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Shop Local. Buy Local.

JustaShooter

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2013
Messages
728
Location
NE Ohio
I saw the following exchange in another thread and rather than derail that thread I though I'd post here and see what others think:

Eschew Big Box. Buy Mom&Pop.

I buy whatever I can get that offers me the most value for my money. I don't give a crap whether that outlet is a big box or a Mom & Pop.

While that is your choice, that approach certainly has its drawbacks in my opinion.

I choose to shop and buy locally whenever possible. I am willing to pay a small premium to keep my business local - and by local, I don't mean chain stores, and certainly not big box stores. I regularly hear folks decry the degradation of the communities around them and when asked where they buy groceries, items for day-to-day needs, hobby or recreational supplies, whatever, I inevitably hear Walmart, Lowes, Amazon, etc.

Now, don't misunderstand me - I do buy from those places but only after trying to shop & buy locally. For example, we have a local market that sells many foodstuffs at prices below chain grocery prices - it isn't as convenient as one-stop-shopping at Walmart or the like, but in that case we actually save money. But even if I didn't save money, I know the quality and freshness of the products I buy there is well above what I can get elsewhere.

Other times I'll pay a few dollars more - maybe 10-15% or so, to keep my money local - like when shopping for optics or other sporting goods. I can usually beat my local guy on price by a bit if I shop online or go to Walmart, but I get the value of his expertise and product knowledge, I get to hold the item in my hand and inspect it before purchasing, and I know that if I have a problem I have a person I can go back to that can either help me with a problem or facilitate the return or replacement. That is worth something in my opinion, and I refuse to do what I hear others doing which is to use the local guy for product selection but then make the purchase online or elsewhere.

On the other hand, if the local guy is noticeably overpriced, I'll let them know, and offer what I feel is a fair price. If they decline, I will go elsewhere - as I said, I'm willing to pay a small premium, but I will not be gouged.

How do you make your purchase decisions? Is it all about the price or do you give consideration to other factors? What are those factors and how much weight do you give them?
 

jeeper1

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2008
Messages
692
Location
USA
Not everyone can afford to pay "a little extra to keep it local". Many of us are barely making it from one pay check to the next or not.
 

eye95

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
Whether or not you can afford it may dictate what you buy, however that doesn't change the overarching point that spending more without getting value for the more money is dumb.

As to the lack of quality question: Yes, some big box stores carry some products whose quality is so low as not to be worth the savings. However, they carry many of the same products at lower prices than Mom & Pops.

Oh, and many of the products made in China equal or exceed US-made products in quality. I judge each purchase on its own merit, not based on type of store or country of origin. Allowing those two attributes to cloud a buy decision is foolish.
 
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OC for ME

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
12,452
Location
White Oak Plantation
Buy local.....hmm. Good idea, this way Mom & Pop can then buy at a big box store when they do their shopping.

Competitive pricing, and product availability is my expectation. If I have to drive (time is money, fuel costs) to get a lower price it is not a bargain. Mom & Pop must be competitive and have the product I desire.
 

eye95

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
I used to also "Buy American." I stopped that years ago, because such a mindset fosters crappy, overpriced commodities and indirectly fosters overpaid, underproductive workers.

Buy quality at a value price.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

<o>
 

Bernymac

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
415
Location
Las Vegas
I buy quality at the price I value and I don't care if it is local or not. The internet store that I buy from is local for someone else. A business who cannot compete for my money or anyone else's will need to change its business plan and not rely on the emotional aspect of making money.

What if I have an internet based business? Should I not sell somewhere else because I want the customer to keep it local?
 
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sudden valley gunner

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
16,674
Location
Whatcom County
I used to also "Buy American." I stopped that years ago, because such a mindset fosters crappy, overpriced commodities and indirectly fosters overpaid, underproductive workers.

Buy quality at a value price.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

<o>

Buying Value over protectionism helps the economy too, it means local inefficient resources can be freed up to ad more value and provide other services.
 
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