I like Big Chains (Corporate chains vs independent retailers)

Member Name: moronboy

Product:	Corporate chains vs independent retailers
Date:	22/11/00 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Big shops are easy

Disadvantages: The choice isn't as good as is sometimes made out

I am definitely a soulless modernist on this question - I hate the idea of having to tool around an endless succession of little shops, and engage in endless rounds of polite conversation about the weather, the traffic, or what's on the front of the Daily Mail today. I want to go to one big bright shop, buy my shopping, and mind my own ******* business.

I can think of about a million things I'd rather do than enjoy the delights of small shops - mingy people on the counter, out of date products, an appalling attitude to such matters as refunds and disatisfaction with what you've bought. And before you complain, these are all specific things that have happened to me at small local shops.

Yes, I wish that supermarkets had a more mature, responsible attitude to fresh produce, and I am aware that driving to the shops is not necessarily environmentally friendly. However, I always consider close proximity to a supermarket (walking distance preferred) an essential requirement when finding somewhere to live - I'm moving soon, and being very close to Sainsburys is a big requirement.

The much-vaunted 'personal service' that you get in small shops is for me, like the unicorn - I've heard of it, but imagine that it's more legend than fact. I am quite happy to deal with uniformed zombies who just let me get on with the shopping.

NB All of the above arguments should be entirely reversed in the very specific area of Travel Agents, where small independent agents are invariably god-like, with very specialised knowledge and superb service, while big operators seem staffed entirely by children who can only suggest beach holidays in the Balearics.

Summary: