Local business vs National chain?

Question

Let's say you have the opportunity to buy products from a locally owned business or from a national chain. What all are you "buying" from each place?

Answer 1

Well I'd go for the national chain places, although for some specific or better stuff I might go to a small local place where they might have better inventory of whatever I need at the time.

Answer 2

I'm also going to assume you are talking about agricultural products. I buy fruits and vegetables that are in season from the many farm stands in my area. I will buy from a national or chain store during the winter when the stands are closed. I buy my milk from the little sotre here in town and it is a local product. We raise and slaughter our own meat, so we generally don't have to buy it. if we do, we buy in bulk from someone we know and freeze it. As for canned goods, misc frozen items and cereal, etc we buy it where it is cheapest. We do have a budget, but I try and support the local farmers and local economy as much as possible.

Buying locally, I know if I have a problem with an item it will be resolved fairly and quickly, after all they have a local reputation to keep. I haven had less luck with national or chain stores because they don't care if they lose one customer. I haven't had the problem someone else stated with local stores. It's been the opposite for me.

Answer 3

Since you are asking in Agriculture, I would assume that you are talking about food items. I would buy as much locally grown produce that I could get before buying from a national chain.  Also I buy meats from local butchers.  We  are lucky enough to have a good local bakery, so  those products are bought locally as well.  Most other products such as can goods and frozen products come from the cheapest place that we can find them, with the exception of what we freeze ourselves.

Answer 4

I really don't pay attention that much,

but I do try to buy "made in the USA"

or at least "not made in china"

most national chains I see have mostly things made in china, so I tend not to shop there.

Answer 5

We have a lot of local stores in our area. They are very typical in that they have a limited variety because they can't afford to carry a wide inventory. They rarely offer a discount off the list price. They are usually insulted if you come in wearing or asking about a national-chain's products. They are usually reluctant to take back a failed item because they don't have much clout with their suppliers and would have to eat its cost themselves. Even when the store owner is a neighbor I am reluctant to buy from them.