Local shopping

I found the response to publisher Jeff Ackerman's recent column on shopping to be quite interesting, especially from those folks who say they shop in the BIG BOX stores in Roseville or Marysville because they're unhappy with how local stores' employees treat them. I find this to be a bit insincere and unfair. First, does anyone really think they're going to get great service at a Wal-Mart or some other major retailer that goes through employees faster than a heat-seeking missile? You're actually lucky if A) you find someone to help you and B) if that person knows anything about the product you want to discuss. As we all know or should know, those stores mostly hire part-timers and most of those folks don't last long. We all know that shoppers go to the BIG BOX stores because everything is cheaper. And, of course, when you support these operations you support the exporting of the manufacturing sector to countries like China. This, of course, further erodes the middle class and thus requires more people to seek part-time jobs that don't offer benefits. If we value our 401(K)s and cheap prices above all else, we should not be surprised that customer service is becoming another relic of the past.