How often do you support small businesses?

How many of you actually go out of your way to support smaller businesses, over large corporations?

Considering I hear a lot of complaints, not necessarily here on OT, about those larger corps destroying local mom and pop shops, I thought I'd ask the question, out of curiosity.

I rarely support them with my business, as it's more convenient getting all my things at one large store/market. There's also the issue of some small businesses not having very good options or item stock.

I support them when they have something I want to give them money for.

I support them if they have better prices and service. Otherwise, no. I shop where it's best for me.

I used to shop at a small video game shop as well as a small used book store, but both went out of business.

there's some local restaurants that i frequent more than big chain places, but other than that prices of the same thing is generally cheaper online or at a large, corporate owned store so I end up there. comp_atkins

there's some local restaurants that i frequent more than big chain places, but other than that prices of the same thing is generally cheaper online or at a large, corporate owned store so I end up there. comp_atkins

We try to support local businesses and restaurants as much as possible, as long as there isn't a huge price difference. We prefer the local coffee shop, book stores, and clothes shops, along with the local farmer's market.

I give no fvcks. When it comes to shopping, I have 0 morals.

I go to local video game stores every now and then. That's really it.

I like to shop at big department stores, mainly for the convience, but I try to buy smaller brands when I can (ex. Jones Soda instead of Pepsi). I usually only do this with food though, because big food companies are notorious for using cheap substitutes. I also try to avoid big chain dining.

When it comes to stuff like electronics and clothes, I buy the bigger brands. The quality tends to be much better.

As much as i can, within reason.  I buy my meat from a local meat market, but that same meat market sells ketchup and other things like that for almost double the price of the bigger retailers so I don't buy that kind of stuff from them.  Like to go to the farmers market and buy vegetables.  Theres a guy who sells homemade ice cream out of a cart in front of a coffee shop, so i go there a couple times a week and buy ice cream from him.  Its too bad the government is severely limiting his business by not allowing him to wholesale and operate in other locations.  

I don't have the money for that sh!t.

[QUOTE="comp_atkins"]there's some local restaurants that i frequent more than big chain places, but other than that prices of the same thing is generally cheaper online or at a large, corporate owned store so I end up there. Pirate700

Mhmm

This is pretty much the only exception.

I never shop at mom and pop stores.  I walk in and see prices that make me laugh, and old merchandise with a thick coating of dust on it still with the full manufacturer's suggested retail price on it.  Customer service is usually stuck in the stone age too.  Want something they don't have in the store?  They can special order it and have it in 2-3 weeks.  Or I could order it from Amazon and have it in 2-3 days, and save ten bucks while I'm at it.

Only when they use Amazon as a middle man. There is also a small tackle shop that has high quality, locally made lures. Otherwise the small business owners in this area seem to have issues dealling with the public. We are also at the edge of the oil boom and everyone is gouging as much as they can.

My biggest complaint is the look you get when trying to pay with a credit card. I'm just not paying an $80 fuel bill, or $80 restaurant bill with cash, I'll carry a couple twenties, but there is no reason to carry hundreds of dollars in my pocket, when it will just get lost or stolen.

I very rarely go to small shops unless it is a specialty shop and I am looking for their product. For example. When I get my new mountain bike, I will put it together and take it to a local bike shop instead of Walmart or some place like that to get the breaks and gears checked and adjusted.AmazonTreeBoa

[QUOTE="comp_atkins"]there's some local restaurants that i frequent more than big chain places, but other than that prices of the same thing is generally cheaper online or at a large, corporate owned store so I end up there. AmazonTreeBoa

I try to as much as I can. That includes shopping for fresh fruit and veggies from a small mom and pop place vs going to bigger chains cause you get better selection on produce. Usaully at a Farmers Market.

Whenever I want to buy something from them.

Only when they use Amazon as a middle man. There is also a small tackle shop that has high quality, locally made lures. Otherwise the small business owners in this area seem to have issues dealling with the public. We are also at the edge of the oil boom and everyone is gouging as much as they can.

My biggest complaint is the look you get when trying to pay with a credit card. I'm just not paying an $80 fuel bill, or $80 restaurant bill with cash, I'll carry a couple twenties, but there is no reason to carry hundreds of dollars in my pocket, when it will just get lost or stolen.

joehult

I don't

I do most of my grocery shopping at the "mom 'n pop" in my neighborhood. Yeah, it's a little more expensive, but a hell of a lot more convenient for me and it's always nice to support locals.

[QUOTE="joehult"]

Only when they use Amazon as a middle man. There is also a small tackle shop that has high quality, locally made lures. Otherwise the small business owners in this area seem to have issues dealling with the public. We are also at the edge of the oil boom and everyone is gouging as much as they can.

My biggest complaint is the look you get when trying to pay with a credit card. I'm just not paying an $80 fuel bill, or $80 restaurant bill with cash, I'll carry a couple twenties, but there is no reason to carry hundreds of dollars in my pocket, when it will just get lost or stolen.

mattbbpl

I told him that now he was going to lose the entire purchase and I left the merchandise there. I'm absolutely sick of it.

I'm guessing he was informing you that there was a 20 cent charge to use the card. It's not costing him personally anything to run it so I doubt that was a complaint on his part.

[QUOTE="mattbbpl"][QUOTE="joehult"]

Only when they use Amazon as a middle man. There is also a small tackle shop that has high quality, locally made lures. Otherwise the small business owners in this area seem to have issues dealling with the public. We are also at the edge of the oil boom and everyone is gouging as much as they can.

My biggest complaint is the look you get when trying to pay with a credit card. I'm just not paying an $80 fuel bill, or $80 restaurant bill with cash, I'll carry a couple twenties, but there is no reason to carry hundreds of dollars in my pocket, when it will just get lost or stolen.

worlock77

I told him that now he was going to lose the entire purchase and I left the merchandise there. I'm absolutely sick of it.

I'm guessing he was informing you that there was a 20 cent charge to use the card. It's not costing him personally anything to run it so I doubt that was a complaint on his part.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="mattbbpl"] That is easily my biggest complaint with vendors these days. I get more and more flack for it. Last season I lined up to buy about $50 worth of merchandise at a Bulls game, whipped out my credit card, and the guy gave me a dirty look and said, "You know that's going to cost me over 20 cents to run that, right?"

 

I told him that now he was going to lose the entire purchase and I left the merchandise there. I'm absolutely sick of it.mattbbpl

I'm guessing he was informing you that there was a 20 cent charge to use the card. It's not costing him personally anything to run it so I doubt that was a complaint on his part.

once every 9 days.

[QUOTE="worlock77"]

[QUOTE="mattbbpl"] That is easily my biggest complaint with vendors these days. I get more and more flack for it. Last season I lined up to buy about $50 worth of merchandise at a Bulls game, whipped out my credit card, and the guy gave me a dirty look and said, "You know that's going to cost me over 20 cents to run that, right?"

 

I told him that now he was going to lose the entire purchase and I left the merchandise there. I'm absolutely sick of it.mattbbpl

I'm guessing he was informing you that there was a 20 cent charge to use the card. It's not costing him personally anything to run it so I doubt that was a complaint on his part.

It charges the company he works for 20 cents, not him. Such charges are typically passed on to the consumer anyway. Regardless, that 20 cents is not coming out of the man's pocket. My guess is that you misinterpreted what the man was saying and had a knee-jerk reaction.

I support whoever provides the best balance between product/service and price to suit my needs, which is usually the large corporations.Laihendi

I am a consumerist so I don't really care about "supporting" small businesses. If they're good enough to be competitive they won't need my "support" anyway.