Getting picky about retailers

We're getting choosier about at which retailers we spend our money. First, we started to focus on more local businesses -- the hardware store around the corner on 9 av (it's funny with hardware stores, rarely do we remember the actual name), Murray's Bagels, New London Pharmacy instead of the big chains all around us. The Huffington Post brought to attention the Move Your Money effort, which got us very excited and has re-focused our attention on the choices we make. This also includes our food, wanting to know where it comes from and what ingredients are in it.

Competing with my locally-minded fetish, though, is my long-time obsession with rewards programs which are best provided by the big scaled retailers. I like Duane Reade's rewards program, so I sneak in there a fair amount. Those $5 coupons are as addictive as the scratch-off cards I buy on Fridays. CVS stores are always nice, clean and carry lots of what I need in a semi-attractive way. Their self-check out is also innovative so they get points for that. I would probably join the CVS program if I wasn't already committed to DR's. Only so many little tags can go on my little keychain.

What I know I don't like is Rite Aid. Despite the constant surveying with every receipt, Rite Aid seems to not only not care about the state of their stores, but worse, they don't carry much in terms of green-friendly products. Try buying toilet paper made of recycled paper there. The several I've been in don't carry it and when I ask floor staff, they don't really care. Today, I tried again and was so frustrated I put back another $35 in products I planned to by and walked out. I found what I needed at the supermarket and then wrote in a note to their customer service.

Target, of course, has been a long-time favorite store and a destination when we leave the city. It's a cult favorite for millions. The first few years, it was fun to shop there and we'd pile up the cart with all sorts of things, discovering do-gooder Method brand there and also their house brand, now called Up and Up. This past week, though, we both realized we were kind of tired of Target. Was it really worth the effort and shlep? Was the idea of it and the commercials for it more fun than the actual experience of going there? Shouldn't we spend our money at neighborhood stores instead? The answer, so far, is yes.

Going to think more about which retailers are in/out for me and why that is. I'm not trying to be complicated; just trying to be thougtful.