Service, discounts make for loyal customers

TO THE EDITOR:

Kip Burke's Opinion column has become one of my favorite parts of The News-Reporter. I find his pieces to be well-researched and thought out. Last week's article on shopping at home made a lot of good points and I agree with most of them. I have never been a fan of big box retail stores and I have tried my best to "shop at home" for the many years that I have lived here.

My big concern about the article is what was not mentioned. Over the past few years, I find myself shopping out of town, not because of just price but rather because of a tendency of local business not to show appreciation my being a steady customer.

There are several factors that affect the difference in price that we have to pay here as opposed to larger cities. Foremost being volume of sales and cost of transportation. Yet, local business should not expect people, just because they are "local," to pay 50% more or higher just because they do all the things that Kip mentioned.

Most everyone that lives here really appreciates what our local businesses do for the local people in the way of community service. Still, when I do a large volume of business at building supply stores, they should offer some sort of discount even if it's small. Most small business fail because of a lack of customers which keeps cash flowing throughout the business and the community.

I am convinced that among the many things that do not bring in customers, a lack of appreciation comes in first. Prompt courteous service, a prompt delivery on promises, and small financial incentives all add up to loyal customers. Unfortunately, this is not the treatments that I have been receiving over the past couple of years.

I hate driving out of town to get what I need, please offer me some incentive for not doing so.

JOSEPH M. RILEY