Hardware chains do their killings with items that aren't generally bought online. You want a couple of screws, then you will be forced to buy numerous in a blister pack that probably costs them less than 50 cents but costs you $5 or more. That annoys me more so than the competitive prices on offer for power tools, etc, which seem to be more susceptible to online price pressures.
Another thing that gets my goat - try buying batteries at Coles, Woollies, or IGA, because you better have your credit card on hand. Or, you can be the equivalents from Aldi for 2 dollars a packet.
