To the editor:

I can sympathize with Erica Spurling and her assertion that Lawrence needs competition in the hardware business. A typical experience for me was when I went to a local hardware store looking for basic, no-frills can lights and was told that they don’t carry can lights. I asked the sales clerk where I might find can lights in Lawrence. He said to go to the electrical contractor downtown. Of course, they’re not open on Saturday. Being a Saturday and needing can lights that day, I drove to Olathe and found a nice selection of at least a dozen can lights at a store there.

The level of service I typically receive at the local hardware stores is poor, at best (excluding a family-owned store), and I’ve found more often than not that I know more about plumbing and electrical than the barely-old-enough-to-work help they hire. Don’t blame the customers for wanting a decent selection and acceptable service at a reasonable price. I’m counting the days until Home Depot is finished.

Laura Steele,

Lawrence