Lets start with the big box stores, being big well they have lots of stuff it's pretty convenient to walk into one building and get all you want. The prices are usually lower than smaller stores always a good thing to save some money. Once you have been to one you have been to all, I love new things when vacationing but if I lose my luggage I know I can walk into a Walmart and pick whatever I need. Hours of operation are also pretty good at many of these store, I am not a huge shopping fan, but if I do need something after 17:00 I can get it.
The mom and pop store well if big is good so is small. If I am looking for something unique it can be much easier to locate in a small store. The staff care more, a little bit of a generalisation but if the owners also work the cash register they want their business to succeed. If you decide to open say a plumbing supply store chances are you know a thing or two about plumbing. The quality of products sold can be much higher of course this is reflected by a higher price. If there is a problem with your new product it's much nicer to deal with a real decision maker than a customer service specialist.
So there you have a basic list of why both have advantages, now why the hate for the evil big box? They kill the mom and pop store, this can be true and it is unfortunate but we live in a capitalist society if customers chose the competition over you well that's just the way it is. They pay "slave wages" I think that argument here is not what they pay their employees but what they are allowed to pay them depending on the state/provincial minimum wage, if you don't think it's enough to live on full time minimum wage lobby your government to increase it. The problem with that is the cost of living always goes up, sadly minimum wage will never be enough. I will say the practice of having very few full time employees in exchange for benefit free part timers is a practice I do not agree with. That being said is this really only a problem with the big box stores?
2 comments:
Personally, I don`t mind the big box stores. You can usually find the items you are looking for instead of finding it at different small stores around town. Big box stores provide cheaper prices for similar items. I do agree when you say the quality of the item might not match the quality of the item you get at small local stores. If you don`t mind that fact, it should not be an issue.
I think that big box stores do belong in most american/canadian towns. On the other hand,I do think that historic towns should not have big box stores. Take for example Niagara-On-the Lake. A big box store on Main Street would ruin the local economy and scenery. In terms of jobs, well big box stores do employ large amount of personnel in most cities, so people should not complain because it does provide job security for people, even though it is minimum wage.
Phil
The best thing is about big box stores is that if we wanted to say, go get a copy of Dune and some White Castle at 3AM then we could do that.
Also this: http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/
Post a Comment