[Bubba_Leroy]

Bigger store chains tend to put the small business stores out of business

That is why locally owned businesses are the first on my shopping list.

I am willing to pay more from a locally owned store whose owner I know that I would pay to Walmart or Amazon. It is not just a matter of supporting local businesses (who also buy from me). Service still means a lot.

You generally get much better service from someone who owns his own business than you will ever get from a sales clerk working for minimum wage at Walmart or from telephone customer service for a national business that has been outsourced to India.

[goodnesswins]

"You generally get much better service from someone who owns his own business than you will ever get from a sales clerk working for minimum wage at Walmart or from telephone customer service for a national business that has been outsourced to India."

Yes...and they will let you write a check when you forget your credit cards & ID. I spend 100s at local fred meyer...but won't after the way I was treated this week.  

[Morpheus2009]

The sad tragedy, though, is that not very many customers put the kind of informed effort into their shopping that you or I do.

I also Amend my earlier statements, Target is pandering in an attempt to save their own business.