To the editor:

Working on a home construction project this fall has shown me the need for the arrival of Home Depot to our city. Yesterday was my last visit to one local hardware store. I voided the sale and walked out empty-handed.

I was charged almost double the price for each item needed to finish a guttering project than what I had paid the day before in Topeka. Paying the dollar extra charge an item for the convenience of buying in Lawrence instead of driving to Topeka is sometimes worth it, annoying but workable. But when a generic item, same packaging, was $5 more in Lawrence, I had to put my foot down. The $44 sale I would have spent in Lawrence, I will now go to Topeka and give $20.

We learned early on in our building project that materials outside Lawrence were less expensive. I can say that 95 percent of our building costs were spent in Topeka. I am a full believer in supporting your community but not overflowing the pockets of some of the local retailers. Let’s hope Home Depot can bring in some competitive prices so I can once again shop in Lawrence.

Erica Spurling,

Lawrence