They've definitely changed in a bad way. I remember when my local Best Buy was first built back in '96 or 97 when I was still living at home. That store was awesome! Decently priced movies, CDs, and computer parts and the people who worked there actually had a clue. I got into a habit of just going there to shop instead of checking the other local computer stores I was used to. Then I moved away and didn't have one around for a couple years. Came back around 2002 and couldn't figure out what happened! It had turned into Circuit City - expensive with salesmen who followed you around and tried to upsell you when you weren't even asking for their help.

I often wonder about companies that change like that. Do they set out to be just another expensive, pushy big box in the beginning, or does something in the marketplace corrupt them? Are the first couple years a sham to get people to like them, or is the later form them selling out?

yes, I do boycott one company but it's personal.

I wont buy Iams, or any pet foods with Meat Meal and or Bone Meal in them.

wow, what a couple of assholes!

I try my best to boycott Walmart because I just don't like how they do business (I also don't like being in their stores).

I never buy products from IAMS, Nutro, or Purina. Blue Buffalo is the only brand of food I feed my animals. This is mainly a quality issue.

I also do not buy American cars because they just don't beat the competition.

It's not so much that I avoid certain companies but I favor some companies and will go out of my way to support them. For instance, I will buy gas from BP over Exxon and I support Google and Apple over Microsoft.


This is funny because I've boycotted quite a few hometown companies recently. After working for and with quite a few companies in my little college town, I came to the conclusion that some of the owners were very ignorant about how to conduct business, they relied on the loyalty of customers like you, CG, but that will only take them so far.

Why BP?

What is wrong with meat meal? All 'meal' means is that it has been dehydrated and ground.

Starbucks. Mostly because of local pride, though. Community Coffee is so much better.

And I don't go to Wal-Mart just because it feels like a dirty place. That's probably more of a snob thing.

Whenever possible I try to support local businesses. Customer service tends to be better, food products are fresher, and it makes me feel like I'm helping the community.