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Times will be a little better if we pull together and 'Shop Lodi'
Monday, November 17, 2008 6:27 AM PST
The Chamber has received some disturbing phone calls this week. They all have to do with "the brewing of an ugly consumer attitude."
A saddening psyche is developing in some people, driven, we think, by the "bad news media," primarily electronic media.
It seems TV talking heads are continually harping on the failing economy, plus the recent never-ending negative campaigning on various numbered propositions and by most candidates running for state and federal offices.
Add to that local commercial development-oriented issues that are emotionally polarizing and dividing our citizenry, plus frustration with one's own cash position and personal checking account. Then it's City Hall deficits, superseded by State of California shortfalls, then all the way to an $850 billion Band-Aid to keep the economy propped up. This enormity is only topped by shaky finances all over the world.
You cannot stack financial woes any higher than that! It is no wonder people are stressed out. Everywhere is doom and gloom. But let's not take it out on each other. The local road can lead to the high road.
One local auto dealer recently shared that he is witnessing a buyer attitude of, "Oh, come on now. You can come up with a lower price than that on this vehicle. We all know you're hurting, and you might not be around in six-months."
I can tell you the business owner will be around, and he is certainly planning on it.
It is imperative now more than ever that we shop local in Lodi. As a realist I know we have retailing voids, and some consumer preferred formats or products are not available in Lodi. I wear a 37-inch shirt-sleeve, very difficult to find in Lodi. But when you can find it in Lodi, try to buy it in Lodi.
It is very telling to look at license tag frames. Frames often tell where the car comes from, revealing the car dealer's city. I realize we are a mobile population, but tag frames are a good indicator that many trucks and autos driven by Lodi citizens are not bought in Lodi. OUCH!
"Ouch" because it hurts in more ways than one! If you have a perception that Lodi auto dealers are not as competitive as those to the north or south of Lodi, then I think you are in for a surprise. Go ahead and get your best price out of town, then bring it back to a local dealer to match or beat. I'm no expert on buying autos, but I do know there are many factors in purchasing a car and more than a couple of ways to "skin the cat," as it were. At the very least, give the local guy a chance. Same for any other type of retail purchase. If a Lodi merchant doesn't have it, maybe they can special order it for you. Maybe they can show you a more suitable item, perhaps one you did not even know about.
Back to the OUCH part of not shopping local … When you shop Lodi, you may be helping your neighbor or the single mom living down around the corner. In these times, you just might be helping them keep their job. We need an attitude and awareness of helping our own, because we are really helping ourselves. Lodi needs to take care of its own because we are them, if that makes sense.
Another consideration is that you may serve on a nonprofit board or be involved in helping a local charity raise funds for kids, seniors, unwanted pets, pregnant teens, homeless or hungry people, the elderly, veterans, the disabled or your child's school. If you ever have done fundraising in this town, you have gone to local merchants and businesses of all sizes and kinds with your hand out. If we citizens are shopping out of town, then we need to go there to ask for donations to our charities. Keep your consumer dollars here in Lodi. When you do, they can be recycled through all kinds of businesses and services in the community. This money turning over and over through the community is keeping the city working.
There is also the "civic responsibility aspect" of shopping locally, which is to generate adequate tax revenues. If the city doesn't get enough funds needed to run the city from property taxes (it is hard to compete with other city's property tax revenue when we grow less than 1 percent per year) or from sales tax, our city services are put in jeopardy.
I don't usually notice service fall-offs or reductions until it's too late. We notice when the upkeep of the park is way down, when the streets become pocked with excessive potholes, when graffiti stays around then gets worse when it takes police longer to respond because they are spread thinner around town.
Shopping locally funds these things.
Also, especially on smaller purchases, ask yourself, "What is my time worth?" One thing about living in a smaller town is that you can get from one end to the other in 10 minutes. To go a distance for things you can get in Lodi to save a few bucks is pretty much outdated. Even though gas is coming down, it is still too high! And we'd all agree that it will be back to higher when it gets the chance. But the first lesson in self-respect is to value your time. Figuring in fuel and whatever your time is worth to the cost of your purchases makes most out-of-town buying trips a losing proposition. Stay in town; it's greener in more ways than one!
So in closing, the times are tough, no two ways about it. But this is Lodi, and it is a great community — not perfect, but great. Our greatest community asset is you, the Lodi citizen. Our people made Lodi someplace special, and we the people need to keep it that way. Something simple like shopping local is really a big part of retaining our quality of life. We do not readily equate shopping locally with our quality of life, but how do you think livable, lovable, Lodi is going to stay livable and lovable?
The Chamber believes a strong local economy is the biggest factor in keeping any city a desirable place to live. You just do not see a great city without a robust business community, and you the consumer play a very important role in making that happen. Shop Lodi!
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Reader Feedback
loadeye wrote on Nov 24, 2008 9:10 PM:
Robb wrote on Nov 24, 2008 3:05 PM:
Unless you are alcoholic, there is nothing in lodi for you.. "
RotaryGuy wrote on Nov 24, 2008 12:20 PM:
Not only should we buy Lodi, let's support the Lodi Adopt A Child Fundraiser this SATURDAY!! Wine, food, music, dancing, raffle and fun!
www.LodiSunriseRotary.org/ "
bobbyg wrote on Nov 21, 2008 10:03 PM:
The real question is, if you search the Chamber website.... Is Pat and his business a member of the Chamber? Not that I can find... So he doesnt even believe in the organization he promotes. "
Lodian wrote on Nov 21, 2008 3:34 PM:
deblaw: If Super Wal-Mart is built in Lodi you'll be able to buy all your favorite things in a one stop shop. "
fawn lebowitz wrote on Nov 21, 2008 3:05 PM:
commonsense1 wrote on Nov 21, 2008 10:34 AM:
fawn lebowitz wrote on Nov 20, 2008 7:58 PM:
jaysam1 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:19 PM:
deblaw wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:46 PM:
020347 wrote on Nov 19, 2008 6:29 PM:
I go to Sacramento to the mall to Pennys. Much more to chose from. And for the Lodi Wall Mart, forget it. I'll go to Stockton to the Super Wall Mart.
Lodi won't let a super Wall Mart in . So to heck with Lodi. "
OTH wrote on Nov 19, 2008 6:27 PM:
I had basically the same experience at the Toyota dealer here in Lodi. My salesman actually laughed in my face when I talked terms and said "Well you will never get those terms here." So I too went to STKN and got what I wanted for what I wanted to pay on my terms. I worked in Stkn so could have the car serviced there as well. "
Inquisitor wrote on Nov 19, 2008 12:54 PM:
fawn lebowitz wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:55 AM:
caveman wrote on Nov 18, 2008 4:10 PM:
El Rushbo wrote on Nov 18, 2008 1:31 PM:
jaysam1 wrote on Nov 18, 2008 11:50 AM:
LUSDparent wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:52 PM:
New leadership is needed for the Chamber! "
El Rushbo wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:46 PM:
Billy Rubin wrote on Nov 17, 2008 12:53 PM:
Mr. Patrick, Lodi retail business is still doomed and everyone knows it. The stores downtown are, for the most part, open 8-5 Mon.-Fri., when likely shoppers are working. The stores close promptly in time to avoid their customer base and they are closed over the weekend.
Even towns like Manteca offer so much more in the way of restaurants and shopping than does Lodi, your opinion piece becomes a sad self-parody.
The Chamber of Commerce in Lodi should be ashamed of themselves for promoting self-delusion for as long as they have. "
marzo2008 wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:47 AM:
lodisafeway wrote on Nov 17, 2008 10:24 AM:
Now, we live in a world that upon waking up on a glorious Saturday morning and while drinking our first cup of coffee we simply decide to take a quick trip to San Francisco for a little shopping and a nice lunch on the Wharf. We travel at near light-speed in incredible comfort, in equally incredible safety and for incredibly little cost.
Why should we limit our shopping to Lodi when we can find what we want (at the cost we really want) elsewhere - and enjoy it more? The onus isn't on the buyers of any community to ensure the success of its economy - it is up to those supplying us with the goods and services at a fair price and in surroundings conducive to people "wanting" to shop and spend. "
loadeye wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:06 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.