# Comment on things available/not available at a store that baffle you **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365 "2025-02-15T20:01:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/41 "2025-02-17T01:13:49Z")
Have they tried local pharmacies? CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens here all have them listed in stock. And of course, there’s Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/42 "2025-02-17T01:27:55Z")
> [@bump](#): > > That’s interesting, because I visited the Kailua Kona Safeway this past summer, and it was something of an experience. Maybe not as intently Hawaiian as Foodland, but still a far cry from a mainland supermarket. Not sure what you’re saying, but my best guess is that you found it to have less variety than a continental supermarket? That’s almost certainly true (although the Safeway in Honolulu is no doubt much closer; when I’m there I see lots of goodies not for sale in Hilo). Or is your point is that it seemed awfully “Hawaiian,”? Maybe it is, compared to what you’d find in Boston or St. Louis. I am not sure I’d know. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/43 "2025-02-17T01:58:29Z")
Online ordering has made a huge impact on in-store availability. Entire realms of small, odd items or specialty items aren’t carried in-store anymore. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/44 "2025-02-17T04:35:12Z")
More that it had a remarkable amount of local stuff relative to say… a Tom Thumb in Dallas (Safeway by a different name). I mean, we’ve got plenty of Texas stuff here, but not anything like the Hawaii-specific stuff in the Kailua Kona Safeway. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/45 "2025-02-17T04:48:58Z")
Years ago our refrigerator went out and the part it needed wasn’t available within 100 miles. A couple years later the same part went out again. I now keep that part on hand so I don’t have to wait two days to order one and have it delivered. The last time the part went out, I was able to replace it before the freezer even warmed up versus days of getting ice and digging through ice chests. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/46 "2025-02-17T06:03:47Z")
> [@bump](#): > > More that it had a remarkable amount of local stuff relative to say… a Tom Thumb in Dallas (Safeway by a different name). > > I mean, we’ve got plenty of Texas stuff here, but not anything like the Hawaii-specific stuff in the Kailua Kona Safeway. Interesting! Thanks for the observations. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/47 "2025-02-17T11:58:29Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > A push stick is used to push the workpiece through the blade of a table saw while keeping your hand a safe distance from the blade. Since they sell tools, including table saws and blades therefor, I thought it odd they don’t sell an essential accessory. This is what I thought you might mean. Had no idea that this was something you could purchase. There is often if not always a suitable piece of wood just laying around that I will use. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/48 "2025-02-17T12:16:09Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > There is often if not always a suitable piece of wood just laying around that I will use. Still have all my fingers but often get splinters in my palm from ‘piece of wood just laying around’… a good push stick has a comfortable smooth grip and some sort of notch or overhang to engage the workpiece without slipping. Making one involves several fussy operations with power tools on a fairly small piece of wood - which could be risky without a good push stick… ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/49 "2025-02-17T12:36:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The US has been considering a requirement for all table saws to meet the standard set by SawStop to completely stop a circular saw blade before it penetrate the skin by more than 6mm. Luckily that does not look like it will be enacted any time soon. That doesn’t sound like the worst idea in the world to me. What is your objection, cost? Any idea how much it would add to the price? > [@Spoons](#): > > I miss those days of going down to the corner store and buying some reading material. Oh man, I hear you. Even as a kid, the bookstore or corner drug store were my favorite destinations. I still remember the smell of the drug store that had the best selections of magazines - my favorite one was a longer bike ride than some others, but I didn’t care. There was also a bookstore that had not just books and magazines, but a large wall of daily out-of-town newspapers from every major U.S. city. That retail concept obviously went the way of the push stick. mmm ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/50 "2025-02-17T13:41:54Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > That doesn’t sound like the worst idea in the world to me. What is your objection, cost? Any idea how much it would add to the price? It’s hard to know to what extent SawStop prices are due to the technology and to what extent they are a premium brand. I’ve never used one. But the least expensive 10" SawStop model I can find online is $900, while the cheapest 10" model at Home Depot that doesn’t look like some sketchy Temu thing is a Ryobi for $229 Add to that the fact that when the blade is stopped you have to replace the blade and the cassette that makes it work (about $100), and they DO sometimes fire mistakenly. They work, AIUI, based on conductivity. So I’ve seen people complain that things like damp wood can set them off. So it’s a good technology, and if I ran a pro shop I’d want one. But for light duty home use it’s just going to be too much for many people. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/51 "2025-02-17T14:02:22Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > When I was younger, all corner stores had a magazine rack. Comics, Time, Life, Redbook, Esquire, comic books, and so on. The magazine rack was huge. Today, my local corner store sells daily newspapers and that’s it for reading material. I think that’s dependent on location and exactly what a “corner store” \* is - I’m 61, and there was never a time in my life when “corner stores” had magazine racks. They sold newspapers and “TV guide” and that was it. “Newsstands” or “candy stores” had magazine racks and so did supermarkets. \* “Corner stores” didn’t sell magazines but they did sell a limited selection of groceries and household products, cold cuts , sandwiches, snacks. They might also be referred to as a “deli” or a “bodega”. Newsstands/candy stores sold newspapers, magazines, candy, coffee, bagels/rolls/individual donuts, soda, snacks. Newsstands/candy stores no longer really exist except in airports and large train stations ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/52 "2025-02-17T14:06:08Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > And sure, it might be a low volume item, but they sell plenty of oddball things. I find that smaller, independent stores are often better for the oddball things - they might have bought a case of “oddball item” ten years ago and still have half the case when a Lowes or Home Depot would have gotten rid of it long ago. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/53 "2025-02-17T14:08:53Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > That doesn’t sound like the worst idea in the world to me. What is your objection, cost? Any idea how much it would add to the price? As @OldOlds said, likely triple the price of low cost table saws. Manufacturers have already said they won’t sell consumer grade table saws in the US if this rule is put in place, but it has little chance of moving forward in the current political environment. Even in countries without this regulation the price of table saws would increase because of the resulting lower volume of sales from the US. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/54 "2025-02-17T14:42:14Z")
Yeah, I was going to mention Rockler, but a lot of cities don’t have specialty wood working shops. I’ve never owned a table saw, but if I was in Lowes looking for something that functions like a push stick, I might visit the concrete department. There are various floats with nice D-handles and surfaces made of rubber, foam, or wood. Probably I’d rub my chin a bit, then go home and check Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/55 "2025-02-17T16:11:48Z")
I’ve had trouble finding these pots too. I want them in cool, vibrant colors. If I can even find plastic pots that size, they’re always in drab colors like gray, tan, beige, etc. Blah. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/56 "2025-02-17T17:29:04Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > when the blade is stopped you have to replace the blade and the cassette that makes it work (about $100) Ouch. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/57 "2025-02-17T17:39:44Z")
Our microwave stopped working so I set out to buy a replacement. The guy at the local appliance store said that anything I bought would have to be shipped in aside from a very limited selection (some clearance models). A run by a few other places was basically the same. I finally found the microwave I had selected at the first store in stock at a Lowes three towns over but was surprised at how hard it was to just walk out with a microwave under my arm. This was an over the range type model. I’m sure a countertop model would have been easier (probably grab from Target, etc) but still – your job is to sell appliances! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/58 "2025-02-17T17:56:43Z")
If the brake is triggered accidentally, for reasons other than contact between the blade and your body, I think they replace the blade and cartridge for free. If it gets triggered because you were about to amputating a finger you probably wouldn’t complain about the replacement cost. There are other ways to trigger the mechanism, green or wet wood for instance, and there’s a switch to turn off the brake for those uses. The switch is reset back on after every use though because users would turn it off and leave it that way. Just like the way blade guards that are required equipment on all table saws can be removed and users don’t put them back on. Arguably, the majority of all table saw injuries caused by contact with the blade would be prevented by using blade guards properly. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/59 "2025-02-17T19:54:45Z")
I’m just flashing back to my 1970s shop classes in school. We were basically turned loose on jigsaws, belt sanders, drill presses, soldering irons, bench grinders, etc. I don’t recall any specific safety instructions. I’m not even sure that we wore protective eyewear. All this with one teacher supervising 25-30 male teens. mmm ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365/60 "2025-02-17T20:08:30Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Out of the three grocery stores nearest to me, each of the three sells at least one article that we need on a regular basis but that the other two don’t sell. So it can sometimes happen that I have to go to all three stores in a single trip. Yes, this. Hate it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-things-available-not-available-at-a-store-that-baffle-you/1014365.md?page=4)