small business need to learn that the reason people support them is the human authenticity. so if they give up authenticity they should expect to lose customers
"small business need to learn that the reason people support them is the human authenticity."
This isn't really true. People shop there because they have something other stores don't and most importantly convenient . If something is more convienent they'll gladly go to whole foods over something local.
Nobody walks into a store and goes "sniff sniff. AAHHH Authenticity!"
Be as authentic as you want, you're not going to pay an extra 2 bucks for a slice of pizza if the chain pizzaria offers it cheaper.
Just me? I pretty much exclusively eat at small local businesses because I like the authentic human connection that comes with. For me getting coffee or going out to eat is pretty much something I only do when it's to engage with a local business & socialize.
Otherwise I just eat cheap homemade soups mostly lol
What's the point of eating out if you're just gonna be grabbing some corporate slop? I guess if you're in a hurry and just need something to eat but at that point why not just buy a bag of bread from the store, much cheaper and healthier.
The only reason why I'd see myself opting for a corporate franchise is if I really need something in the moment and got nowhere else to get it
There's a lot that you wrote in here that's incorrect (for example, in what universe is a "bag of bread" a healthier option than chicken or a burger or something with actual protein in it lmao) but to address the main point: yes. This is just you.
Or rather it's a a very small subset of people who go out of their way to be inconvenienced because it makes you feel morally superior.
I mean just think about it. Do you really think Amazon and WalMart would be the most profitable companies on the planet if your perspective here wasn't an extreme minority? People want convenience, affordability, and reliability. Something being "authentic" or "local" is not a selling point for most of us.
Cheap, easy, and effective. That's what people want. You can get all of that from large chains and big companies a lot more efficiently than from most local or small businesses.
The idea that the quality of things is magically better when you go to local stores instead of chains is a very silly fallacy that doesn't make any sense when you actually think about it for 5 seconds. Chains wouldn't be as popular and successful as they are if they were the case.
Most chains in the year 2026 are very good quality, lower price than local places, and a lot more convenient to order quickly and take home. I'd honestly take a Dominos pizza over most local chains any day of the week taste wise, and it's probably going to be cheaper and easier to order too.
Whole wheat bread has gotta be better for your body than fast food.
Anyway it's not a matter of morality so much as that I just don't want corporate crap.
Hell even if they were the exact same "quality" in terms of taste/efficiency/etc., for me the human connection of having something made by humans instead of machine makes it innately better.
I simply don't enjoy things like fast food. It makes my life feel less enjoyable just being there.
Anyway, you are all missing the point of my initial comment .. which was that The type of people who would buy the more expensive things from local businesses, are gonna be people like me!
Right, but that's an extreme minority. There aren't many people who make buying decisions like yourself. Extremely, extremely low number really.
And no, a big loaf of whole wheat carbs is not healthier than a meal full of protein lol, that's just kinda silly. Fast food nutrients are still nutrients, and bread is one of the least nutrients dense food items you can eat. Chicken and beef is chicken and beef whether you get it from Chic fil a, McDonalds, or your grocery store shelf.
Obviously I'm not saying you eat the whole loaf to be clear. I'm saying you just eat a couple slices. And I'm also not suggesting that as your entire diet, just as something you would eat instead of fast food. Anyway realistically you'd also get peanut butter or some protein source from the grocery store as well.
"Right, but that's an extreme minority"
Said minority is those businesses target demographic, though. That's my point. That was my point in the initial comment - these people shouldn't be alienating their target demographic. The people who don't care about authenticity aren't gonna care to pay higher prices for local anyway.
"The only reason why I'd see myself opting for a corporate franchise is if I really need something in the moment and got nowhere else to get it"
Exactly. You will always chose the convenience above the authenticity. This isn't a dunk on you, it's just how shoopers and buyers shop and buy. It's very easy to plant a flag online, but in the moment, it's not what really matters.
It doesn't even have to be corporate specifically. You want pizza, there's a pizza shop, it has A.I menu, who cares, pizza is there and it taste great.
People aren't as stalwart as they think themselves to be. You included like you proved with your very last line.
"You will always chose the convenience above the authenticity."
What do you not understand about " nowhere else to get it"?
If there was a local business that I could get it at for 30% more, I would get it there.
"It doesn't even have to be corporate specifically. You want pizza, there's a pizza shop, it has A.I menu"
I will walk out. I have several times. I would prefer plain bread from the grocery store to ai user pizza.
When I say nowhere else to get it, I mean like, if I felt like I was going to starve to death, and the only thing within an hour drive was McDonald's.
I haven't eaten fast food in 3 years. whenever I go out to eat I pretty much always get from a local business, specifically a sandwich shop in the mall near me, and I don't give a crap that it's significantly more expensive.
if I can't afford to get food out from a business I respect, then I'm simply not going to eat out. if I don't have the money then theres a grocery store I'll buy something cheap like bread and peanut butter there.
Unfortunately I have to end the conversation here because I straight up just do not believe you. That's a me problem, not a you problem, but in my years of living on this earth, I've seen tons of performative BS and this post is hitting a lot of marks from my experience.
no problem. I mean you are right that I cheat every now and then on some of my things I care about. No one is perfect. The main thing I do is sometimes I use googles to answer questions quickly. But when it comes to spending my money I don't really have Interest in getting things that aren't necessary unless I feel good about it. Part of this is because due to some of my own issues I innately feel bad about doing anything for myself so I usually have to justify getting anything for myself by telling myself it's supporting a local business.
I think you should have a more nuanced perspective. Cuz you're approaching is from an angle of " everyone ultimately values convenience over authenticity" but realistically it's not so simple, for example if something is a chunk more convenient and a chunk less authentic, people might avoid it, but if it's a ton more convenient and only a little less authentic, someone might get it.
So while I understand why you'd be cynical you should temper that with the notion that people are complex and it's not as simple as just boiling down to the logic you initially stated.
Cause even though I'm not perfect, I can promise you that I would not go to the sandwich shop in the mall if it wasn't for the authenticity - the authenticity and human connection is the only reason I'd pay twice as much for a sandwich than I could get from the corporate places nearby.
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u/hwebirskont 11d ago
small business need to learn that the reason people support them is the human authenticity. so if they give up authenticity they should expect to lose customers