So, I had an interesting experience last night: One of my large kitchen appliances has died, and I need to replace it.
I thought I'd go to the Sears Scratch and Dent store first -- after all, though I want a quality appliance that'll last for years, I also want a bargain. What an awful place. The dents and scratches were significant -- not some little something that could be overlooked easily. And the prices! I haven't bought an appliance for years, so I thought they'd gone up. Finally I located ONE that would do -- dent in a place that'd be hidden, price not so bad. I didn't love it, but I would have been willing to purchase it.
Then I went to Lowe's -- I mean, you can't buy something this expensive without comparing. WOW. Their price -- for a new, perfect item -- was about 60% the cost of the Scratch and Dent store! I would've expected them to be higher. AND . . . after I turned down the extended warranty, they asked if I wanted it for FREE. Uh, okay. I'm not going to pay for it, but I will take it for free. They charge me no tax (not sure how that happened, but I wasn't asking WHY they were accepting less money.) And their delivery was $10 cheaper!
Perhaps this was an unusual situation at the Scratch and Dent, but it does not make me want to return any time soon.