Do your support your local business?

[Baptismbyfire]

Do you support your local business, and by that I mean, not huge chain stores, but anything from small mom & pop stores to mid-sized stores, even if the price they offer is not necessarily competitive?

For example, do you pay more for books at your local book store than order one on Amazon cheaper?

Or do you think that paying more for something you can have for cheaper is a foolish decision in the capitalist system?

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Yes I try to. If it is more or less affordable.

 

[waggy]

I support the local bars and restaurant! Other then that we have no "local" grocery stores.

I do support the local tool store. they are great and cheap. I just had a window fixed (glass broke) for my small barn. cost me $20 for a 36x28 glass put in the frame.

the local stores around here suck. they are all very expensive with shitty service.

 

[rasczak]

I usually do.

 

[child of wonder]

I do when the difference in cost isn't insane.

However, most of the time the local business can't even compete with the prices of larger stores even when I factor in having to drive 30 minutes each way and burning 1.5 gallons of gas to get to the chain store.

 

[Fear No Evil]

I only do for restaurants and when shopping for stuff like artwork. No point in paying $150 for the same item if it costs $100 at the big box store.. however, food and such and be easily of equal or better quality buying locally.

 

[Crusty]

Yes, very much so. In Austin it is extremely easy to do.

 

[DesiPower]

not for groceries, for everything else I try to

 

[NoCreativity]

If they offer me something that isn't available in chain stores (great customer service comes to mind) as long as price isn't way out of line.

 

[mb]

I've tried but a lot of them seem to go out of their way to make it an unpleasant experience.

 

[Anubis]

not really, they sell nothing i buy and there are very few of them here. very few chains as well besides the groceries store

 

[ichy]

Depends on what you're buying. I'm certainly willing to pay more for good service for some items (I always buy books online, sorry but I don't need customer service when buying a book) if the price difference is reasonable. Sports equipment is a good example. I bought a wetsuit this past spring and paid a bit more to get it from a local dive shop rather than online. I wanted to be able to try it on in person and get advice from someone who knew something about diving.

 

[gorcorps]

If they offer something the other guys don't, like better service or something. If I can get something cheaper with proper service elsewhere though, why would I pay more for the same thing? Just because they aren't a chain doesn't mean they deserve handouts. They need to work for their money like everybody else and give me a reason to choose them.

 

[nanette1985]

Sometimes. Just bought some skins from the local leather store. Incredible quality. The kind of thing you wouldn't buy from a big chain store - you wouldn't know what you're getting.

A lot of local stores here are franchises. No real reason to bother "buying locally".

 

[Veliko]

I support my local butcher but only because the meat is better and the price is cheaper than the supermarket.

I see no other reason to support a local business.

 

[LookBehindYou]

I support my local wallet. I will always go wherever I get the most bang for my buck. Being local is below overall cost on my priority list.

Unless it is cheaper, of a much higher quality (depending on the product), or they offer something I can't get anywhere else, being local has no affect on my decision.

 

[Beev]

I support local eateries, unless the owners suck, like Adrian's Cafe. Never eat there, the guy is a douche.

 

[CPA]

No, because they usually don't provide medical insurance, retirement plans or paid maternity leave to their employees. Plus, the usually pay minimum wage.

Now, I do make some exceptions, like if they're closer or they're cheaper or if I don't feel like dealing with the Walmart crowd.

 

[kami333]

Usually only the restaurants. Maybe some specialty stores, but for the most part I don't see a point of supporting a "local" store if all they do is sell the same mass produced crap from China.

 

[waggy]

I support my local butcher but only because the meat is better and the price is cheaper than the supermarket.

/this! i forgot about the butcher.

we have 2 meat markets near me. both have outstanding meat. one in a little town (creston) has place called headons. the meat is great. the prices are decent but the service is outstanding. Also the owner supports my daughters girl scout troop. She went in once and wanted a small steak. eh cut and gave her a roughly 6 oz filet for free on her birthday.

Also they make some of the hottest sausages i have ever had.

 

[ElFenix]

i buy most of my books from a local used bookstore.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Yes, I do all the time...I noticing a slight mark up on certain things, but sometimes they can be cheaper.

 

[Pantlegz]

Depends on what I need, if I can get a similar product locally for about the same price then yes. If it's way more expensive or more of a pain in the ass then no. Normally I buy locally grown food, if I can.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

We try to support local bars and restaurants, we buy local produce from local stands when possible, and I do support a local grocery store chain over Kroger, even though it is more expensive. I absolutely despise the Kroger in my town. Other than that, options are limited for local merchants.

 

[trmiv]

Other than specialty stores that I go to for very specific things (reef aquarium store, game store, quality pet food store), I can't think of another local store that is worth buying from over a chain store.