JEGS: Lowest Prices Guaranteed!! I've bought alot of items from Jegs and they will definetly match a lower price. :D

Good post Ned. And I agree .. all except the chain food stuff. I don't eat that crap. It's gross and unhealthy and I eat good local food. Have you not seen the Fast Food Nation movie or book? :lol:

But you're right. Since when do we as consumers owe it to certain companies or vendors their profit to feed their family? I've run a small business for 7 years now... and I don't EXPECT anyone to put food on my table to buy my car parts. That sense of entitlement don't sit well with me. I either compete in my marketplace and make the sales and get repeat business, or I find new customers to backfill old ones, or I don't... and I shut it down and do something else.

Entrepreneurs are not guaranteed profits. They put up risk capital to potentially make more than the guy who has a "secure" job working for some other entrepreneur or company.

Business landscapes and marketplaces constantly are changing.... new technologies.... new competitors.... Al Gore's internet.... many things have small and large impacts. That's not new. The people who make it and push forward don't sit around and complain about it. They GET IT DONE!

Good points

I work part time at the last REAL hardware store in san diego.
I only buy good pizza
I only drink micro brew

But I still look for the best price on most things.

Another example. McMasterCarr has excellent inventory, great tech, and are usually the most expensive. But they have a one stop shop so one doesnt need to spend 10 hours searching the net.

Exactly. No one gets upset when CVS sells milk as a loss leader to get you in the store to buy other stuff. So, if a vendor's model is to sell wheels on low margin and then provide service to sell you everything else you need to finish the car, then good for him.

Speak for your self:lol:

I think you're correct for the majority of America. For me personally, I only do three of the nine examples you gave. Then again, I'm a weirdo. :lol:

Ned great obsevation! Being in small buisness my wife and I go out of our way to frequent all the small buisness we can. I will say this you will never see a Walmart item in my house!!I would'nt give a sh^t if they were giving there crap away!!!!!Oh and never to the franchise pizza either or the Mexican food:D

There are always exceptions to the rule, but i think for the majority of the "average households" the observations hold true...and ALL of us at least do some of the examples

I do think that the guy that owns and runs his own business (or at least has a vested interest inthe company)has a different mind set. They think of things differently...its like a business karma. When they do business somewhere, they actually think of WHO is getting their business and who it really benefits...and the true value of who you do business with. They dont focus soleley on the price of the item that they walk out the door with

Most people dont think that way....and the majority wins and sets the landscape of business.

I've played both sides of the fence... I've shopped extensively to get the obsolute best price on an item and couldnt care less on who it came from....and I've done business with people that I trust and like and can count on and paid more for something I could have gotten for less

Customer service before and after the sale are great...and for some items they are paramount...but for others they play no role at all..... if i can buy a case of Mobil 1 oil at Walmart for $10 cheaper than at Autozone, why wouldnt I do that?

If I'm getting Lasik eye surgery, I'm sure as hell not picking the guy with the coupon in the penny saver :)

The general focus on bottomline price isnt going anywhere....its the big reason why the USA hardly actually makes anything anymore....adapt to the landscape or perish......

Focus on getting the customer the best value...... DSE is a great example...offer a good product and excellent support and exposure in the market....do it at firm non-negotiable higher prices but back up every penny the customer spends with you.

You cant offer dirt cheap prices on everything and great customer support and stay in business unless you are really big and have other profit centers ....and conversely you cant sell top of the line stuff and huge prices and do a ****ty job supporting your customer.

Im always looking for a great deal too. I could have saved a few hundreds over the thousands of dollars ive spent at firewheel classics by buying from a online site. Thing is they were close and i could just go pick it up. Im willing to pay extra for quality. All in all most of the price shopping i have done well everyone has been around the same price. I end up going with who i feel the most comfortable with. Might not be the cheapest or the most expensive.

O and find me someone who has in stock ready to ship marquez billet tail lights for a 67 camaro rs ready to go. Post on here and when i get back from my date with my wife ill send you the money