to be sold out at the moment... I have greatly lost faith in these places: I can't remember how many times I've gone to one of these stores, only to return empty-handed because despite their enormous size and volume, they don't have what I need.
Shopping online isn't much better - just about every website seems to be based in the USA, mostly because that's where the items are made (unless they're made in China, but even then they probably have a US Distributor.) Ever try to find a Canadian manufacturer, or dealer?
Specifically, what I'm trying to find is automatic faucets for the washrooms in the bowling alley, and an emergency eye-wash station for Iron Pony. I've been able to find these items in State-side websites, and they will ship to Canada, but I'd really like to find someone in Canada who sells these things.
I also find it interesting (and annoying) that Staples offers the "Porta Stream II Eyewash Station" for the sale-price of $329.99, but if you happen to accidentally click on the "Staples Industrial" link, you'll find the same product for $212.00 !! I'm thinking of going with a plumbed-in fountain though - once you "pop the cork" on the Porta Stream, there doesn't seem to be any way to easily stop it again, and I don't see any provisions for drainage. Might be useful out in The Field, but not such a good idea indoors where it's going to make a huge mess. Then you'll be half-blind and slipping and sliding all over a wet floor!
My original gripe that started this was with Staples again: First there was the issue about a month ago where they had the item, then they didn't, then they did again... I actually did finally get one, but what a pain! This time, we received the flyer in the mail five days after the sale started, and by that time the item we wanted was sold-out. It still comes up on the front-page of the website, but it won't tell you that they're sold out until after you've entered your postal-code, selected the item, etc. Why does the item even show up on the site if they're sold out?!
Gaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!