Chain store rant

[T.G]

Originally Posted by fhrblig

That's why I waited so long to try them, but I decided to give them a fair shot. Trouble is, the second one is in a somewhat isolated area where because they added cigars and people went there instead because prices were lower, it drove the only local B&M out of business.

If the opening of a single discount cigarette store was able to cause a B&M to go out of business, then I suspect that the B&M probably had bigger issues than just their pricing and was already teetering on the edge.

[pektel]

Originally Posted by T.G

If the opening of a single discount cigarette store was able to cause a B&M to go out of business, then I suspect that the B&M probably had bigger issues than just their pricing and was already teetering on the edge.

I agree. I am part owner of a design showroom for cabinetry/flooring/plumbing fixtures/etc. We have never had a problem when a Home Depot/Lowe's pops up in town. In fact, I'd wish they set up right across the street from me. We are experienced, and dedicated to our customers' projects. I can count on one hand the number of kitchens I have lost to Home Depot. And that's only because the customer was comparing apples to oranges.

I only say this because a discount store does have an effect on small business, but not to the point where it will exterminate a competitor all together, all on it's own.

I seriously lol'ed at the wet cedar chip. I have read that some choose to light cigars with a strip of cedar instead of matches/butane lighter. At first I thought it would be a strip of dry cedar to use to light the cigar.

[fhrblig]

Originally Posted by T.G

If the opening of a single discount cigarette store was able to cause a B&M to go out of business, then I suspect that the B&M probably had bigger issues than just their pricing and was already teetering on the edge.

I thought the same thing too. After the B&M closed, I went to another one and mentioned the one that closed. The guy there knew the guy that owned the closed shop, and he said, "He'd been there for years, and as soon as that cigarette store started selling cigars cheaper, he lost all his business." I take that as meaning either the people were desperate for another choice (this town is about 10-15 miles away from the metro area), or the cigarette place undercut his prices so bad that he couldn't compete. Probably a mix of both.