Big Box vs. Little Box

[bridge]

The let us stimulate the economy thread got me thinking……
I think the idea in that thread is great & I agree
However I have a question???
I agree that we should buy from local resources when available.

But is there any difference buying a ((for instance)) can of diced tomatoes that came from who knows where (you never know because most of the time they just state marketed by: Joe Blo)

From "Big box" store for .50 or Local "Little box"
store for 1.27?
In some ways you are supporting the local store but really you are supporting Joe Blo.

So if you use one can a week you spend 40.04 more at "Little box" per year or you buy "Big Box" and have 40.04 in your pocket........

I know, I know dig up your yard and plant and grow those tomatoes, then can/preserve them. However not everyone wants to or can do that.

I have always debated this thought and I just want to see everyone’s opinions, please don't throw any at me!! LOL

[thesightofoneself]

there is no winning solution so i say just buy whatever is cheapest.

[elphie]

I think that it depends on the items in question. The same brand of an item from a far away company doesn't really matter as much because both businesses offer jobs to the community and the ownership stands to make the profits. I have never felt it to be my responsibility to boost the income of the local grocery store owner. I do make it a point to read their ads and buy from them if prices are competitive, I don't take my ads to Wal-mart for them to match because I would hate to see the people working there lose their jobs when I could have gotten just as good of a bargain, KWIM?

We also have a Kingsford Charcoal plant in our town and that plant has a great impact on our local economy. Not only do they provide a lot of jobs but they also give back to the community through annual grant programs. We only buy Kingsford Charcoal even though it costs a little more because we feel it is important to our community.

So, I think there are no clear cut answers on this one, each situation must be looked at independently.

[RetiredVeryEarly]

The same brand of an item from a far away company doesn't really matter as much because both businesses offer jobs to the community and the ownership stands to make the profits.

The difference is that the profit at the local business stays in your community, as the owner buys goods and services. The profit at Wal-mart goes to the ultra-rich Walton family, so the profit is funneled AWAY from your community. Then poorly paid Wal-mart employees are at the top of the list in most states of employees receiving subsidized health care. So they are a drain on the taxpayers as well.

Throw in that most of Wal-mart's merchandise comes from China, and you are helping to ruin the economy of our whole country. You are just shooting yourself in the foot in the long run by shopping at Wal-mart. That is not to mention all the sex discrimination, employee abuse (forced to work overtime without pay, etc.), union busting, etc. that goes on at Wal-mart. Not all big box stores are evil, but they sure are. Target has fairly good corporate practices and gives a lot back to the communities they are in.

[daisymay1960]

The difference is that the profit at the local business stays in your community, as the owner buys goods and services. The profit at Wal-mart goes to the ultra-rich Walton family, so the profit is funneled AWAY from your community. Then poorly paid Wal-mart employees are at the top of the list in most states of employees receiving subsidized health care. So they are a drain on the taxpayers as well.

Throw in that most of Wal-mart's merchandise comes from China, and you are helping to ruin the economy of our whole country. You are just shooting yourself in the foot in the long run by shopping at Wal-mart. That is not to mention all the sex discrimination, employee abuse (forced to work overtime without pay, etc.), union busting, etc. that goes on at Wal-mart. Not all big box stores are evil, but they sure are. Target has fairly good corporate practices and gives a lot back to the communities they are in.

I agree 100% .Here in the uk we are reaping the rewards of wanting cheap goods ,while still expecting high incomes we have run our manufactoring industry into the ground, by out sourcing and importing other countries goods and it has now come back to bite us in the bum big time !!

Support your countrys economy and buy only what has been produced in the US ( if not the uk lol) you will find it more expensive but I think its time we all have to suffer for the greater good .

[Milly]

Maybe we need to start a "Made in America" forum, where everybody can list companies that still produce things here. If such companies are not listed on the internet, we can't find them unless we're aware of them because they're local.

What say the Powers That Be (AKA, the Moderators)?

[thesightofoneself]

Maybe we need to start a "Made in America" forum, where everybody can list companies that still produce things here. If such companies are not listed on the internet, we can't find them unless we're aware of them because they're local.

What say the Powers That Be (AKA, the Moderators)?

makes me want to turn everything over and read the made in labels

[Momto2Boyz]

Dh and I try to buy locally whenever we can. The only "big box" stores we shop at are Target & Aldi's.

We shop most of our groceries at a local grocery store and we always do our best to make big purchases locally. When we had to buy a new dryer last year, we looked at Lowe's vs. the little guy here a town over. It turned out that the same dryer was only $20 more expensive at the "little guy's" shop. We decided it would be worth it to purchase there, and bought it. Little did we realize, that sales tax in Sycamore, IL was lower than DeKalb, IL, and the difference made up the $20!

When you shop locally, the owners typically live locally. So the money stays a little closer to home to be spent!

[elphie]

The difference is that the profit at the local business stays in your community, as the owner buys goods and services. The profit at Wal-mart goes to the ultra-rich Walton family, so the profit is funneled AWAY from your community. Then poorly paid Wal-mart employees are at the top of the list in most states of employees receiving subsidized health care. So they are a drain on the taxpayers as well.

Throw in that most of Wal-mart's merchandise comes from China, and you are helping to ruin the economy of our whole country. You are just shooting yourself in the foot in the long run by shopping at Wal-mart. That is not to mention all the sex discrimination, employee abuse (forced to work overtime without pay, etc.), union busting, etc. that goes on at Wal-mart. Not all big box stores are evil, but they sure are. Target has fairly good corporate practices and gives a lot back to the communities they are in.

We don't really shop at Wal-mart, I was referring to Aldi when I was thinking of the "big box" store. Our local grocery store doesn't really have good business practices and they don't live in our community, They have a chain of about 5 stores and ours is one of the smallest. As for buying American- this isn't always as cut and dry as it seems. The US owns small islands in the Pacific that are housing sweatshops and they are stamped "Made in the USA" because technically those islands are US territories.

I know it is an upopular opinion to say but I don't think the big chains are destroying America the way everyone thinks they are. No, I don't like Wal-mart's business practices so I choose not to shop there (I had an entire thread about getting gift cards for Christmas and how hard it was to find something worth spending). On the other hand I think Starbucks is a fantastic company and I have great respect for the owner of that particular company; I don't have a need for his product but will sometimes treat myself w/o guilt.

I also don't think these chains destroy local economies in the way that they are accused. About 40 years ago my community had the opportunity to have Wal-mart come to our town and local businesses balked at this. The city council declined and Wal-mart went to the next town over. Fast forward 40 years and that town has a much more stable local economy than we do even though before Wal-mart we were fairly equal. They have more businesses moving in, more job opportunities, more homeowners relocating there which creates a higher tax revenue and better schools. In the meantime only one of the local business owners who balked at Wal-mart is still in business in our town. Some moved away, some moved on to other things, and some actually moved to the little town that has Wal-mart because there was more business to be had there.

As for where the profits end up that is questionable as well. The Target nearest us donates more to local schools annually than the local businesses combined, so even though they are a big box store, they still give back to the community. And I have a mutual fund and own stock in several of those big box stores so it's not just the CEO's who make money its also me as a shareholder who makes money when these stores do well.

Just as the industrial revolution moved us from the farm to the factory (and you better believe it was met with just as much resistance) the technological revolution is moving us from a local to a global economy. While I agree that we should be investigating and doing business with companies that practice fair business practices, I disagree that this always means to buy locally. JMHO

[Push9monkeys]

Dh and I try to buy locally whenever we can. The only "big box" stores we shop at are Target & Aldi's.

Same here. Although, I didn't know Aldi was considered a big box store. Our Target doesn't have produce or a deli so I only get some clothes and shoes from there. Everything is a bit higher priced at our Target.

I also don't think these chains destroy local economies in the way that they are accused. About 40 years ago my community had the opportunity to have Wal-mart come to our town and local businesses balked at this. The city council declined and Wal-mart went to the next town over. Fast forward 40 years and that town has a much more stable local economy than we do even though before Wal-mart we were fairly equal. They have more businesses moving in, more job opportunities, more homeowners relocating there which creates a higher tax revenue and better schools. In the meantime only one of the local business owners who balked at Wal-mart is still in business in our town. Some moved away, some moved on to other things, and some actually moved to the little town that has Wal-mart because there was more business to be had there.

I dislike Walmart also and only shop there for specific items. But couldn't the point be argued that the money saved at Walmart could in turn be used at other, possibly local, business. Also stimulated the economy. Not as much but still some money would be going to local.

[momof2joys]

Mostly I try to buy whatever is the cheapest!! Considering the nearest big-box store (wal-mart) is about 20 miles away, I usually only go once a month and get large amounts of stuff, but for little things I mostly buy from here in town, we have a Pamida and Alco along with 2 grocery stores, so between them all I can usually find what I need, although, like someone mentioned, it is sometimes higher priced, but after figuring taxes and cost of gas it usually equals out!

[MoonMommy]

makes me want to turn everything over and read the made in labels

I do turn everything over and read the labels. For one, I DON'T want my food imported from China, especially with all the issues they are having. You have to be vigilant, because there is a lot out there that is from there including Fresh Garlic, Juices, and candy.

Second, if I can't buy local then I want to make sure I am supporting the agriculture/production in the USA as much as possible. There are some items that you might never find made here (like TVs) but there are a ton of things that you can still find BUT you have to get good at looking.

[thesightofoneself]

changed mind