Letter of the week, 2/23/09: The advantages of buying from LOCAL business merchants

[David]

Shop locally and support local merchants!
Editor:

We’re living in an age where customer service means self-checkout registers and an hour-long wait on hold, with the hope of speaking to an actual living, breathing person to resolve a billing statement error that we didn’t make. True customer service however, isn’t completely dead.

My 4-year-old, $1,200 washing machine recently stopped working. This is not our first problem and — after my last repair in excess of $300, I refused to go that route again.

A call to the big chain store that sold me the machine did nothing but waste an hour of my time on hold listening to a recording of how important a customer I am to them. I decided to visit an area family-owned-and-operated appliance store to purchase a new machine.

After explaining the symptoms to a staff member, he suggested I check a couple of likely trouble spots. He explained how I could access the component in question and told me what to look for. I returned home, did as I was instructed, called the store with a question, received more help, and within an hour I had a working machine again. I know I was lucky in that the problem was minor, but how many businesses today take that kind of time to help with something that didn’t even come from their store?

I don’t want to take anything away from the other local businesses that show the same kind of care and concern. I’m thankful that there are still some places that appreciate how hard I work for my money and aren’t out to soak me of my last nickel. I hope these types of businesses can continue to stay viable in our current economic environment.

Let’s hope we can still shop locally 20 years from now.
BOB BEVERAGE, WALLINGFORD

[Jim N]

If you don't support your local community through the locally owned and operated stores, you won't have a community after awhile. Do you think the management of the mega stores Stop & Shop, Wal-Mart, Home Depot etc actually care about you or your community? Unless they are making mega profits they're gone. I'd like to know what is the lowest percentage of a profit, not loss but profit that they would accept before they closed the store. If it's only making 10% or 5% would they close it because they want a 15%+ or to them it's not profitable.

I do all the shopping I can at the IGA, the local hardware store, and the mom and pops. It may cost a little more at times but it's an investment in the future of my community. Remember support your neighbors if you want them there to support you.

[oldnickel]

I needed a new washer and dryer last week. Went to the local store. The prices were not that far off, competitive in my view. The salesman was very knowledgeable about the product and delivery was prompt and convenient for me. Bottom line, I bought from the local guy, even though it was probably a few dollars more.

[memorylayne]

The "cost" of supporting nothing but big businesses and big-box menageries is far higher than what we believe we're actually "saving".

With diminishing numbers of "mom & pop" operations, the one's that remain HAVE to remain competitive so the perception of what we save in the big-boxes is skewed.

Try to explain the success of 'Stop & Slop'. Seemingly the perfect business model...but their pricing is far from the lowest(even amongst other big-box "slop stops") and the quality is dreadful(if you've so much as purchased any meat, prepared foods, seafood, or bakery items from them you're claiming to care less bout ANY quality).

Are the cents saved on something canned or pre-packaged really worth it? I'll leave it to the "consumers" who line that Dutch conglomerate's pockets, settle for second-best, and pump a little ***-grade gas on the way out to decide. I just hope that the choices of others don't entirely disappear.

[bbeth]

I agree. Jim N. is right...if we don't support local merchants in our community, there won't be any left and we will fall victim to these huge conglomerates.

Usually, the smaller, local stores do have knowledgeable staff and more importantly, the staff is there to answer questions. Have you tried to get someone at Home Depot to help you? Someone pages an employee to go the appropriate department and then you wait....sometimes they show, sometimes they don't. I once had a clerk in Home Depot make me wait to speak with him until he answered the phone to speak with someone on hold.

I do not shop Wal-mart any more. Since they became a super center, shopping, for me, has become unbearable.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

you know why the big chains have a slight advantage over the smaller stores...they are open when you need them.....where are you going to buy a 2 x 4 after 5:00 pm or on a saturday or sunday....or say a hose breaks for the washer and you need to replace it now.....what if now is saturday or sunday or after 5:00 pm where are you going to go....they have their place...its good to support local business and i do as much a possible.....

[cherrybarbs]

No two appliances are the same ,even if they have the same model number, I’ll give you example if big box store 1 wants a GE washing machine for a lower price than big box store 2 is selling it for, big box store 1 will tell G.E. Company you must beat the wholesale price from bbs 2. So what GE does is they’ll use cheaper parts, add more plastic to the washing machine and it will look the same and have the same model number,but it will be a cheaper version that can only be sold at bbs1. And this is true for most products sold at all big box stores,this is why your local merchant is better for buying your big ticket items.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

went looking for a part the other day and went to a couple of local business....they did not have the part....i asked can they get the part because i was in no hurry....i was told by both places to check out lowes or home depot for the part....now did they do the right thing in stearing me away from their business...or telling me where to get the part.....