I work in retail in Park City, Utah for a lovely couple .... a true mom and pop business which is a rarity today with all the competition from the big box stores. All the shop owners I know are really struggling just to keep their doors open and to earn a living. Many have closed their doors.
Lately we have had a lot of "customers" come in to "just look" and then go home to make their purchases online to save a few dollars and sales tax. They don't seem to understand (or care) that there is a lot of overhead to run a business, and if they don't start supporting their local small businesses they will no longer have store fronts to visit.
Just yesterday, a man called and wants to return a sculpture that his wife got him for Christmas. She was a last minute shopper and called and needed it shipped out express. So yes, we wrapped it, boxed it, and mailed it for only a $10 fee which didn't nearly cover our costs. Since they live in Utah, they also had to pay sales tax. He now wants the shipping cost refunded too, because he doesn't like the gift that she got him and wants a different one. Then to add insult to injury, he wants us to match an online price that he found. I tried to explain to him that online "stores" don't have any overhead so they can afford to sell way below a fair market price and if that is how he chooses to shop it is his prerogative. I haven't heard back or seen him to know what he has decided.
We and other small business deal with this mentality on a daily basis and it is hard to be polite and cheerful when you just want to scream. There is a movement going on by Cinda Baxter, a retail consultant. It is called the 3/50 Project, and I hope everyone who reads this takes it to heart and passes it on to their friends, relatives and acquaintances. If we as Americans don't consciously make some changes, our quaint and unique small businesses will just be a fond memory.
No comments:
Post a Comment