...I had precisely the same problem in Singapore: there are no hardware stores within a 10-km radius of Orchard Road. (On the upside, at least they understand the English word "pliers" here.)  I did eventually manage to locate a shop, located on the 5th floor of an office building (!?!) and with Orchard Rd rents incorporated into the pricing, but fortunately half a year ago my neighborhood shopping center's expansion opened and a squeaky-new Home-Fix outlet with it.  Yay.