Trying to buy locally.....

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

and failing.  Not just making purchases from local, independent stores but even from the big box stores.  My last few failures have been Target, Kohl's and REI.  

Other than the groceries, the last several weeks any purchases I have made I have finally gone home from the store empty handed and gone online.  Either they do not have what I want, if they do it is not in my size, or they have simply stopped carrying some items.  As a result, the boxes from Amazon are stacking up in the garage to be broken down.  As getting out and going into stores is difficult for me in the first place, it is double frustrating when I walk out not finding what I was trying to buy.  

Most of my groceries I buy from a small, independent grocery store (only exception is Costco runs).  I buy bread from a local bakery.  When we go out to eat, we largely avoid chains at all costs.  

Anyone having any better luck, or is it simply because I live in a town of just under 100K residents?

[Tiny]

I tend to look at it from the "consumption" end... I try to consume less, in general. I don't need to make more trash or more work (maintaining whatever craptastic new thing I just bought).

I try to buy stuff and eat at not big name restaurants in my suburb. It helps the tax base. That's about as local as I can get. Everything here comes from somewhere else.

[chiver78]

Sept 25, 2019 19:04:21 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I tend to look at it from the "consumption" end... I try to consume less, in general. I don't need to make more trash or more work (maintaining whatever craptastic new thing I just bought).

I try to buy stuff and eat at not big name restaurants in my suburb. It helps the tax base. That's about as local as I can get. Everything here comes from somewhere else.

^this. I tend to grocery shop at Market Basket (local, but still big chain) and for day to day stuff, the local markets at a noticeable markup. I am also trying to consume less, and really don't buy much in the way of "stuff" these days.

I dont know what the town population is here, but we are far from urban. probably somewhere between suburban and rural, with the summer population explosion of tourists. not sure how much that plays into the seemingly better availability of village markets around here than what you are seeing, Mich.

[wvugurl26]

Got a package delivered today for this reason. I struck out at two stores locally, Kohl's and Dicks Sporting Goods. I went online and ordered it and got 2 day shipping.

[ilovedolphins]

I buy a lot from Amazon or Walmart mainly because our town has around 3500 people.  We have one grocery store and a Dollar General.  We have a few other businesses such as Ace, Tractor Supply and a few downtown stores.  I try to buy all of my groceries at our local store....mainly because I am a part owner and with the online business of Amazon we have lost a lot of business.  The nearest Walmart is 60 miles away.  But I know the importance of trying to shop locally....because if you don't do as much locally as you can then the local businesses will have to close.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sept 25, 2019 19:04:21 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I tend to look at it from the "consumption" end... I try to consume less, in general. I don't need to make more trash or more work (maintaining whatever craptastic new thing I just bought).

I try to buy stuff and eat at not big name restaurants in my suburb. It helps the tax base. That's about as local as I can get. Everything here comes from somewhere else.

The things I am looking to buy are not things that are craptastic stuff that you buy to buy.  Most recently, it was travel sizes of my contact supplies, socks, a toaster (old one croaked) and a pair of good walking shoes since my old ones are broken down.  I tossed them after my last trip, my limping wears shoes out quickly.

[countrygirl2]

We are getting the same way here.  Even in our nearest city just not much there.  Was talking and there is basically only 1 clothing store of quality.  There is Walmart, Kohl's, don't like it, TJ Maxx, Steinmart.  Now we are going to get another discount clothing store.  Nothing decent here to buy. I surely believe people are not spending as much at retail and there is noway they can buy as much online.  What a mess. I was getting shoes, ordering for all of us from our local Pharmacy, now they have closed down.  It's getting less and less, like the old frontier days I guess.  Sears closed to soon, they could have been in their heyday now.

I noticed in our little town we have a tailor, she just took over another building and expanded her shop size.  I'm wondering if she is making custom clothing.  Lots of people are buying from thrift shops, but that won't go on forever. I was telling a lady at the shop in the city, going to start sewing again. She said oh she doesn't like home made looking clothes.  I told her believe me mine do not look home made and they don't.  I do all the little extras to make them look good.  Some of my stuff is starting to wear out, so unless something happens to reinstall retail again its make them and order or wear Walmart.

[Deleted]

Sept 25, 2019 18:04:34 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Anyone having any better luck, or is it simply because I live in a town of just under 100K residents?

Town?  That's going to the big city to me!  

I order a lot online mainly to save time.  This week I also ordered some new shorts for DS because go figure they don't sell shorts in MN when it's practically October except exercise style and he needed some dress and cargo ones for school...like desperately needed.  

[Tiny]

Sept 25, 2019 19:33:47 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Sept 25, 2019 19:04:21 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I tend to look at it from the "consumption" end... I try to consume less, in general. I don't need to make more trash or more work (maintaining whatever craptastic new thing I just bought).

I try to buy stuff and eat at not big name restaurants in my suburb. It helps the tax base. That's about as local as I can get. Everything here comes from somewhere else.

The things I am looking to buy are not things that are craptastic stuff that you buy to buy.  Most recently, it was travel sizes of my contact supplies, socks, a toaster (old one croaked) and a pair of good walking shoes since my old ones are broken down.  I tossed them after my last trip, my limping wears shoes out quickly.

Ah, I see.   Stuff that I actually need/want I do tend to shop on line first.  I usually check if it's in inventory at a local "brand name store" - if it isn't I see if it can be delivered there for free/pickup.  I'm starting to hate Amazon with the passion of 10,000 burning suns (between the goofy prices, Amazon's search engines inability to show me what I know is out there, and the threat of porch pirates Amazon isn't as awesome as it use to be).  So, I'd rather hop around between a few of the big box websites to see if they have the stuff I'm looking for or if it can be delivered to one of them.    Last spring I wanted some "privacy film" for two of my windows and I wanted that film that reflects the sun/heat to help keep one's house cooler (I have an awesome southern exposure and many many windows).   I didn't want to order from Amazon (porch pirates and Amazon didn't have a locker that the stuff would fit in....   10,000 BURNING SUNS.)    Walmart had both the decorative and the reflective films - it took 8 days for it to arrive at my local Walmart - but that was ok.  I got exactly what I wanted for the price I wanted and it was convenient.    

I've done the same kind of thing at Target, Kohl's, Home Depot, etc...  I had the product I wanted delivered to my local Store for pick up (and sometimes payment) by me.   I think Walgreens/CVS also have a shop online/pick up in the store option (haven't used it - I hate Walgreens with the passion of 5000 burning suns.) 
So, I'm sourcing stuff non-locally - but generally paying for it  "locally".   

[Gardening Grandma]

Maybe we’re lucky... There is a place where I can buy great produce at good prices. They have their own farms in eastern WA. 

Port Townsend doesn’t have any big box stores. Lots of small busisnesses and a farmers market twice a week.

[Sharon]

I purchase the majority of my groceries from a local chain, there are 6 or 7 stores total in the region.  Cat food is purchased from a regional farm co-op store.  Banking is done at a community bank, there are a total of two branches.  I used to use a local pharmacy but the owner/pharmacist was such an a-hole that I stopped going there.  Now my insurance requires that I use Walgreens or the local pharmacy in the town I work in, which is an hour commute from home, so Walgreens it is.  In the Spring/Summer nursery stock is bought from local nurseries and not the big box home improvement stores.  There are also several produce stands within easy driving distance of home for all the fresh fruit/veggies we need all summer.  The new tires I just purchased for my car came from a local tire store and not Costco or even Les Schwab. 

When my watch needs a new battery I will go to the local jewelers rather than Fred Meyer.  I hate buying clothes with a passion so that isn't something I do very often.  When I do Macy's is the default store.

My Dad is a small business owner and I was raised to patronize small business owners as much as possible, especially ones that did business with my Dad.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sept 25, 2019 21:45:41 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Maybe we’re lucky... There is a place where I can buy great produce at good prices. They have their own farms in eastern WA. 

Port Townsend doesn’t have any big box stores. Lots of small busisnesses and a farmers market twice a week.

The grocery store I go to does source local produce when it is in season.  Our farmer’s market is ridiculously expensive though.  I know that they are local, but while I don’t mind paying more, I do have problems paying 5x more.  I actually was going to go to the market in Bow, to see what those prices were but never got down that way.  

There are some fabulous farmer’s markets on the other side of the border....but getting fruits and veggies across can’t happen.   

[weltschmerz]

Sept 25, 2019 19:55:04 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

We are getting the same way here.  Even in our nearest city just not much there.  Was talking and there is basically only 1 clothing store of quality.  There is Walmart, Kohl's, don't like it, TJ Maxx, Steinmart.  Now we are going to get another discount clothing store.  Nothing decent here to buy. I surely believe people are not spending as much at retail and there is noway they can buy as much online.  What a mess. I was getting shoes, ordering for all of us from our local Pharmacy, now they have closed down.  It's getting less and less, like the old frontier days I guess.  Sears closed to soon, they could have been in their heyday now.

I noticed in our little town we have a tailor, she just took over another building and expanded her shop size.  I'm wondering if she is making custom clothing.  Lots of people are buying from thrift shops, but that won't go on forever. I was telling a lady at the shop in the city, going to start sewing again. She said oh she doesn't like home made looking clothes.  I told her believe me mine do not look home made and they don't.  I do all the little extras to make them look good.  Some of my stuff is starting to wear out, so unless something happens to reinstall retail again its make them and order or wear Walmart.

Don't call them home made. Call them hand-made. There's a certain cachet to hand-made. Very exclusive.

[countrygirl2]

Yep I even have my own tags made for them.  They say hand made by "Me".  And some say "Made exclusively for Me".  I like to line some clothing, just makes them fit  and feel so good.  It's easy to line clothing that the pattern does not call for lining.  I'm starting to get in the mood.  I have some nice outfits I made years ago, still look good.  There are 2 nightgown sets made out of good fabric that are at least 15 years old, one set is finally fading, the other still looks like new.  I wear them in the summers. You have to buy really expensive to find fabric like that now, but even a lot of expensive fabric isn't good now.

I don't care what people say, I have to tell them if I wear something hand or home made, so the majority have no clue.

[resolution]

Sept 25, 2019 22:22:50 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Sept 25, 2019 21:45:41 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Maybe we’re lucky... There is a place where I can buy great produce at good prices. They have their own farms in eastern WA. 

Port Townsend doesn’t have any big box stores. Lots of small busisnesses and a farmers market twice a week.

The grocery store I go to does source local produce when it is in season.  Our farmer’s market is ridiculously expensive though.  I know that they are local, but while I don’t mind paying more, I do have problems paying 5x more.  I actually was going to go to the market in Bow, to see what those prices were but never got down that way.  

There are some fabulous farmer’s markets on the other side of the border....but getting fruits and veggies across can’t happen.   

Our farmer's markets are the same way. We are about 1.5 hours out of Washington DC, and the farmers all try to charge us DC prices, since they know they can go down the road and get more for them.

[resolution]

My area is doing really well for retail. I am near a town of 800 and a city of 40k people. All the mom and pop shops in the town are occupied. The local mall in the city has lost three anchors ( r.i.p Bon-Ton) and replaced all of them. The old Sears store was vacant for the last five years, and they just filled it with a Dick's, so the mall is completely full. The city also recently added a second Walmart. The outlet mall has a lot of vacant stores and seems to be struggling.

Every now and then I hear about more factories closing in the area, but for every factory that closes, we pick up more warehousing and commercial driving. This area was initially devastated by factory closings, and replaced it all with warehousing. I am a bit concerned with what will happen when the warehouses and commercial drivers are all automated; hopefully we will find a replacement industry.

[sheilaincali]

I've been trying to determine if my purchases would fall under the "buy local" categories or not. We typically shop at either the Co-op or the smaller chain grocery store in town. We do drive up to Trader Joes and Whole Foods once a month to stock up on specialty foods that I don't have as readily available locally. We stop at the local ACE to see if they have what we need home improvement wise before we drive to Home Depot. That's the bulk of what we purchase on a regular basis. 

We don't buy a lot of misc. stuff on a regular basis.  We are mostly a we need laundry soap or light bulbs sort of family. I don't ever shop just to waste a Saturday afternoon.   

[bean29]

I don't know if I saw it here or somewhere else, that Target no longer has night stockers and they are trying to stock shelves during the day and aisles are blocked and people can't find stuff. Well Target is very close to where I work, so I regularly go there on my lunch hour. I went on Monday, and I could not get up and down the aisles because the stockers were blocking the aisles and the shelves were not stocked. I did get most of what I wanted, but I though to myself next time I will just go to the grocery store across the street.

I don't worry about local produce, but DH & I do prefer produce and meat from a Mid-Tier Grocery store that stocks local produce in season. We feel it tastes better. We also have started to buy the chicken that is a little more expensive, avoiding the super cheap stuff pumped up with antibiotics that has no taste to it.

I do buy a lot online, most of my clothing is purchased on-line because I prefer Petite Sizes, and most stores I shop at have them on-line, but not in-store. One of the stores I shop at gave me a link to use when I order on-line so that their local store gets credit for the sale.  I try to do that, as my returns go to the local store, but if I go in through a Facebook link to a "sale" they are missing the credit.   I ordered several pairs of very inexpensive boots from Kohl's this am. They have Wide sizes in-store and on-line, but you best chance/selection are pretty much on-line. One pair I am picking up in-store.  My young adult kids and I avoid shopping at Kohl's for Clothing, but DH seems to like it. 

I recently got sick of the boxes in the garage that need to be broken down and recycled, and resolved to try to buy more locally.  I also am disillusioned with Target always trying to get you to buy 3 or 5 of something to get an additional gift card of $5.  I come home and have no-where to go with the stuff.  I am going to look for other places to shop.  We buy the Dog's favorite bones at Walmart, but I generally avoid the rest of the store.  I try to order on-line to pick up in store, and every time I do it I am sorry I did not have it shipped to the house b/c there is a long line of people trying to buy money orders or wire $$.

I like Target's order online and they will bring it to the car service though, it is really nice if I have my Dogs with me I don't have to run them home and go back or try to leave them in the car while I run in the store.

Idk about restaurants, one of my favorites is a local restaurant, but DH does not like it as much.  We like the local Charcoal Grill for a quick Hamburger, and there is a local pizza restaurant we patronize, I think it is called MOD Pizza (chain?).  I am at the point where I figure DH is a better cook that most restaurants, so I try to get him to prep most meals.  If he wants to go out, we go out.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Bean, there are rumors that the Target on 124th is closing. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I don't know if I saw it here or somewhere else, that Target no longer has night stockers and they are trying to stock shelves during the day and aisles are blocked and people can't find stuff. Well Target is very close to where I work, so I regularly go there on my lunch hour. I went on Monday, and I could not get up and down the aisles because the stockers were blocking the aisles and the shelves were not stocked. I did get most of what I wanted, but I though to myself next time I will just go to the grocery store across the street.

That explains things!  I was at Target  and was getting frustrated in trying to walk around the stockers.  The reason why I stopped there is that there is a row of travel sized toiletries, and it is usually pretty well stocked.  85% of the baskets were empty, had not been restocked.  I walked away without my little tubes of toothpaste.  

It didn’t help that a year ago, they remodeled the store to make it more boutique like.  I want an aisle of deodorants, where I can choose what I like.  I don’t want to look at 3 sections to find (or not) what I am looking for.  That was my last visit to Target, not going back.

[bean29]

Sept 26, 2019 10:51:41 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Bean, there are rumors that the Target on 124th is closing. 

Idk, I know the one on Chase is closing.  That one is understandable though b/c it is a low income neighborhood.  If 124th closes, I wonder if they will move over to the Mayfair Collection?  The next closest Target I know of is on Bluemound at about 126th?

[NoNamePerson]

Sept 26, 2019 11:34:54 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I don't know if I saw it here or somewhere else, that Target no longer has night stockers and they are trying to stock shelves during the day and aisles are blocked and people can't find stuff. Well Target is very close to where I work, so I regularly go there on my lunch hour. I went on Monday, and I could not get up and down the aisles because the stockers were blocking the aisles and the shelves were not stocked. I did get most of what I wanted, but I though to myself next time I will just go to the grocery store across the street.

That explains things!  I was at Target  and was getting frustrated in trying to walk around the stockers.  The reason why I stopped there is that there is a row of travel sized toiletries, and it is usually pretty well stocked.  85% of the baskets were empty, had not been restocked.  I walked away without my little tubes of toothpaste.  

It didn’t help that a year ago, they remodeled the store to make it more boutique like.  I want an aisle of deodorants, where I can choose what I like.  I don’t want to look at 3 sections to find (or not) what I am looking for.  That was my last visit to Target, not going back.

This die hard Target shopper has almost parted ways with new Target for same reasons stated. Last two times there I left with nothing. Unheard of ins year of shopping. The store kinda reminds me of a malfunction junction    But iI have been saving money on impulse/wandering thru the aisles. No longer do that any more. 

Oh, I do try to buy local. We have two Market in the Square. Only local allowed. Spring and fall. But it’s getting harder and harder.

[NastyWoman]

Sept 26, 2019 11:34:54 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I don't know if I saw it here or somewhere else, that Target no longer has night stockers and they are trying to stock shelves during the day and aisles are blocked and people can't find stuff. Well Target is very close to where I work, so I regularly go there on my lunch hour. I went on Monday, and I could not get up and down the aisles because the stockers were blocking the aisles and the shelves were not stocked. I did get most of what I wanted, but I though to myself next time I will just go to the grocery store across the street.

That explains things!  I was at Target  and was getting frustrated in trying to walk around the stockers.  The reason why I stopped there is that there is a row of travel sized toiletries, and it is usually pretty well stocked.  85% of the baskets were empty, had not been restocked.  I walked away without my little tubes of toothpaste.  

It didn’t help that a year ago, they remodeled the store to make it more boutique like.  I want an aisle of deodorants, where I can choose what I like.  I don’t want to look at 3 sections to find (or not) what I am looking for.  That was my last visit to Target, not going back.

I get those from my dentist every time I walk in for a cleaning. She also provides small boxes of floss and a toothbrush. So I am always set for travel

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sept 26, 2019 14:43:26 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Sept 26, 2019 11:34:54 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I don't know if I saw it here or somewhere else, that Target no longer has night stockers and they are trying to stock shelves during the day and aisles are blocked and people can't find stuff. Well Target is very close to where I work, so I regularly go there on my lunch hour. I went on Monday, and I could not get up and down the aisles because the stockers were blocking the aisles and the shelves were not stocked. I did get most of what I wanted, but I though to myself next time I will just go to the grocery store across the street.

That explains things!  I was at Target  and was getting frustrated in trying to walk around the stockers.  The reason why I stopped there is that there is a row of travel sized toiletries, and it is usually pretty well stocked.  85% of the baskets were empty, had not been restocked.  I walked away without my little tubes of toothpaste.  

It didn’t help that a year ago, they remodeled the store to make it more boutique like.  I want an aisle of deodorants, where I can choose what I like.  I don’t want to look at 3 sections to find (or not) what I am looking for.  That was my last visit to Target, not going back.

I get those from my dentist every time I walk in for a cleaning. She also provides small boxes of floss and a toothbrush. So I am always set for travel

I have already used up the ones I got at my last dental cleaning.....and they gave me extras.  

I really miss my dental research meetings, I NEVER had to buy anything.  I would come home with a bag full of goodies.  

[weltschmerz]

Sept 25, 2019 21:04:58 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 25, 2019 18:04:34 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Anyone having any better luck, or is it simply because I live in a town of just under 100K residents?

Town?  That's going to the big city to me!  

I order a lot online mainly to save time.  This week I also ordered some new shorts for DS because go figure they don't sell shorts in MN when it's practically October except exercise style and he needed some dress and cargo ones for school...like desperately needed.  

Big city? That's like a village to me!  

[Deleted]

Fortunately I'm at a point in life when I buy very little.  I agree on not being able to find things locally- I just bought an iPhone 8 and of course the stores don't carry cases for 8s since the X is out and, apparently, the 11 is about to hit the market. Clothing shopping depresses me. Flimsy stuff made in China or ridiculously expensive designer stuff made in China.  There are a couple of brands made in the USA that I've bought on-line (Karen Kane and Amour Vert) but really, I don't need clothes. All I've bought this year is a pack of athletic socks.

I do most of my grocery shopping at Costco and the rest at two local chains (HyVee and Price Chopper).  

One area where I definitely try to go local is restaurants- other than Starbucks and Subway, when my friend and I go out to eat it's nearly always a local place, not part of a chain.

[Deleted]

Sept 26, 2019 17:21:45 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Sept 25, 2019 21:04:58 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Town?  That's going to the big city to me!  

I order a lot online mainly to save time.  This week I also ordered some new shorts for DS because go figure they don't sell shorts in MN when it's practically October except exercise style and he needed some dress and cargo ones for school...like desperately needed.  

Big city? That's like a village to me!  

The population here is 27K and half of that is due to 2 universities.

[TheOtherMe]

My town's population is 2,000.  You live in a big city.  

[Deleted]

I prefer to buy from retailers that have a physical presence in my area, even if I purchase online. I have mixed feelings about Amazon, but I do shop there enough that having Amazon Prime is worth it to me.

I do my regular grocery shopping at a chain grocery store, but when it’s convenient, I prefer to buy my meat at a local meat market. It’s just not always convenient. Most farmers markets in my area have operating schedules that don’t work with my work schedule, so I’m unable to support them by shopping there.

My BF and Iwere recently discussing getting our yard treated and I told him I’d rather use a smaller local company like the one I used at my other house, than a big national chain. He was ok with that since my experience with that company had me with a lush, beautiful lawn that I got a lot of compliments on.

I’m one who roots for the underdog, so I do try to support local and/or smaller businesses when I can. Even though I’m willing to pay a little more to support those businesses, unfortunately it doesn’t always make sense for my bottom line and sometimes they simply don’t offer the product or service that I’m looking for.

Internet shopping has really changed the game. I like unique items that everyone in my area won’t be wearing or have in their home. Often, the only place I can find those items is online. Even local retailers have more stock that can be purchased online online. That’s just the way it is now, and I’ve had to adapt.

[Anne_in_VA]

I try to buy local as much as possible, but find that I can’t always find what I need at a local store or even the big box ones, so I buy online quite a bit.  

I was looking for shelf pins and my local Ace had a few, so they ordered them and they came in a few days later.  I didn’t mind waiting a few days and it helped a locally owned place but I can’t always wait days or weeks for something to be delivered.  I shop for fruit and veggies at the farm stands or farmers market.  I also have local produce delivered weekly by Seasonal Roots.  I buy meat sometimes from a local butcher but some meat is from Costco.  Other groceries are from the commissary or the local Food Lion which is a regional chain although I do sometimes go to Harris Teeter or Trader Joe’s for specialty items.  We just got a Wegmans, but I didn’t like their layout.