I tend to be a do-it-myself kind of guy, which means that from time to time, I take on projects big and small. Over the holidays I tackled several of these, one of which is requiring a little more research and planning than I had originally imagined.
Last year I purchased a new “toy hauler” camper. I like to explore offroad trails, and I like to camp but not rough it too bad. I do like some creature comforts.
My new toy hauler fits the bill perfectly except for one thing. I would like to upgrade a few things with the electrical system so that on those trips when I am truly “off grid,” I won’t have to fire up the generator every time I want to make a cup of coffee.
To accomplish this, I need to buy several things, such as wire, switches, breakers and several other bits of hardware. Now I could easily order these materials through Amazon. I often do buy through the online retailer because the variety, price, and delivery are hard to beat. But this is one of those times when I prefer to buy local and for several reasons.
With a project like this, ordering online doesn’t give me the opportunity to put my eyes and hands on the materials to make sure of the quality. Materials such as wire can be deceiving. Online sources, even those who sell through Amazon, often sell inferior products. They claim to be the grade and rating I want, but when I get them, I sometimes discover they’re not. And sending them back can be a hassle.
On the other hand, a local seller who’s been business a while is usually more familiar with the products they sell and has built a local reputation for dealing with quality. If do I end up having a problem with an item, my local retailer is usually more responsive in resolving the issue.
I also find that local retailers are often good sources of information and advice. If I’m working on a project, I can’t be the only person to have done what I’m doing. The knowledgeable employees at these businesses on more than one occasion have helped me avoid some common mistakes and kept me from purchasing items I don’t need.
One of the most important reasons for buying local, especially from locally owned businesses, is it helps keep money in the local economy and supports local people. That’s not to say the big box or chain retailers don’t support their local communities, but local businesses are owned and operated by our neighbors and sometimes even our friends. Even if I do end up buying from a chain store, instead of online, I still know that at least a portion of the money will stay local. And I’m still helping to employ local people.
A great example of this is locally owned restaurants. Even when I travel, I prefer to eat at local places as opposed to chains. While there are some good chain restaurants, I find the local joints typically offer an all-around more unique experience. Occasionally, I run into a bad meal, but thankfully those moments are rare. Within our service area we have some great local restaurants. For more information about a few local eateries, check out the article on pages 6 and 7.
Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative also likes to support businesses in our area. From the materials we use to build and maintain our distribution system to parts that help maintain our fleet of vehicles, we try to do whatever we can to help support our local communities and buying local is a big part of that.
Feel free to wish me luck as I tackle this camper project.
I hope you stay warm and are able to enjoy a Happy Valentines Day with someone you love.