12/24/2009 1:17:00 PM Letter: Merry Christmas to local merchants who truly care
Editor:
I’ve read the entire series about supporting our local businesses during this holiday season, and during the entire year, and I’ve always tried to do that in the 13 years I’ve lived here.
The belt on my Hoover Upright vacuum broke. Now, I’m not mechanical, but even I could probably replace that if not for arthritis in both thumbs and index fingers. So, I called our one and only big local hardware store and asked if I brought the vacuum into the store if they would put in a new belt. I mentioned the bad arthritis problem. Yes, of course they would, for the nominal fee of $1 per minute. Why does $1 per minute sound like a lot more than $60 per hour? So much for the season of goodwill from one “local” merchant.
The man I spoke with identified himself as a manager and said that’s the owner’s policy. Ho Ho Ho!
I then called one of the big box stores in town, and they said sure they’d put it in for nothing. I’ve spent plenty of money at this local hardware store for me, and also for a non-profit I purchase things relatively often. Rest assured, I will do everything I can to avoid this store in the future.
As it turns out, a friend will put one in for nothing except maybe a cup of coffee and a thank you. Merry Christmas to all the local merchants who really care about the local residents and value our business.
