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It doesn't matter what the shops look like, its what you find inside. Even chain stores have colourful staff in one store and boring ones in another. The stores have the same signs, but are very different.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
I also enjoy the small "individual" stores, but the "chains" are just as good if not better. I'm not worried about which shop I buy from, just as long as I get what I wanted
( preferably not made in China :p : ).
I think one would have to spend an awful lot of time in a shop to discover the individual traits of those employed within. The fact that one member of staff somewhere may be dour and another friendly is not an example of individuality in my book. The homogenity is inherent in the fact of a shop being part of a chain. Homogenity in terms of products, prices, decor, etc is surely the very nature of the chain store?Quote:
Originally Posted by 555-04Q2
I am worried about both, and, now I live somewhere with a plethora of them on my doorstep, make a conscious effort to support smaller outlets. What I buy from them is better anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by 555-04Q2
Why?Quote:
Originally Posted by 555-04Q2
I agree that small independent shops are usually a great change from big corporate box stores. That's a great thing when you want a good deli lunch, or a different type of just about anything. But where can you go to a "Mom And Pop" local independent and find a great deal on a big flat screen or the newest laptop?Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
Every person has the right to speak with their money, yet many if not most will go to those large corporate places for major purposes. And most do so for the same reason the "occupy" crowd is angry at the corporations... pure greed. They want the same product for the best price. They don't want to pay the local store $100 more for the same flat screen TV or laptop.
None of these corporate entities would exist without consumer support. If the majority of consumers changed their spending habits some or many of them would cease to exist. But the majority seem to be just as concerned in the quest for money as the corporations. So really the greed of the individual has resulted in the individual accusing the corporations of being greedy.
Is anyone protesting their neighbors that shop at the big box stores?
In the pursuit of wealth or profit how much is enough :confused:
Well, I now have a fine old market hall (Marheineke Markthalle, Berlin-Kreuzberg) up the road, so I use independent outlets for everything, not just the different stuff — I get my bread from the bakeries, my meat from the butchers, my vegetables and fruit from the greengrocers, and so forth. When I move away next year, this is one of the things I shall miss most. It is infinitely preferable to getting these goods from a supermarket, which I could easily do.Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
Branded electrical goods I do make an exception for. I suppose I am referring in general to food and clothes. But I won't pretend that I wouldn't prefer never to have to go in a large chain store outlet for anything, so horrendous is the experience. Nor do I shop around particularly, in part because I just can't be bothered, and in part because ancillary deals they try to sell you always muddy the waters as to which is really cheapest. My time is better spent doing things other than making endless price comparisons. So I just go to the shop which has the best range and is nearest.Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
Have you spoken to anyone involved in order to get an idea of their motivation beyond that portrayed in the media of your choice? A couple of friends of mine have taken part. Neither is a greedy individual in the slightest, and to say otherwise would be offensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
I think it goes deeper than that — to the very nature of said corporations compared with smaller outlets, for example. I agree that there is a strong streak of greed in much of society today — why else is there so much personal debt? — but perhaps this is also born in part of the way the corporate world encourages it, and those who are unpleasant but successful are held in high regard?Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
And is the person pursuing it a ****? This, to me, is far more important than how much money they have. Sadly, as I have said before, there are just too many *****.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
I'd say as much as a person desires is enough. If they or their corporations are really greedy and offer no service or product that the rest of us want, their quest for wealth would be short lived. It's only by providing things that the consumers want that any of them get large and wealthy.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1
And I'm sure the people living in true poverty could look at us... the group of what we consider "normal" working people, and see us as greedy and having things we don't need. Most of us have places to live, vehicles, computers, big screen TVs, cell phones, etc. A person living in true poverty would see "us" as living in excess, and a bunch of material pricks.
If as much as one wants is enough, monopoly laws would never have been passed in this country.Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
There is a point where wealth aqusition turns into greed, and those who wish to say this country is founded on Christian priciples should never say greed is good.
There is a limit, but at the same time a government has no right to prevent parents from passing on their wealth to their loved ones, in total.
Really? Do you not recognise the concept of 'too much'?Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
Or more importantly need.Quote:
Originally Posted by airshifter
There are four major banks in Australia which control 92% of the banking sector. They control the electronic payments system. It is virtually impossible as a wage earner, or dividend earner, or rent collector not to operate a bank account.
If you don't want to eat out at a restaurant, you can choose to eat at home. Likewise if you still want to eat out at a restaurant, you can choose to find a cheaper one. However, on average the four major banks make roughly $1000 in profits from every single person in Australia and because their fees structures are similar, it's not like you can choose to find a cheaper one.