RE: And I shop at Lowe’s and Home Depot
Best Buy, Costco, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, BJ’s, etc. These big box stores don’t kill Mom and Pop businesses?
Might as well write a low stopping them all from expanding so that the Mom and Pop businesses can survive.
Mom n pop disappeared 20 years ago ... the argument is moot.
I was shopping yesterday. I needed a feed supplement for one of my horses.
I have used this supplement for over 20 years. Normal price is about $22 + tax for a 40# bag. Local Mom & Pop store had some on hand====$36.99 plus tax for the bag.
I told them it could stay on the stack.
Add PetSmart, Pet Supermarket and all the other big box pet stores. They all destroy small business. 90% of the local pet shops that existed 20 years ago are gone and not replaced. Major cities that had 30 or 40 shops now have one or two.
I run a local fish store and struggle to stay in business because I cannot compete with chains that buy by the truckload direct from manufacturers. My cost at the wholesaler is not different from the prices these places charge at retail.
I survive because I provide service, personal commitment and expertise, commodities unavailable at a big box store.