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Carol Williams, Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA (Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals.)

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Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

We do, Carol.  However, we keep in mind that even though Nordstrom's and Macy's are not local, they employ quite a few people to work there.  So we mix it up.  A

Nov 18, 2015 05:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Carol Williams I shop locally, unless there is something I can't find locally. I went to buy an item yesterday locally. They told me they don't carry it anymore and to go online.

Nov 18, 2015 06:17 AM
Ambassador
6,392,899
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

It depends upon what I'm shopping for

Nov 18, 2015 03:00 AM
Ambassador
1,452,619
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I do to a certain extent.  I will not pay over inflated prices some charge and I will acknowledge that many of our franchise stores are owned by local people.  Sadly though, it is a tiny town and I do need to shop outside our limited selection.

Nov 18, 2015 02:46 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Not really and especially since so much goes on at chain stores not headquarted in Oklahoma City, I would prefer to use Amazon Prime. I also emply people with my savings by biuying rent homes, having them fixed up, using mortage and title people, as well as employing a local financial advisor. It is a zero sum game.

Nov 18, 2015 02:32 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,013
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Yes indeed. If we don't support the locals, they be gone soon enough. What then? Reminds me of the ice cream man, milk man and bread man that went door to door. No orders? They are memories now

Nov 18, 2015 06:58 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I think it's great that you shop local. I do this as well when I can. Although my town has less than 2 thousand people. We don't have a Walmart or other big chain stores. So sometimes I have to travel to get what I really need. 

Nov 18, 2015 06:57 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Yes...gas also costs money

Nov 18, 2015 05:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,731,203
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

I Actually do Carol Williams ....I just think it's the right thing to do ....Great question!

Nov 18, 2015 05:13 AM
Rainer
112,947
Vera Gonzalez
RE/MAX Suburban, Inc. - Sterling Heights, MI
Gonzo For Real Estate

Yes,  I also make it a point to generally buy from where my clients work, if it is in reason

Nov 18, 2015 04:49 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

No...I go for lowest cost.

Nov 18, 2015 03:20 AM
Rainmaker
1,374,323
Joyce Marsh
Joyce Marsh Real Estate LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Joyce Marsh Homes

Yes I sure do. I believe in supporting our hometown small business owners. They need our help and support more than ever. 

Nov 18, 2015 02:40 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Yes, I try to.  Though it does depend on how much more it costs.

Nov 18, 2015 02:28 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,896
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

I do not shop for anything except food and that only when I have to...oH Yes! And for gas when I am right below "E"

Nov 19, 2015 12:43 AM
Rainmaker
4,571,731
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It depends.

Product.  Is it a commodity or not?

Timing.   Convenience is important to me.

The sense of community.   Differentiation beyond the ordinary make places more desirable to live in my opinion.  

 

Nov 18, 2015 11:59 PM
Rainmaker
7,835,266
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Personally, I do very little shopping since my wife is the official family shopper. All of us should support the local businesses that add much to the quality of life in our home communities.

Nov 18, 2015 11:49 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Guilty about not doing so. I have little time to shop, so I just do it as quickly as I can when I can and where I can.

Nov 18, 2015 08:06 PM
Rainer
150,416
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

I am a huge supporter of buying local, but I don't really think that it costs more to do so, at least not in my area.

Another thing that I do is I often post their events on my social media to help them "get the word out", increasing their foot traffic. Its the last I can do to support them. 

Nov 18, 2015 06:45 PM
Rainer
213,263
Dennis Swartz
Full Circle Property Management - Columbus, OH
MBA, GRI...experience counts!

Is Amazon local? I am addicted to it.

Nov 18, 2015 06:12 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

If I know a local shop carries what I need at a fair price (it doesn't have to be the lowest) I will shop there. I am also a big online shopper.

Nov 18, 2015 09:30 AM
Rainmaker
400,356
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

I do make a point of buying local.  I like the relationships that are created and the general ease of doing business.  I can walk in and speak with a person I know or if I call, I call a person, not a call center.

It's worth it to me if it costs a little more because I'm getting value in other ways. 

Nov 18, 2015 05:27 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Carol,
I do consider local options. Depends on the item, warranty, how fast I need it, etc.

Nov 18, 2015 03:45 AM
Rainer
94,105
Val Evans
Scottsdale, AZ

Most all of our friends are business owners, whether it be a clothing store, computer store, restaurant, hardware store, or even a professional practice. We try to support them as much as possible.

Nov 18, 2015 02:39 AM
Rainmaker
2,486,205
Captain Wayne - Rowlett Real Estate School
Rowlett Real Estate School - Panama City, FL
Rowlett Real Estate School / Owner and Instructor

Yes, I like to support the local merchants.

Nov 18, 2015 02:16 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Not only do I practice shopping LOCAL, I make it my business to meet and know the owner. 

"It's a two way street outside your door," I point out.

In my little town of Dunedin FL, when I take my buyers into the 'Tropical Wine' store, the treatment THEY receive, through the hands of the owner, is extraordinary.

It takes very little imagination to understand how such a practice grows legs.

Nov 18, 2015 02:14 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Carol Williams usually I am online all the time and shipping on Amazon Prime is free.

Shopping from home is a habit now-a--days for many of us.

Shopping local if I am around - why not? Though it does not happen so often.

Nov 20, 2015 02:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,858
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I do this when it is practical, cost effective and the local city has what I need.  If I can save money, I'll shop online or in another city.  For example, the place I go for a haircut, Sports Clips, is local and charges $25 (it includes a massage, shampoo and a hot towel) plus they have sports on TV.  Now, if I drive for 15 minutes to the next city over, Simi Valley, I know a place where I can get just a haircut on sale for $9 on Wednesday.  The $25 place is a 2 minute drive from my house IF I hit all red lights, and the price is the same 7 days a week.  In this instance, I choose this local location because it is convenient and has a nice level of service.

Nov 19, 2015 07:46 AM
Rainmaker
5,215,848
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Yes, and do not feel guilty for paying a bit more!

Nov 18, 2015 08:16 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Thursday morning Carol. I do my best to shop local, however, it is getting easier to shop online.

Nov 18, 2015 06:04 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Carol. Whenever possible, we shop local and mom and pop stores whenever possible, even if it costs us more.

Nov 18, 2015 05:30 PM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Carol - Sorry to hear that about one of your local businesses.

I shop local because it is local, and because it helps my local municipality.

Nov 18, 2015 02:27 PM
Ambassador
3,164,119
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I do for many reasons including keeping tax revenue local.

Nov 18, 2015 01:24 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Most of the time, yes.  I think  it's important to support local business that earn it.

Nov 18, 2015 12:43 PM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

My family owned a hauling company and we shopped local first; if it wasn't available, we went elsewhere. When our contracts would come up, it was no contest Carol Williams. I still shop local even though our company sold 23 years ago... 

Nov 18, 2015 12:08 PM
Rainmaker
900,008
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

yes

Nov 18, 2015 12:08 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Yes I do, because I want them to use a local real estate agent! You reap what you sow.

Nov 18, 2015 10:53 AM
Rainmaker
530,966
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Yes, I have always tried to shop on a local basis.

Nov 18, 2015 10:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Definately!

Nov 18, 2015 10:40 AM
Rainer
35,902
Joan Beduze
Keller Williams Realty Acadiana - Lafayette, LA

It all depends on what I am shopping for; if it's food, then I definitely want to shop fresh and local.  If I am shopping for automobiles or books, clothing, etc., then it just boils down to whoever has what I am looking for, and is offering it for the best price.  I will not pay more just because something is being sold in a fancy showroom or shop, as that does not add value to the item that I am purchasing.

Nov 18, 2015 07:08 AM