Would you rather shop in locally owned businesses or big corporate chains for essential items like food etc and why?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

I have seriously grown sick of corporate chains in particular when it comes to food.

[Lliam]

I'd much rather patronize locally owned businesses. I try to avoid corporate chains as much as possible. Small business need our support.
The same goes with restaurants.

When it comes to food, there are places near us that sell locally, organically-grown (not necessarily certified organic) produce, locally raised chicken, pork, lamb, and grass-fed beef. We have farm stands and farmers' markets, too.

I almost never eat at fast food chains.

[exitseven]

I shop at little stores whenever I can. Local hardware store, bakery, butcher shop. I just bought a refrigerator at a little appliance store in my town and bought a dining room table at a little furniture store. I try to buy only stuff made in USA although often it is not possible

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[YesterdaysChild]

Locally would be nice, like maybe a farmer's market. But smaller retail stores can't compete with the Big Box stores, in both inventory or prices. Walmart has pushed a lot of the smaller stores out of business and the ones that remain usually have higher prices, but offer more convenience for getting in and out more quickly. But if you want fresh produce, a farmer's market with locally grown produce can't be beat.

[exitseven]

Walmart sells mostly junk made in China. The store has gone downhill since Sam Walton died and his kids took over. Sam would buy locally made stuff. It was a better grade of merchandise 20 or 30 years ago.

[YesterdaysChild]

@exitseven It started after WWII when cheap trinkets and toys from Japan and China flooded in and quality of almost everything went down to the dump.

[exitseven]

people would rather buy a cheap product from China and have to replace it a year later than spend an extra ten bucks and get something made in America that will last a long time.

[ObscuredBeyond]

Big Box kills everything. I'd love to be able to afford local businesses. Especially since their food usually doesn't contain as many artificial ingredients and bio-engineered crap.

[Exterminatore]

Yeah, if it’s cheaper…. because screw corporations. They screw all of us daily. However, my wallet dictates if I will be an activist in shopping local or not.

[Pete671]

Locally owned every time,

[Christoff92]

Both