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Big Box, Mom & Pop...

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Positive Real Estate Professionals

Many of you may already be aware that in the greater blogosphere there is a wildly popular movement among bloggers around the world called Wordless Wednesday. The idea behind Wordless Wednesday is to pose one photo that requires no commentary as a blog on its own. If you actually google Wordless Wednesday, you will find many entries and opportunities to participate if you wish. The photo above is from a post on This photo had its intended effect; it got me thinking.

I have very mixed emotions on what the sign is saying. In one respect, I agree that cheap labor and questionable materials that are used in many developing countries make it very difficult for American companies to try to compete on a level playing field. By that same token, I realize that these "big box" stores have been able to bring products to market at an accessible price. Many people in rural America may not have previously had access to many of the products that these stores have brought to them. This of course has a flipside too when some of those very products contain poisons, like lead, or have been made from child labor. Nobody wants to poison our children and exploit others' children. I don't know if the sign is being completely honest when it implies that the mom and pop stores would have had any more control on the where and how of an item's production.

This is a very difficult subject that invariably touches raw nerves and elicits raw emotional responses. I consider myself a rational and intelligent person but I am conflicted on this issue. How can I relate my feelings on this issue to my elected officials (and those who want my vote) if I am still uncertain of the practical and philosophical implications? What are your thoughts on this?

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Comments (15)

Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

"Wordless Wednesday"?  Interesting concept... not sure I could post something without words as I always have something to say.

As for the China thing, I don't mind that things are made over there as it makes things very affordable here and I probably would not be willing to pay higher prices to buy cheap things, but I get very frustrated and irritated when they move customer service out of the country.

Oct 22, 2008 05:54 AM
Matthew Ricker
Keller Williams - Portland, OR

I love the idea of a wordless Wednesday.  I also prefer shopping at the local stores.  It makes me feel better about supporting the local community and it preserves the culture of the community, and I don't mind paying a little extra for that. 

Oct 22, 2008 06:01 AM
Danny Thornton
R & D Art - Knoxville, TN
WordPress Guru

Rich, I see this in two lights. One, it is great for the economy to make things that are affordable. With that said, at what cost are we making them affordable. We ship our jobs overseas to employ others, yet we have an unemployment rate unreal. On top of it we have our customer service departments in countries that understand how to speak english, but do not speak "ENGLISH". This to me is an issue when I call for customer service and they can not interpert slang.

And then there is the issue of child labor. I have been seeing this story on the news lately of a country that exploits it's children and has them working 8 hour shifts for a nickle an hour. Big Box gets rich and looks the other way. I wonder what they would think if their kids were required to do the same.

Oct 22, 2008 06:22 AM
Anonymous
Carole

Rich, thanks for the shout out.

I agree with you - I have very mixed feelings.  On the one hand, I am a believer in capitalism and the free market - it's a system I think usually works well.  However, some businesses have an unfair advantage in being able to deliver goods at a cheaper price - Walmart for example is so huge and has such incredible buying power they are able to get products for a price lower than just about anyone else, they pass that saving along to the consumer, and the consumer is happy.  Meanwhile, the local merchant cannot possibly match that price and his or her business suffers.  What is the solution?  Make people buy goods at a more expensive price to help the local businesspeople?  I feel bad for the "little guy" who has to try twice as hard to stay in business, but on the other hand, it's good that people that don't have a lot of money are able to buy things they need cheaply from places like Walmart.  It's a tough situation that I don't know the answer to. 

For what it's worth, I'm not sure that's an authentic government-purchased sign - it looks extremely similar to signs we have here in NY that are erected by the State Education Department to denote historical site.  I have a feeling this might have been put up by one of the "little guys" who got pushed out by the "big guys".  We did take this photo ourselves, in person, so this sign is real and exists near Woodstock, NY, however I kinda find it hard to believe the government would have put a sign like this up...

Oct 22, 2008 10:14 AM
#4
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Rich, I have never heard of Wordless Wednesday but the photo says a lot.  I can't tell you how many people I know who's jobs have been outsourced--believe me, I am not a fan of it any way I look at it.

Oct 22, 2008 12:32 PM
Rich Dansereau
Positive Real Estate Professionals - Knoxville, TN

Donna - <<<smile>>> @ your Wordless Wednesday comment. I don't mind if products are made in other countries, this is the move to a global economy after all. I do want some assurance that there is no child labor involved in the manufacturing process and that the items are safe.

Matthew - I know that shopping when on vacation is a fun and popular past time because you can supposedly buy cool locally made items that aren't available where you live. It would be awful if the local places were replaced by supercenters.

Danny - It is truly a double edged sword. We don't want to see our jobs disappear to foreign countries where cheap and perhaps child labor are used. Yet we have come to expect products at ridiculously low prices that can only be manufactured at these costs in foreign countries.

Carole (Carole's Thoughtful Spot) - Thanks for providing the inspiration for this post. It is a difficult topic that really has to be addressed. I am a free market person, but when the markets and workforces vary so wildly based on location, I am not sure if a level playing field without protectionist tariffs or import taxes and fees is possible. This is an important conversation to have.

Carole - I have seen some of the most awe-inspiring, disturbing, and hilarious photos because of Wordless Wednesday. It is something that I have been considering participating in but I am just so busy already. Outsourcing can be devastating and in all honesty, once a job leaves, I really doubt it will ever come back.

Oct 23, 2008 07:23 AM
James Wexler
wexzilla.com - Scottsdale, AZ

Wordless wednesday , asking bloggers not to write ? wow, thats like telling a kid to keep there hands out of the proverbial cookie har, I will try it, but know it will not be easy :)

Oct 24, 2008 03:11 AM
Rich Dansereau
Positive Real Estate Professionals - Knoxville, TN

James - Right! We bloggers do enjoy our words. Here is someone who understands what it means to be tempted... LOL!

Oct 24, 2008 01:58 PM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Hummm....a dilema! I don't do Wal-Mart. At one time I was a vendor for them so I have that perspective and I know the arm twisting that goes on to keep the prices low. They don't take the losses...the vendors do. It isn't about the customers, it's about their bottom line.

I try to shop local...But small businesses need to re-invest in their own companies and workers. They need to care more about their workers making a living than the shareholders dividends. And they need to be more creative in how they pay their employees....it isn't all about the paycheck. On site daycare would build a loyal workforce faster than you could blink.

I's not always about what you make! It's what you save!

Oct 24, 2008 04:05 PM
Michelle Chamberlain
Above All Financial Services -Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker - Secane, PA
Suburban Philadelphia Mortgage Broker

I too have conflicted feelings about this.  I get the whole comparative advantage economic theory, but when we start to outsource everything overseas what does American have left for an economy?  The reasoning for shifting manufacturing jobs overseas was that America was to become a service industry, now since we all know that most service jobs are now overseas as well what is next?  I think McCain's plan to create jobs by becoming energy self-sufficient certainly makes sense.

Regarding mom and pop stores, my friend sent her son to a corner grocery store yesterday and they wanted $3.00 for a QUART of milk.  No wonder people go to Walmart. 

Michelle

Oct 24, 2008 04:48 PM
Rich Dansereau
Positive Real Estate Professionals - Knoxville, TN

Joan - It is about the bottom line for most businesses, after all they are in business to make money. I think that you are onto something with small businesses needing to think outside the box with regard to compensation. Using your daycare example for instance, a single mom would probably prefer the savings she receives from daycare (and the quick access to her child if something came up) than $.25 an hour more in pay. And imagine if affordable healthcare were available?

Michelle - I think that the greening of American industry does hold tremendous promise for workers. I think that both candidates are supportive of government encouraging the development of a green workforce. The buying power of the mom and pop stores is so much less that they don't get the great deals big box stores do. Similar small businesses would do well to get together to buy in larger quantities to compete more effectively.

Oct 25, 2008 12:40 PM
Bo Hussung
Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

Rich, I was not previously aware of thse phenom called Wordless Wednesday. But I am now enlightened and will happily participate in this silent event....Thanks

Bo

Oct 26, 2008 04:21 AM
Rich Dansereau
Positive Real Estate Professionals - Knoxville, TN

Bo - I have been contemplating starting a group called Wordless Wednesday (if there isn't one already).

Oct 27, 2008 01:34 PM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Rich,

I have some thoughts around the sign.  Recent and I actually wrote a post or two about supporting local business.  I have been buying my food at the local butcher....my favorite grocery store in town stood up against Mr. Franchise man and decided not to sell out- I applaud that.

I will be either growing my own veggies this summer or purchasing from a farm program.  I know it is extremely important for me to start doing that.

70% of the pollution in our streams and rivers is coming from corporate farming.   Not to be gross, but if my son eats a go-gurt his poo is colored.

I had to think at some point- Uh, something is wrong with this picture.

So I am supporting local business, buying organic and trying to keep dollars and health all in the community as much as possible. 

I am reprioritzing where it has to be.  Do I have to shop at the big stores for some things, sure I do....but not everything...As far as the cheap- that the whole- "I need it now"....I had that bug too and I am starting to let it go.

Oct 29, 2008 05:33 PM
Rich Dansereau
Positive Real Estate Professionals - Knoxville, TN

Rebecca - As you probably know from all of my gardening posts this summer, I grew 99% of the veggies I ate this summer. My large family garden was totally organic from start to finish. I currently have cold weather crops growing but when they are done everything will be tilled under along with the leaves from fall. I am also planning on using the ash from this winter's fires to further enrich the soil. I also have been harvesting and freezing what I could for the past month+ so that I would have veggies for the winter. I realize that I will need to buy a lot of veggies (I am a vegetarian) over the winter but I am happy to know I did what I reasonably could this summer to reduce my consumption. As for the needing it now bug, that is a hard one to break, I haven't done it either though I am working on it. I think just being conscious of it and recognizing the behavior is really important. Once the behavior is recognized, it can be curtailed. Thanks for your comments.

Oct 30, 2008 05:17 AM