Anyone else feel weird buying things from small shops?

[ToMyRoom]

I always feel more self conscious going into small shops because I feel like the owners will remember me more.

There’s a local newsagents which sells a really good pick and mix selection, I go in to buy them sometimes but always feel a bit stupid buying the same things — and feel like I’ll be judged for buying crap— so I end up sticking a newspaper in to buy so it doesn’t look like I’ve just gone in to buy sweets

Anyone else feel like this or just me overthinking?

Yes, me! I want to support them, but I don't want to spend money for the sake of it. Unfortunately if I go into a small independent shop with the owner following me round being helpful, that's exactly what I end up doing.

I have an adverse reaction to being recognized when I’m shopping. It’s a sort of startle reflex, damn my invisibility cloak is faulty

The girl at the checkout in aldi struck up a conversation the other day, and in my head I was thinking that I’m going to have to drive all the way to the other one anymore. Not really, I’m too lazy I’ve been going to a dry cleaner every week for two years and the woman who runs it never remembers me. I love that.

No. I love independent shops.Our village shop (which isn’t in our village) is the social hub as well as a lifeline for elderly people locally. Local children have Saturday jobs there, the early retired can keep earning, we meet for coffees. It’s nice. They sell local artwork, local soap and honey, chutney and marmalade and sell tickets for local events. They hold the tennis court key and league table.
The post office is a bit further but such a nice couple running it. They sell high end deli stuff, homemade rolls and always ask us to keep the parcels to our son in the forces unsealed, so they can add a few extra treats.
I like chatting to people who know their stock and more so if they’ve made it.

I don't mind buying but I agree it's uncomfortable to browse and then not buy so I might avoid going in unless I know I would probably get what I wanted.

@janj2301 me too! I feel rude if I just look and don't purchase, even more so when no prices are displayed or the market stall holder offers other things to look at.

I think that’s the idea, to play on people’s conscience and guilt trip them into ‘buying local’ by making them feel obliged to support the community.

We have a local ‘emporium’ type craft outlet in our town. It markets itself as locally sourced, locally made by artisans, all local, local, local, blah de blah.

It’s not local to Ali Baba dot com let’s just say!

We lost our village shop years ago after it was driven into the ground by a national chain who had no idea what people wanted/needed to buy.

After years of being empty and falling into disrepair it was finally bought by a lovely Sikh family around 5 years ago. There was much eye-rolling from many of the villagers who all said 'they will never make a go of it'

'They' are the nicest people you could wish to meet and the shop is perfect with no inflated prices. We have bungalows for the elderly around 150 yards from the shop, and across a busy road; many times I have seen one of the owners carrying heavy shopping bags over to their home for an elderly customer.

They do tend to watch strangers more closely, and with good reason. But, once they know you then you are free to wander round with no-one hovering.

I love our little village shop!

Yes, I always have done. I feel like the staff are glaring at me too especially if I’m the only customer, it’s just awkward.