AIBU to think that independents are not always better.

[StateofIndependents]

I'm a fan of helping small independent businesses though will happily go to chains too but AIBU to think that independent stores and restaurants are not always better? I've had some very poor experiences in cafes and bookstores for example including awful service in a book store this week.

So AIBU to think that shops are not automatically brilliant just by virtue of being independently owned?

I do always try to give independent businesses a chance, and I also totally accept that there are some things that a small business simply can’t do or prices they can’t offer, because (eg) they don’t necessarily have access to the same suppliers or the economy of scale, which I don’t mind at all provided they’re nice helpful people, knowledgeable and making an effort. However, I don’t think they’re always better at all - it varies from place to place. So while I’d always try to support a local independent business if I can, if they’re terrible I won’t go back. For example, there’s a shop near me that regularly complains that they’re struggling to compete with high street chains and asks for people’s support to keep them in business, but on the three occasions I’ve gone in, the shop was really grubby and disorganised and the stock wasn’t especially well-chosen. On the third occasion I went to look at something on a corner of the store and the owner’s cat was sitting there, which would have been fine except the carpet in that corner absolutely stank of stale cat piss.

Yanbu.
I kind of expect a better experience in an independent but often this doesn’t happen.

The one area independents can excel in is customer service. Unfortunately many don't, so I tend to stick with online shopping.

YANBU
I don't expect independents to price match online stores that can bulk buy and benefit from economies of scale, but do like a nice environment to browse, decent stock and good service.