LOCAL VERSES MEGA

LOCAL VERSES MEGA

So I broke my bike chain last night about 7:30pm and didn’t have a spare. I ate dinner and set off to find one. We stoped at my local deli where I stop every other day for a fast coffee, which happens to be the only store on the mountain. I was greeted with “whata ya need” like he has never seen me before. Anyway at that time of night most of the local bike shops are closed so I figure what the heck, Dick’s, yea, might be the ticket. Even though I need a particular chain my bike is old and all I really need is a master link, I can break the chain myself. I really need it for Saturday morning. I go strait to the bike area and right to the bike counter as I walk past 4 associates and two loss prevention personnel “observing” customers. There I stood for almost 10 minutes (I would have gotten someone sooner but I had a few minutes and wanted to see what was going to happen). I finally walked over to the kid who was no lie, less than 15 feet from me watcing the girls walk by. After he cleared off the counter he told me my link might or might not be in the display case which had small parts piled on top of each other and I had no access to. Through the glass I looked over and under these parts for my link but it was a foolish game. I thanked him and left. Up the street we went to “god forbid” Wallmart, it was almost 9pm and I had no choice. I was GREETED by a nice older gentleman and strait to the bike area where plain as day was my need. I paid and out as fast as I could hoof. After getting outside I looked at my wife’s reaction which was mimiced by myown, a defiant fist to the heavens and a vocalized: “DAMN YOU WALMART”, cliche as it is.

Now this is one small experience in one small life but the philosophy regarding super mega stores and Walmart in particular is “they” are taking resources and consumers away from local business’ and destroying cmmunities, all true, but are they taking anything or are we just handing it over to them.

Have you ever tried returning an item to one of our beloved local retailers for whatever reason? After they stop staring at the third eye on your forehead they act as if you are trying to get on over on them, and maybe you are but who cares you’ll be back, over and over again. Make this a bad shopping experience for me and you’ll never see me again because now it’s personal.

Have you ever walked in to a shop that you were really excited about? Everything was exactly as you pictured it would be until the sales person opened their mouth and you knew your experience was heading in the wrong direction.

When I walk into an establishment I WANT to be there I don’t NEED to be there, it’s my money and time after all and I enjoy spending it on things that make me and my family happy. When it stops being fun I stop shopping there.

The fact is these mega giants have spent millions of dollars on hundreds of MBA’s, thousands of researchers, focus groups, discussion panels, etc. figuring out how to get consumers in and how to part us from our dollars. Maybe we can learn from their business model instead of dispise it.

The customer is ALWAYS right!