Do you support local?

[thecrazyscot]

By which I mean, would you spend more money to support a local business as opposed to finding a better deal from a large corporation?

Which one is your higher value?

 

[warpus]

I shop at a large store, due to the cheaper prices, but try to stay away from Walmart. They're a drain on the economy and can go to hell.

Having said that, their super cheap prices mean that if I'm in the area, I might just stop by and shop like the hypocrite that I am.

 

[Whomp]

We support businesses in our neighborhood and the city in general. Occasionally, Target or Menards.

The local business carries a much higher value.

 

[thecrazyscot]

What about Amazon?

The reason I ask is that I've always been a "Capitalism, baby!" kind of guy, looking to stretch my dollar as far as it can possibly go, but I've started to shift recently. For example, a board game store opened up in my town just last month, and I'm trying to support it as much as possible - even though I could buy the same game on Amazon for 25-33% cheaper in some cases.

Up until very recently, I would never have even considered buying it for more just to support someone, but I'm starting to re-evaluate some of my thoughts. It comes and goes, though, depending on my mood.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

I shop locally as much as I can afford it. I haven't ordered anything from Amazon in over a decade. I have bought most of my games last year on steam, but those were mostly low-priority games that I probably wouldn't have bought if not for the insane deals, or indie titles that don't make it on store shelves anyway.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

What about Amazon?

The reason I ask is that I've always been a "Capitalism, baby!" kind of guy, looking to stretch my dollar as far as it can possibly go, but I've started to shift recently. For example, a board game store opened up in my town just last month, and I'm trying to support it as much as possible - even though I could buy the same game on Amazon for 25-33% cheaper in some cases.

Up until very recently, I would never have even considered buying it for more just to support someone, but I'm starting to re-evaluate some of my thoughts. It comes and goes, though, depending on my mood.

Stretching your dollar as far as it will go includes getting as much comfort from your community as you can get. If people had recognized that on a widespread basis thirty years ago there wouldn't be a WalMart.

 

[thecrazyscot]

It depends on how broadly you define "community" and whether you see a difference in a large corporation providing jobs in your community or small shops providing those jobs.

I used to not really care about the difference.

 

[BenitoChavez]

I usually abhor shopping. When I'm forced to do it I generally go for convenience and quality over everything else. I guess that's me saying that I don't give a flying flip about whether or not its a company with 1000's of stores or a small Mom & Pop shop. That being said, I do find local stores tend to have higher quality products, especially in regards to food, my most common purchases.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

It depends on how broadly you define "community" and whether you see a difference in a large corporation providing jobs in your community or small shops providing those jobs.

I used to not really care about the difference.

Would you prefer to live in a community of minimum wage workers who need some sort of collectivized support system in order to subsist, or would you prefer to live in a community where people work in shops for shop owners who have to look those people in the face while handing them their paychecks and thus have a genuine interest in having their employees not have to make a stop at the welfare office on their way home from work?

 

[Darkflight]

I don't have many options in the matter. There are 2 local grocery stores here, both are parts of massive chains. I do buy from both just because I enjoy the variety. For anything else I need to go to the local big city (big beeing relative, its population is about 45k) which is 1+hours away by car or order it online and have it shipped through the mail.

Back when there actually was a local electronics shop I bought a few things from them, but I never really reviewed products and made up my mind before I considered where to buy. I just kinda dropped in and said "do you have X" and if they did I found what I desired and bought it if the price was acceptable.

I guess I don't really think about that stuff since it really doesn't apply much to me where I live.

 

[Hygro]

I don't have the money to afford buying mass produced products at a premium. But given the choice I'll buy locally produced food.

 

[thecrazyscot]

Would you prefer to live in a community of minimum wage workers who need some sort of collectivized support system in order to subsist, or would you prefer to live in a community where people work in shops for shop owners who have to look those people in the face while handing them their paychecks and thus have a genuine interest in having their employees not have to make a stop at the welfare office on their way home from work?

I said I used to not care about the difference.

Not all corporations behave like that, btw. There are some who treat their employees better. And many small, local business can't afford to pay their employees more, and don't give the benefit of, well, benefits (and don't have to, given their small size).

Speaking from personal experience here, as I used to work for a small, local company.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Would you prefer to live in a community of minimum wage workers who need some sort of collectivized support system in order to subsist, or would you prefer to live in a community where people work in shops for shop owners who have to look those people in the face while handing them their paychecks and thus have a genuine interest in having their employees not have to make a stop at the welfare office on their way home from work?

Interestingly enough, big chain stores typically pay better than mom-and-pop stores.

Anyways, as to the question... eh. I buy some food local because it's much better for the environment when it's not going through the rigor of mass transportation, but I honestly can't afford to be hyper-local about stuff, and Amazon offers me the best deal a lot of the time on physical goods.

I voted death to Wal-Mart all the same because of political reasons.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I said I used to not care about the difference.

Not all corporations behave like that, btw. There are some who treat their employees better. And many small, local business can't afford to pay their employees more, and don't give the benefit of, well, benefits (and don't have to, given their small size).

Speaking from personal experience here, as I used to work for a small, local company.

Interestingly enough, big chain stores typically pay better than mom-and-pop stores.

Anyways, as to the question... eh. I buy some food local because it's much better for the environment when it's not going through the rigor of mass transportation, but I honestly can't afford to be hyper-local about stuff, and Amazon offers me the best deal a lot of the time on physical goods.

I voted death to Wal-Mart all the same because of political reasons.

Note that my initial premise was that if people had known this thirty years ago. The current reality is that there is a WalMart. Yes, in the current reality small shop owners cannot pay their employees better than the big box store does, because they are already getting crushed by economies of scale. We pay for the mistakes of our fathers, who thought they could "get a discount" at no social cost. TANSTAAFL.

 

[thecrazyscot]

I'm not convinced that employees for small stores would be in a much better position if the big box stores weren't there.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I'm not convinced that employees for small stores would be in a much better position if the big box stores weren't there.

Are you old enough to remember when the big box stores weren't there?

 

[thecrazyscot]

Are you old enough to remember when the big box stores weren't there?

No. Enlighten me esteemed elder.

Seriously, though. To argue that they would be better off is to assume that we wouldn't have joined the global economy to the extent that we have. Everything would be more expensive even if everyone were getting paid more.

 

[Borachio]

Are you old enough to remember when the big box stores weren't there?

I am! And I remember the days before self-service in grocery shops as well.

Only just though. And it was before I started shopping for my own groceries.

Anyway, "local shops for local people" sounds a nice idea, but it's an out of date business model for any but the most out of the way places now, I think.

I shop at my local supermarket, which happens to be run by a large chain, simply because I can't afford to do otherwise, and the only local shops that are really available are convenience stores open till midnight selling fags, mags and bags. And those are a really expensive way of buying food. So I don't.

There is a greengrocer in the centre of town which doesn't belong to a supermarket. They tell me that their prices are no more than in the supermarket, so I probably should shop there. But, you see, I really like to do my weekly shop in one go. Any more, and it becomes a pain (for some genuine reasons which I won't go into, but also because the more shops you visit the more time you spend on the chore).

However, when I need to employ a plumber or a builder I make sure it's a local firm (there are vast national organizations which go around areas from time to time touting for business, and I'll have nothing to do with any of them).

There's a local book shop as well which I don't support, simply because it's just so much easier and quicker to use amazon.

It's a shame about local shops: the high streets are changing rapidly. But what can one do?

As for other stuff, I'll occasionally go trailing round the shops, looking for, for example, a new sealing ring for something or other. Typically, I'll go in three or four shops asking for it (fully expecting them to have something really common), only to be eventually told "you could try on-line". At which point I give up for another year or two, until I've forgotten that shopping locally just doesn't work.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

No. Enlighten me esteemed elder.

Seriously, though. To argue that they would be better off is to assume that we wouldn't have joined the global economy to the extent that we have. Everything would be more expensive even if everyone were getting paid more.

It doesn't necessarily mean "not joining the global economy". The retail revolution, which shifted power from manufacturers to retailers is a world wide phenomenon, but it is not a vital component of a global economy. In many ways it is counterproductive, on any scale.

Had consumers not been seduced to empower retailers by snapping to "save" a nickle without recognizing the long term consequences we would still have a global economy, it would just be driven by manufacturers instead of retailers. Since product quality is actually the manufacturer's responsibility that would most likely be a good thing. You will note that the only market segments where there is significant advancement in product quality still going on the manufacturers still hold sway.

Thanks for adding the "esteemed" there by the way.

 

[El_Machinae]

I support local by not using my VISA when I buy something from them.