is your local Home Depot severely incompetent?

[RAMd®d]

Too bad the big box stores wiped out the mom and pop hardware stores.

Agreed.

There are two ACE Hardware stores and to HDs near me. One of the ACE stores is great, the other so-so. Neither of the HDs is great, and both have inventory problems.

I think any and everything bad about HD is because it's a big box store. Staffing and inventory will suffer to some degree, and that usually to a greater degree than the Old Guy running a hardware store.

If I need some small hardware, I'd rather buy three flat washers and some fiber nylon stop nuts for 5¢ each than a bag of ten for 3¢ each.

Mom and Pops can't do what HD does, or the other way 'round. But it's Mom and Pops that are gone.