Consumer Responsibility Rant

[Dyami]

I have been on this kick here lately, and I thought I would throw a few words on here. Everyone here I am sure is well aware of our nations current economic state and recently I have been hearing some things that I think partly contribute to the poor economy. Now maybe this is because I am a salesman, and maybe it is because I was a store manager responsible for a staff, inventory, and mostly corporate sales expectations, but what happened to the consumers responsibility? What happened to service?

I am a very strong opinionated person, but respect others, but I have been reading on here for quite a while, and I continue to hear a common theme. We all share an interest in an amazing hobby that offers great rewards, but it comes back to our responsibility to support the people that make that possible. One of the threads, and I am not quoting because I am not bashing the people that said it by any means, reccommended avoiding an LFS to buy something they were looking at because you can find it cheaper online. Now I agree you can find it online cheaper. I am in sales and trust me you can always find it cheaper online. But why not support your LFS. I only say this because I hear complaining about how bad a store is, but I often hear about how great a store is and how helpful they are, then people turn away from it to buy it somewhere else.
This is a simple reminder about our economy and job market in the US. Complaint after complaint about how bad it is, but then to turn around and buy it somewhere cheaper.

Now I know it sounds like an awful comparison, but isn't this what big businesses have done, outsourced to somewhere cheaper, and we have the audacity to shame them for it. (I haven't heard that hear, but hear it all the time) If someone provides you with an excellent product or service, then why not reward them with the opportunity to get the sale. I am not saying you must buy from those that serve you, but I think you should at least afford them the opportunity.

So next time someone tells you go buy it online because your LFS costs a little more, consider the service they provide you and at least give them the opportunity to get the sale. Take proof that you can get it cheaper and tell them that you appreciate them and ask if they can reduce a price or match, but don't simply ignore them and make a purchase else where. Everyone contributes to the country's economic state. It all starts on small levels, but definatly has an impact on larger business.

Again, this isn't to bash on anyone, just a little rant on everyone's individual buying power and it's effects. Service is not something you can get everywhere and it is something that is hard to come by anymore. Not because people just aren't good at providing services anymore, but because people aren't willing to pay for a service anymore. They want the uncommon at the commodity pricetag. That is what puts businesses under and allows it to be cost effective to move business out of this country to somewhere that appreciates the dollor more than we do.


Just one example of how to make a difference, I go to the same LFS now since I have been to pretty much all of them here that I know of. I buy everything from them. They have it in stock or will order it for me and provide excellent advise and great service. So I have spent alot of time there. After a while you start to see the same people. I had to go to PetLand to get some stuff for my Ferrot (LFS didn't have this stuff and couldn't order) and I noticed a girl that was working there. She had been at the LFS quite a bit as well, and bought tons of stuff from them even though she worked at a bigger pet store and coincidently gets a discount there as well. Now that is devoted. But why not. I thought it was great. Everyone has the ability to support or not to support their stores and people. But economic struggles start locally. Buying local helps improve local growth and even better products and services.

I am a big fan of the internet and this isn't a "stay away from the internet" rant either. Some things you can't get locally. There is definatly a huge benefit to online purchases, but consider who you reward by where you send your money for the stuff that you buy.