Why Big Box Stores?

Many people are against big box stores because of industrialism. We’re taught to be against them because of cheap quality, importation, and individualism. Cheap quality? If a piece of furniture, a lamp, or anything else is produced by these facilities, then because of how many are produced, they must be pieces of crap that won’t last forever, and certainly aren’t worth the purchase. Importation? If these pieces are built overseas then they’re not supporting our economy, we’re outsourcing jobs, and the poor conditions of the factories where things are made. Individualism? If this thing that is purchased was mass-produced, then anyone can have it, and if everyone has it, why should I?

These are all valid concerns. They’re so valid that it’s almost too difficult to create a fight for big box stores, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Cheap quality? 

Just because a piece has multiples, doesn’t mean it’s bad quality. If you go into any one of these stores, you’ll be able to tell if it’s top-notch or not, simply by checking it out in-person. Most home goods in big-box stores are good quality, and won’t fall apart between here and there. This is different for clothing, but it depends on the where and the when. Just because something is mass-produced has nothing to say about the quality. Also, mass production brings the prices of these items down, not because of quality, but simply because there are more than one of them. Demand goes down when there’s more than one. The more of them that are made, the less demand there will be, and the less expensive what you are purchasing will be.

Importation?

Many of the jobs that people associate with factories don’t make up the bulk of jobs and careers offered by these big box stores. Most of these positions are fulfilled by warehouses who store the goods, and the outlets themselves. Most of the jobs don’t even go to the factories overseas, which means we’re still receiving most of the positions that would have been, or are being, offered. 

For the most part, the creation of the goods is hardly affecting our economy. The only part that impacts our economy are tariffs on goods. The higher the tariff, the more expensive the product. The lower the tariff, the less expensive the product. Consumers who buy the goods will be paying the tariff because it’s a tax that is added onto an import for the act of being imported. If a good is being exported, the country who is importing it is who pays for the tariff because that is where the demand for it is. 

Lastly, most countries do have labor laws, and we never hear about those because, for the most part, people want us to be scared into not purchasing products from other countries, especially in countries where most of the labor is outsourced. They do this because they’re trying to find ways to fight for labor to no longer be outsourced.

Individualism?

The broader the scope of where you purchase your goods, the more unique what you have and what you own will be. If you only shop at a few stores, that’s a very narrow scope. However, now that we have things like the internet, where you can purchase one-of-a-kind items, purchasing at big box stores can supplement that. As long as you like it, you’re still an individual. Not everyone will like what you like. That’s not how the human brain works.

Big box stores are an easy way to find what you need, and, at times, what you need and what you want are intertwined. These places, much of the time, have fun and creative designs that can fill up your home. It’s how you purchase them and how you treat them that can help create a home. It’s the arrangement, the colors, and the shape. It’s what you love and why you love it. As long as you love it, your home can also be what you love. Big box stores are a vehicle to feed your home. Allow them to.