var json_comments = new Array("

$\"user-pic\"$

Naame

October 2, 2009 6:58 PM

Moderate | Flag for review

Considering that their business is local, it would influence me to go to them rather than some big chain the next time I was in need of one of their products even if they are a little bit more expensive. It would not be enough if their products or services were not very good though.

5 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

DaBull

October 2, 2009 10:05 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Naame: As long as their products were equal or superior, I would absolutely support the local business.

$\"user-pic\"$

Slave For Turtles

October 2, 2009 8:15 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Naame: Count me in on this opinion, too.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 8:16 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Slave For Turtles: I agree, but there would be price consideration for me. What mean is if the guy was priced well above his competition I might second guess shopping there, but assuming he was competitive, I'd go.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 11:37 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dragonfire81: Dont forget, with a locally owned business, you can frequently negotiate price. Let them know you want to support them, but that you've seen similar things for $X, and they may work with you.

$\"user-pic\"$

Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)

October 2, 2009 7:45 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Naame: Ditto.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 7:03 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Naame: It would influence me in the same way. I will support the \"little guy\" who has been paying taxes to my community for 42 years, rather than a big-box store that has no local roots.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 6:59 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Probably not, because I wouldn't have confidence that the store would be there in a year, and brand/store loyalty is a two way street - beyond me wanting to come back later, I have to be able to come back later.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

DreamTheEndless: Death's little brother

October 2, 2009 8:29 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@farcedude: He runs a men's clothing store. It's not as if clothing purchases have long term warranties or anything... I don't think my purchasing decision of clothing today would be impacted in any way by whether or not the store is going to be out of business in a year.

$\"user-pic\"$

Rachacha

October 2, 2009 8:41 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@DreamTheEndless: However, if you purchase a suit, you may have to wait a week or so for alterations or adjustments. It is likely that if this business owner is begging for business that he may have to shut his doors and you are out the money spent on a deposit for a suit while it is being altered.

Sudden store closures with no warning do happen, many local restaurants and drycleaners near me have been open on one day and appeared to be operating on a business as usual status, but shut their doors that night never to open them again.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

SpiderPaintingDollars

October 2, 2009 7:00 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Honesty is always the best policy? Hmm... I might. It depends on the store. If it were a \"ma and pa\" shop, then I probably would. But I'd have been shopping there anyways most likely. I'd rather shop \"ma and pa\" then Walmart anyways. If it were a huge local deal, maybe not so much. The general rule nowadays seems to be the bigger you are, the worse your CS is.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 7:06 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

A small landscaping company I had used sent around a similar letter earlier this year. Basically saying : \"We are really hurting right now, if you need ANYTHING doing please ask us we will be very flexible on prices as we need the work.\"

","

$\"user-pic\"$

pecan 3.14159265

October 2, 2009 7:06 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Maybe. If it's legit, and not a ploy to get business, I then have to consider whether the store offers something I actually need, at the price I can afford, at the quality I expect.

If this store was much more expensive than the amount we could pay, there's nothing I can do to help them out. If they charge $600 for a suit, we can't help. If the products are of low quality, or lower than I am used to, it would be foolish to spend my money there.

A company, whether its a mom & pop or a chain, has to earn its customers.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

frank64

October 2, 2009 7:07 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Well it seems the normal things weren't working so it is worth a shot. It could bring some people in. I wouldn't put anything on lay-a-way though!

","

$\"user-pic\"$

ngoandy

October 2, 2009 7:17 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

If a local business that I frequent sent a letter like that, I'd definitely do what I could to help.

It is either that or risk losing the store and being stuck with what is left.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

bohemian

October 2, 2009 10:48 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@ngoandy: Our \"stuck with what is left\" already sucks. We try to give as much business as we can to the local shops within reason. Sometimes they are just not in our demographic.

$\"user-pic\"$

DreamTheEndless: Death's little brother

October 2, 2009 8:35 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@ngoandy: Excellent statement. The megachains can weather this storm with a little less pain than many of the independently owned small businesses. If we're not careful we might lose many of the little guys.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

kexline

October 2, 2009 7:28 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I think this is a good play for well-loved local businesses, though probably not for anything else.

If I got a note like this from a business I already liked, it would absolutely have the desired effect. I'd use them at every opportunity and bug my friends to do the same. I wouldn't buy anything I didn't need, but I might buy earlier.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 7:29 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Local businesses usually do resort to this sort of stuff. Putting flyers under your wiper blades, doorknob adverts, etc. However I have seen it happening more frequently in these recent years. Taking out ads in the paper these days can be quite costly for businesses that are literally on the fringe of going under.

Would it make me shop there though? If I had the money, sure.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

humphrmi

October 2, 2009 8:06 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Would it make me shop there though? If I had the money, sure.

And that's kind of the point, if everyone had more money, we wouldn't be in this mess, and businesses wouldn't be begging for sales.

Which kind of makes the whole thing pointless.

$\"user-pic\"$

Bunnies_Attack!

October 2, 2009 8:19 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@humphrmi: Thats not really true. They're not asking that people run to them and spend money they don't have, but if you're going to buy something anyway, they want you to consider them first... so it really does have a point. I don't know what local little stores are in my neighborhood, if I received that kind of flyer from them and needed something I may make the trip there instead of just going to the mall.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 7:33 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

If a business I frequented sent a letter like this I'd organize a flash mob to go spend some cash. It wouldn't work for all goods or services but consider the alternative. The recession is going to disproportionately kill small businesses and along with them business diversity. By the time it's over we'll only be left with WalMart, Target, Starbucks, etc. Not that those are necessarily bad businesses, but we as consumers need them to have viable competition.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

billbillbillbill

October 2, 2009 7:35 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I took a few bids for a vinyl patio cover a year ago. I decided not to buy but did get a call about 9 months later basically telling me he needed to pay some suppliers and wanted to revise his quote. It was an improvement but still out of our price range at the time.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Skaperen

October 2, 2009 7:42 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Maybe this business person can make a similar plea to the banks he owes money to, to quit screwing around with the economy because it just hurts them (businesses and even people not paying their debts).

It would also help if he could get Republican politicians to take an 8 year sabbatical.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 8:01 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

It would depend on what the business was. First of all they have to be offering something that I need at a price that is competitive. Then they have to be offering a product that is at least on-par with the quality of other like products. Also it would have to be a well-known business in the area.

There are lots of local shops out there and not all local shops are good or will provide good customer service. Some are spring-up and go shops who are just out to make a quick buck in whatever city they can. You don't want to encourage a bad business to stick around either.

Am I going to pay $80 for a dress that routinely sells in a retail store for $20 just to help a business out, definitely not. For a menswear store if they are offering sub-quality, no name suits at higher than normal prices, well I can see why they are in trouble.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 8:01 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

If it's a local business, i.e. not a chain, a mailing like that might incline me to shop there, if they sold products I was otherwise interested in... in part to help the little guy and in part because of the promised customer service.

If I got such a mailing from a chain, it might make me smile but it wouldn't incline me to shop there.

","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 2, 2009 8:28 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Perhaps if they had provided \"superior customer service\" this whole time they would have such a loyal following that they wouldn't worry as much about this recession.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

ShariC

October 3, 2009 9:21 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@gqcarrick: In hard economic times, people can't afford even the best service. Most people will choose price considerations over service, particularly when money is tight.

I think it's not really fair to assert that their service may have been inadequate before.

","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

bobert

October 2, 2009 9:42 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

That letter went out a year ago from San Francisco's very posh menswear purveyor, Wilkes Bashford, to 18,000 customers. The letter included a coupon for $300 off for purchases of $800 or more. Bashford also laid off 18 of his 97 employees back in February. It all seems to have worked so far - they're still open.

And yes, they do provide \"superior customer service\" - as long as you go in looking like you belong there. If you go in dressed like a slob and they don't know you, you'll get the cold shoulder.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

jpdanzig

October 2, 2009 9:44 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Simply pleading his case in the first person isn't enough to drum up business. The retailer might win sympathy -- i.e. make letter recipients consider his store as a place to shop -- but he also needs to give customers a reason to shop NOW. This would have to be a special limited-time deal of some kind -- extra savings or interest-free installment billing. A promise of great customer service doesn't cut it either, unless the service was something way beyond the normal call of duty, like free alterations on a customer's old garment when you buy something new...

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

hagdirt

October 2, 2009 10:31 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

I got a flyer like this from a local business maybe 6 months ago. It didn't prompt me to go and buy anything there - it's a sewing machine repair shop that also offers classes and supplies, nothing I need at the moment - but they remain in business, mostly, so it might have helped.

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 3, 2009 12:25 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

A local reataurant sent out a letter like this via the local newspaper. They wanted people to purchase postdated gift certificates and promised, if they survived, they'd honor them plus 10% of their value (so a $20 certificate becomes $22 six months down the line). The gamble paid off - probably because they run a truly unique and tasty rastaurant - and they're still around several years later.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

ngoandy

October 3, 2009 12:22 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@339point4: That seems extremely risky for consumers.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 3, 2009 3:09 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

After seeing a local store that was a part of my childhood close a week ago, I would have gladly pitched in and bought a few things had they said they were going through rough times.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 3, 2009 6:44 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Crutchfield, the sorta high-end audio retailer, sent out a similar email almost a year ago. I still have the email (copied below). It hasn't motivated me to buy anything from them, because it's hard to justify a new car stereo in this economy. Maybe someday. I do feel for the small merchants. These are tough times. Anyway, here was Crutchfield's email of 10/24/2008:

Dear Valued Customer,

The international financial crisis is weighing heavily on all of us. As consumers, one factor that we all need to consider is the stability of the companies with whom we do business. In the current economic climate, many retailers will stumble and some will even fail. For that reason, I personally want to explain Crutchfield's unique situation.

For many years, I have been concerned about the growing credit bubble. It was obvious to me that it was unsustainable and that an inevitable day of reckoning would come. To protect our customers, our employees, and my family from the disastrous consequences of a financial meltdown, I positioned Crutchfield to withstand the worst. We became very frugal with how we spent money. We did not pay outlandish executive salaries and bonuses. We did not build fancy facilities. We did not expand our retail store operations. And we did not buy other companies. Instead, we worked extremely hard to improve how we serve our customers, while we managed every aspect of our business with excellence. Furthermore, we paid off all of our debt and accumulated cash reserves.

When shopping in times like these, you need to be certain that the retailer will be around to provide you with years of after-the-sale support. We know that you expect guarantees, warranties and promises of lifetime product support to be kept when you purchase with us - and I have positioned our company to deliver without compromise on all of these important elements. As retailers go, Crutchfield is a \"Rock of Gibraltar.\" We have no debt, a perfect credit rating and a legacy of fiscal prudence. Therefore, we will be around to serve you as we have served millions of customers for the past 34 years and throughout the last four recessions.

Purchasing from Crutchfield today means you are choosing a company that will help you use and enjoy your purchase now and in the future. I hope that you'll give Crutchfield a chance to exceed your expectations. I thank you for your time and, most importantly, for doing business with Crutchfield.
Bill Crutchfield

Bill Crutchfield
Founder and CEO, Crutchfield Corporation

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 6, 2009 1:01 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I think it's a great idea for local businesses to point out that they are not franchises, not part of giant corporations, and that the money spent in their stores stays in the community and helps the local economy exclusively. These are the kinds of businesses most people want to support, not the \"greenwashed\" giant corporate businesses or transnational corporations trying to pass themselves off as \"local\" and \"sustainable\" when they are anything but.

");