Is this price for wood screws for real?

[atgcpaul]

I haven't bought wood screws in the US for a while so I don't remember how much I used to pay. I was at my local big box store and decided to just get the 50 pack of #8s for $1 for a little project. The box of 1000 was $8. I decided to compare to HD back home.

Is my concept of price just out of touch or has inflation not caught up down here? Holy schnikies. I may have to swear off all metal fasteners if this is what I'm coming back to!

[leehljp]

Inflation has not caught up. To me, the USA marketing overall seems to prices its items for what the market can stand. Third world countries in particular and many other countries have greatly reduced prices for the same thing. When in Japan, I found that I could get (REAL) Japanese cameras cheaper in Hong Kong than in Japan. Japan had an "in Japan" mfg tax that made many things there higher than out of the country. I also could pick up (REAL) USA medications in SE Asia much cheaper than I could in the USA. Lamasil for athletes foot was half the price in SE Asia than in USA 15 years ago. Other meds similar.

Since you mentioned screws - while Japan was expensive comparatively, their screws were cheaper per pack than in the USA, and they seemed stronger too. I break far more USA screws than I did the Japanese screws, which had slimmer shanks. I brought numerous packs back with me and still have a few hundred of different sizes. They don't snap off with my impact driver like the HD or Lowes decking screws that have fatter shanks too.

[LCHIEN]

That's what they run at Lowes, too. Hillman No. 6 x 3/4" Zinc plated interior wood screws run about $5.50-5.98 for 100.

I usually buy boxes of deck screws. They come in one pound boxes, the number per pound varies with size and length But usually around $7.50 per box, more for fancier coatings.

[dbhost]

For 100 screws that is actually around what they have been going for around here for a while. I don't use a lot of no 6 but rather 8s and 10s... but yeah, prices on screws have been high for a while...