Big Box Ban - Thoughts?

[malolo]

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I guess you like paying 50.00 for shorts?

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Ha! No dear. Truth be told, I don't like spending money on clothes at all (she says while prancing around in a pair of old cut-offs she's been wearing for ...geee...the last 31 years).

I may not always sport the week's latest trend, and I'll admit it: on the few occasions I break down and buy "necessities," I may on occasion overspend. However my ridiculous tight-fistedness in regards to my personal needs allows me to travel the world (including three trips to China in the last couple years. Ha!), give a bunch away, and save a bunch. All on a tiny salary.

I dunno. Just a priority thing with me. I like an uncluttered home, a head-full of experiences, and money in the bank.

Not that my way's the only way, of course. Other folks have other priorities. For those that like a lot of stuff, need alot of stuff, maybe more and more and more and more and more stores are the answer.

[Beachboy]

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I usually leave these type topics to yous guys cuz, well, I don't live there.

But since they just broke ground for a HEB and a Home Depot in my little town, I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in.

It's sad to see the small shops shutting down. I know I know it's a necessary evil but honestly that small town feeling is one of the things that I liked about it here and there as well.

Ironicly, the real estate market is still going strong here due to that type of growth.

The flip-side is my wife wont have to drive 25 miles to get groceries and my kid loves Mcdonalds (they're going in across the street from Home Depot)

While I'm whining, I hate the fact that most of the stuff that walmart sells is from China. That's another thread in and of itself. Needless to say the recent media on Chineese products is just the tip of the iceberg on that matter.

I've warned for years, that we should be careful what we buy from china. Unfortunately the recent events have proved that to be a justified position.

I guess paying a little bit more for a product that was made in a Country that regulates and enforces qaulity control might not be such a bad idea after all.

Blessings,
dave


"Sometimes your the bug and sometimes your the windshield"

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while it's always nice to try and support the local merchants(Mom & Pop stores in Hawaii). But at the same times these local merchants have been price gouging us for years!! In Honolulu ,"City Mill" was a perfect example! A hardware store for the islands, but as soon as Home Depot was build ,"City Mill" turned into a Ghost Town almost over night. Why? Price gouging of course! While Walmart & Home Depot in Hilo seem like a nice alternative to getting reemed locally by the likes of any local merchants. The end result will not make the consumer happy. Once Walmart squeezes the air out of all the local "Mom & Pop stores", and they all belly up, Walmarts prices will start climbing no matter where their products are from! That just common sense, and part of 'Business 101'!

But don't hold your breathe, places like Walmart aren't going away soon...that's just a fact of life!



Edited by - Beachboy on 09/21/2007 07:23:21

[Genxor]

Rob L.,

I did notice that Walmart was against the legislation of allowing Big Box stores only in designated Big Box locations.... which failed in any event.

Competition is good. Beachboy has a perfect example of City Mill / Home Depot.

Look at a current example - Once 7 / 11 came to Kurtistown ( not finished yet ) J Haras totally remodeled their store, obviously in order to compete with 7 / 11.

It is easy to use the "Mom & Pop " store arguement. Who would want to put someones Mom and Pop out of business ?? Not me.
But, when I owned an installation business in a rapidly growing area, competition started to get fierce. You either change or get out of the business.Lower your prices, increase your marketing, better your customer service.Well run businesses always survive.That goes for a grocery store or a painting business.

The Hilo SuperWalmart is coming regardless ( unless the Sierra Club gets involved as Aaron S believes ). I feel it is unfair , no matter what the store , to single out a grocery section - especially here. Because that would create lower prices.

Greg H.

[Bob Orts]

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The Hilo SuperWalmart is coming regardless ( unless the Sierra Club gets involved as Aaron S believes ). I feel it is unfair , no matter what the store , to single out a grocery section - especially here. Because that would create lower prices.

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And that is where so many communities have fallen victim to the big box counter lawsuits. Look at the legislation; they seem to set a SKU number limit. Now, how is the county going to regulate that? It's impossible. Some community somewhere has set these arbitrary limits (usually to protect one store from another) and everyone else is playing monkey see – monkey do. But they haven’t read past the legislation into the reality of that legislation passing judicial muster.

I can open a Mega-Mart after the legislation with over 500,000 gross sq feet and over 100,000 sq feet devoted to selling food and still not be prohibited from operating under the legislation. If I can figure that out, you better believe the developers already know that. I would love for the county to say I’m in violation because I would sue the pants off the county until the citizens pay me back every dollar, dime and penny I invested, plus a hefty punitive award.

Humm, anyone got 100,000 sq feet of vacant land they want to rent for let's say 25% of the settlement? Don’t be like the fools in Arizona and blindly follow a slogan and forget the picture. If the BI isn’t ready to do battle, can’t afford to do battler, or have the expertise to do battle, don’t pick that fight yet.

[Kapohocat]

After just reviewing quite a bit of receipts (Waving to mikewj!!), I realize that for those of us in lower puna - heck, Pahoa Hardware has a good selection of the things we needed and pricing was comprable to HD, and well about 15 x 2 miles closer. Plus the people at Pahoa Hardware are very helpful and nice, and try to find an snwer when they dont know it.

So go to the small guys - you might be pleasently surprised! If you want Big Boxes out, vote with your wallet.

[Aaron S]

To clarify why I believe the Sierra Club may get involved is for this reason. Apparently there is memorandum of understanding between the counties and DHHL.According to that MOU,
county zoning doesn't apply DHHL land.

But that is where the gotcha lies. Apparently
it only applies to agricultural and residential uses, not to commercial uses. DHHL thinks it does, some others including the Sierra Club and Stacey Higa don't. So
that is why I think the Sierra Club may sue.

[jade]

I am confused. Walmart isn't effected by this because they are leasing on Hawaiian Homeland Land. They have been saying all along that Costco doesn't fit into this category so who exactly are they trying to keep out?

[Bob Orts]

Jade, Big Box is a deceptive term. What they are trying to keep out are Combo stores. Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target is immaterial. These Combos are big boxes with multiple purposes under on BIG BOX roof.

Here's other examples of what a big Box would be:
Home Depot builds a store twice as large as the current one and besides all their normal home improvement stuff, they sell groceries, have a bakery, deli and beer & wine section.
Lowes builds a store twice as large as their current one and starts selling a full line of cloths, entertainment electronic, CD's, greeting cards, towels, etc.
Macy's build a store twice as large as their current store and starts selling lumber and kitchen cabinets.
Sears builds a big store to sell their normal cloths & house wares, tools & electronics, but they also add a full auto dealership all under one roof.

That's what big box bans are all about.

[Rob L]

I'm not sure what the problem with having these stores all under one roof is? Also, can't the county sue if they thing Hawaiian Homelands is misreading some Memorandum of Understanding? The Sierra Club might have a problem showing it had the legal standing to sue to challenge the interpretation of a MOU between two other entitities. Wouldn't it be an issued of state law superceading county law?

Aloha,
Rob L

[Aaron S]

It would be unlikely the county would sue.In the bigger picture, it wouldn't be in their best interest.Since they'd get more property tax revenue.

The Sierra Club among others sued Hawaii Superferry. You can see the results of that legal action today. It is exactly the same situation with Wal-Mart building a Superstore
on DHHL land.