Voting with your Checkbook
This post is inspired one of our readers, Kim, regarding where Detroiters drop their cash. Do you even think about where you spend your hard earned money? Next time you do, take a geographic look your checkbook and see what localities get your support. This city’s economy is supported by its residents, residents of surrounding suburbs, and tourists. There are direct ways to do this by choosing city retailers vs. suburban retailers. There are also indirect ways, for example, if you are faced with the choice between Netflix and Blockbuster at home movie services – think about choosing Blockbuster as this company is providing jobs in the city.
as an independant business owner i am very specific as to where i drop money. i’ll never spend money at Wal-Mart. they’ve hurt a lot of indy retailers all over the country in almost every field, including mine. more specifically i try to support not just city business but i also will drive out of my way to spend with places that have a good staff/owner. no one can buy independant only, of course since the sound of Uncle Ron’s Gas & Sip doesn’t exactly fill me with the confidence of quality fuel for my car, but i’ll buy a shirt at Showtime Clothing then head over and fill up my belly at Ye Olde Tap Room!
i love spending money in the city, but what i hate is that the customer service at so many of the city’s smaller businesses basically sucks… not to mention the lack of cleanliness… i’m not trying to be negative, but sometimes it’s like you have to just settle for less if you’re gonna put some money into the city… i wish it didn’t have to be like that…
Baliad, I think you’re going to have to give us some names for the places you got bad service at so the owners know they need to change. This brings up the fact that we as consumers can protest and not patronize these establishments, or we can do everyone a favor and suggest change. If there is no suggestion box make one and keep suggesting. We can all improve.
what an awesome idea…when leaving a business ask if they have a suggestion box and if they say no then produce one, tell them “now you do” and drop a comment in it on the spot…haha. as for names & places…i am so used to poor service at most city businesses (including city hall) that i take note of the ones that are good since that list is so much shorter, like how amazed i was at the staff of Ford Field recently when i went to the Home & Garden show. everyone associated with the venue could not have been nicer or friendlier to the point that later in the day i was still commenting about how more place around the city should have a staff like that.
i agree with max… listing all the places with poor service in the city would take too long… places with good customer service do tend to stick out more as a result…
molliko, i see your point… we all gotta do our parts… i struggle with it though because i don’t really think it should be on the customer to initiate a businesses attempt at improving…
places in the D that i’ve been to lately with good customer service: Rowland Cafe, La Pita, YMCA, Bangkok Cuisine Express…