True or false: You’ve spent money in a big-business chain such as Walmart Inc. within the past month, dollars that will inevitably wind up in the hands of villainous evil-doers. Alright, maybe big chain stores aren’t that bad, but they’re not far from it.
Granted, they provide consumers with low prices on goods and an amusing alien-looking consumer base that’s always laughable to shop with, but it’s not all happiness like the Wal-Mart smiley face tends to project. Big chains can do a lot more harm than good.
Of course, my narcissistic self couldn’t have cared less about this issue until a few weeks ago, until a big chain was threatening my own family.
My family has owned a pharmacy in my hometown of Armonk, N.Y., since 1999, happily providing our customers with their Viagra on a daily basis. The pharmacy provides my family with both a source of income as well as a positive feeling. But these joyous interactions were recently threatened by none other than CVS.
Our quaint little town offers grounds for private businesses to open up and provide services and products to our residents. The single chain store in our town is A&P, which serves as the one and only grocery store in the area. When news broke that the property owner had decided not to renew his lease with A&P and instead sign one with CVS, outrage and fury spread throughout the neighborhood.
When the news hit my family, it was pretty devastating. It’s almost a certain death sentence for any privately owned business to face off against a giant chain. But, in the coming days, we saw an outpouring of support by our local community. Customers were coming in left and right asking what they can do to help; some even went as far as declaring they would lead a boycott of CVS.
I started asking myself why these customers, some of whom I thought were the snottiest and most obnoxious people ever to walk the planet, were now coming to my parents’ rescue. Overhearing some of the conversations going on between the customers and my mom, it became clear to me that my town cares about much more than saving a dollar or two on toothpaste. They appreciate that a small town has a store where you can go to the counter and be recognized by name.
They’re grateful to my mom for opening up the pharmacy at all hours of the night when a child is sick and in dire need of their medication. They’re thankful for coming out of surgery at ease, knowing the pharmacist will make sure their prescription is filled immediately.
Big chain stores pay some of the lowest wages in the country, providing little incentive for their employees to actually put in a hard day’s work. The feel and atmosphere of a CVS cannot even come close to a privately owned, neighborhood business.
I understand that big chains are conducive to keeping money in your wallet, especially in times like these. At the same time, I’m also disgusted by the dog-eat-dog mentality these chains possess. I just ask that you become an educated and moral consumer; to look past the price tags. Just remember — every penny you spend in a chain store is food off the table for my family until we inevitably die of starvation. You don’t want our deaths over your head now, do you?