I was born and raised in the big city, I was also born into a business that dealt with the public.
Free Markets, and Capitalism , no problem.
The way I see it, folks asked for it and got it. Then Media and Marketers latched onto the whining and wants - folks got what they wanted.
I apprenticed in a business owned by Orthdox Jews. I was born in 1955 and I was around 12 when the Orthodox Jew owner told me upon seeing "sales" other than end of year or inventory sales...
"Some folks would buy a cow chip if was discounted or on sale. They may not need it, don't know what to do with it, but the fact it is on sale means they have to have it. It also means the poor bastard will pay full price for a cow chip because now having a cow chip is something he has to have".
"Folks are whining and and wanting an easier softer way on gas, groceries, and services. They aint getting it necessarily - just getting it on sale, with a coupon, or rebate makes them think so".
Hard times back then, I would not trade the lessons shared and learned for anything.
$3.50 for a box of cereal, cut of meat, or frozen dinner is still $3.50 spent for that item in the quanity purchased. Makes no difference if it has "family pack" on the label, bought with a coupon, or you get a discount with a card.
$23 for a shirt is $23. Don't blow smoke up my ass, stick a $46 price tag on it and tell me I am getting a $46 shirt for $23 after the "half off sale". I bought a better shirt , from LLBean for $19.95 and free shipping, and it was 'not on sale'. I didnt' use my gas or have to park either.
I worked in a mall once. I was young at the time. I ever entertain that thought again - shoot me on the spot. I refuse to go to malls, granted ours are closing - one reason is the elderly cannot walk the distances.
Twice a year the mall had a indoor sidewalk sale. Some mdse was actually marked down and a good buy. Greatest percentage was junk. Out of style, fashion, whatever. It had the words "SALE" or "Discount". Folks bought these 'cow chips', and ran up CC debt. When the sale was over, mdse was trucked to another mall where the same stores had stores. Just add a few teasers, some mdse they couldn't sell, and cycle this stuff over and over again. I stuck a label in a Nero jacket once, it cycled back thru 5 times. It either sold or got lost I figure.
Bottom line: What did you get for the monies spent?
I have lived in the Big city, and smaller towns. They rush out to the gas station on a cold wet rainy day, or dressed in nice business clothes, or perhaps pregnant, or the newborn in vehicle... wishing they could get full service gas and let someone gas the vechicle, check air and under the hood.
Folks wanted cheaper gas, they got it. Service was the price they paid. They bitched when full service gas was more per gallon.
Groceries : dumb shits don't realize it costs money to print coupons, advertise coupons, put in magazines, newspapers, process these, and the store has to wait for reimbursements...
Then if one does NOT use a coupon for cereal you are punished by paying "full" price.
Tell the Coupon and Marketing folks to shove it, price the damn cereal as it should be - fair price for product and quit blowing smoke up people's asses.
Walmart. I hate the bastards. Thier home office in the NW corner of my state.
Laughed my ass off when in the small towns everyone wanted one. Then the legal hassles, traffic, land grab...then all the junk mail from personal information given out.
Broke my ex and stepson from WM, My mom as well. I had them write a check out of town/ state at WM, they didnt' need to show ID - Mickyworld has all that info already in a database. I also had them put a Apt # on the form..."we live in a house"...just do it I said. Junk mail comes in with THAT Apt #.
Did the same thing with Kroger.
My ex and mom changed banks, and in the case of Kroger filled out a new form. If you don't have your card - just give them a phone # and in the database they have - they can figure it out. Mom don't know it -Kroger has the Corp, addy and phone # for one of them damn teevee preachers she watches for her card now.
When I needed 125 Corish Hens for a Gun club for a shoot and eat event, I went to a Mom&Pop. Told them what I needed..and I damn sure did not want anything Tyson [ hate them bastards too]. So I gots my Cornish Hens , paid cash up front, and got a break on price, fair is fair and the M&P is entitled to make a profit. Funny thing was these folks felt I gave them too much for their part...no, fair is fair and I want them around the next time I needed something. Worked out better than thought, invited them out, they did and had a ball.
My theory is, in small towns especially, we will see a return of Mom&Pop store downstairs and the family living upstairs. Folks will save and time gas in shopping. As our Geriatric Society continues to do, meaning less old folks acutally being able to walk once inside a huge chain store...the M&P will come back. You will see the little pick-up truck doing deliveries again, when the old folks cannot drive, weather is bad, or sick.
Sure Deodorant: Classmate said WM wanted $2.36 , I paid $1.97 at Harvest Foods. I was at HF, why do I want to make a special trip, gas, and have my intelligence insulted going to WM?
Family Dollar and Dollar General stores are adding more stores around here. Seems my premonition about older folks NOT being able to walk in the big stores is coming true. My mom has problems, she can't.
These "dollar" stores are less expensive than WM or Grocery stores on Toliet tissue, cleaning produts and I paid $1.69 for my Sure Deorderant. They also have milk, bread, eggs, sodas, soups, spices ...for lot less money than WM or grocery stores.
Mom paid $2 and something for Black Pepper at Kroger with her 'card'.
I paid $1 for a bigger container of Black Pepper, and Iodized salt, I got 2/$1.
When I had surgery, Big City or Small town - I called the Mom and Pops for my groceries to be delivered, and my perscriptions. The Grocery folks even went out and checked my mail for me. The Pharmacy delivery girl took out my trash. Both called to check on me and asked if I needed anything, since they were going to be out my way...Pharmacy girl brought me a Chicken Fried steak from the diner, special of the day.
Wally and Kroger don't do deliveries on groceries or meds.
Bottom line, what is it your are gettng for the monies spent?
The price of all goods, customer service are determined by 3 factors: greed, greed, and greed. More than a economic ideal.