agree totally... and when I was a kid, the local service station (petrol station) - you could pickup anything - mower blades, sparkplugs for any car/mower/bike/outboard, fan belts, get flat tyres fixed while you waited - someone even used to come and serve you!!!!It's a shame because Corner Shops were the heart of the community where you could get pretty much anything you needed and they were the hub where neighbours chatted to each other , the shopkeeper knew everyone personally and they promoted community spirit and togetherness you don't get that is huge stores and Supermarkets .
These days its petrol and maybe oil, and overpriced drinks in the servo all run by the same people who run 7-11's here from Delhi