This past summer, my family and I went on a road trip across the southwestern United States. After making our way through New Mexico, we stopped at a gas station in Deming, New Mexico. We were hungry, so we went inside to see what was available. While we were standing in line, my daughter asked the cashier for a 50-spring-rollback voucher. The cashier looked at her in confusion and asked, “Are you kidding me? I don’t think so.” My daughter explained to the cashier that we were indeed requesting a 50-spring-rollback voucher and that it was for ice cream. The cashier said, “Well, they don’t give those out for ice cream. I’m sure it’s some sort of joke.”
I was shocked. Not only did the cashier seem extremely annoyed, but he also told my daughter she was wrong about the ice cream. My daughter was disappointed and didn’t get her ice cream, so we left without it. As we were driving off, I asked my daughter what the problem was. She told me that the cashier was mean and didn’t seem to believe she was serious about wanting the ice cream.
When we got back to the hotel, we spoke with the front desk clerk about the incident. The clerk said that when they get questions like that all the time, it makes them pretty sure the person asking doesn’t actually want what they’re saying they want. Since I had been to that particular gas station before and knew what ice cream they served, I wasn’t surprised that my daughter was confused about what the voucher was for. I assured the clerk that the cashier’s behavior wasn’t indicative of all gas stations, and that we would be returning to that particular location soon to make another purchase. Luckily for us, the hotel clerk called the gas station’s manager, who was very understanding and accommodating. He gave my daughter the ice cream she desired and apologized for his employee’s behavior. He promised us that it would not happen again and that the employee would receive training on how to deal with customers of a different race or ethnicity.
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of gas stations being unwelcoming to certain groups of people. Last year, I was at a gas station in Jackson, Mississippi when a white woman walked in and asked for a pack of cigarettes. The clerk behind the counter asked if she wanted sweet or regular cigarettes. When the woman replied that she wanted regular cigarettes, the clerk turned to the woman and said, “Why don’t you want any color except white? We only have white, brown, and black.” The woman immediately drove off without making a purchase and hasn’t been back since.
Although I try my best to be understanding and not to judge a book by its cover, that is exactly what I do. I think that’s because I was raised by a single mother who instilled in me the value of being open-minded and accepting of others. While I was raised in the Bible Belt, I don’t subscribe to most of the Christian beliefs, which is why I feel comfortable saying “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Most of the people that work at the gas stations I’ve been to are Christians and don’t necessarily appreciate outsiders interrupting their religious rituals by asking for non-Christian products. For the most part, they’re a welcoming bunch, but they also have that tiny bit of prejudice in them that causes them to turn down customers they perceive to be different from themselves.
Why Do Some People Prefer To Buy From Local Businesses?
I think the best way for us to move forward as a society is by encouraging people to support local businesses. A 2018 report from the American Institute of Stress found that 22% of the country’s population reported often or regularly feeling stressed about paying bills, keeping up with mortgage payments, and affording medical costs. One of the primary reasons that people are feeling so much stress is because of the increasing number of non-essential businesses choosing to close down and not to reopen. In an effort to combat the rising anxiety and depression levels, the researchers suggest improving consumer confidence by buying locally-owned businesses.
Consumers are feeling more comfortable buying goods and services from businesses that they know are viable options for purchase. Not only does this make them feel more confident that the company will be around for the long haul, but it allows them to focus on the more positive aspects of their day. If you’re looking for a way to brighten up your day, consider spending your money at a locally-owned business rather than a chain store.
Chain Stores Vs. Local Businesses: What’s the Difference?
There are a few key distinctions between chain stores and local businesses that should be noted. First, chain stores generally have multiple locations, while local businesses tend to have one location. This is significant because it means the business is more accessible to the people who live and work in the area. In other words, if there’s a problem with the store, you may not be able to travel very far to get your goods or services. Second, most chain stores are publicly-traded companies, while local businesses are more likely to be privately-owned and, as a result, less susceptible to market fluctuations. Third, chain stores tend to sell many different products and offer a lot of different services, while local businesses generally sell more specialized goods and offer more direct services. For example, a retail store selling clothing and accessories may only have a few items in stock at a time, while a local bakery might only be able to offer cupcakes and brownies.
While chain stores offer the convenience of having many locations that you can visit, local businesses often offer the advantage of having products and services that are more tailor-made to the needs of the community. If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable place to eat, you could try a local Vietnamese restaurant, for example, rather than going to a chain store to get what you want. In addition, if you’re looking for something to do, there are usually a lot more options available locally, such as art galleries and museums, comedy theaters, and live music venues, as compared to the limited selection at a chain store.
I think it’s time we all opened our minds to the possibilities that exist beyond the big-box stores, chain eateries, and coffee shops that populate our daily routines. It’s not that all of these businesses are bad, it’s just that, overall, they serve a specific purpose that can be replaced by a more suitable option. A lot of the businesses that we encounter on a daily basis could vanish in the near future, taking along with them the numerous jobs that they provide, and, in some cases, the only option available for certain goods and services. It’s not just the economy that’s the issue here, it’s also the environment. A 2018 report from the World Resources Foundation found that, globally, companies soldiered on making a profit, but they also incurred massive environmental damages by buying and producing more products than ever before. If you’re concerned about climate change, it may be time to consider supporting a business that has a positive impact on the environment rather than one that pollutes and damages the planet, simply to meet global demand.
On the other side of the coin, you have the large corporations that control most of the world’s economies. If you want to purchase a luxury item that you can’t afford, you may have to go through a few hoops to make it happen. First, you’ll need to make an investment in the form of a business loan, which, depending on the amount you’re looking for, may be cheaper and more affordable than you think. Second, you’ll need to show that you’re willing to invest in a long-term relationship by committing to make recurring purchases. Finally, you may need to set some realistic short-term and long-term goals, so that you can measure your progress toward reaching your ultimate goal of affording the luxury item you desire. One step at a time.