That One Time I Bought a Discounted Airline Ticket – or – Why I Love Shopping Locally

There I was, in Dallas, on my way to Hawaii via Chicago. I had started in Denver.

I was going the wrong way.

Again.

In an effort to save $150 on my ticket, I had purchased it through one of those sites that compiles all airlines and gives you an itinerary that involves extraneous connections, back-tracking, and an extra helping of locating your nearest exit.

When I landed in Chicago, and debated sleeping on the terminal floor (having missed my connection), I asked myself, “WHY did I think this was worth saving $150?” This was such a valuable lesson to learn, and I'm glad I wasted a night in Chicago (and $125 on a hotel room) learning it when I was young.

I hear the similar sentiments from my mama friends. Cribs that can't get delivered. Endless cycles of hold music trying to exchange a nursing bra. Gifts that are unhelpful, unwanted, or duplicated. They beg me, “What will I do with sixteen nursing covers?”

I have few ideas.

Everyone on earth makes a product or sells a service to expecting or new parents. You're trying to buy safety, security, a natural birth, or a happy, healthy baby, and these things aren't for sale. There must be more crap flying in your direction than at any other time in your life. I do not envy you. However, I do truly believe that there are a few stores in your town that offer service, research, and products you might actually want when your baby arrives. I would encourage you to consider shopping locally for the same reasons that I do.

These are the reasons I shop locally.

1. I like to know the person who sold me my car, my yoga mat bag, my anything. If something goes wrong, I want to come back and get help troubleshooting. If I purchase a bicycle helmet from you and it just isn't fitting right, I want someone to help me. I want that person to know and love bicycle helmets. I want them to want my return business. And I'm willing to pay a few extra dollars for that service and peace of mind.
   
   
2. I am a lazy perfectionist. My parents raised me to know how to change my own tires, how to hem pants, how to bake bread. They also raised me to seek out the best and to sometimes allow other people to do these things for me. Yes, I can change my own oil. And no, I don't ever do it. The world is now too big and there are too many sites reviewing all of the products I want to buy. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading, but I'd prefer to have my nose in a good book rather than six blogs reviewing 15” tires or bathtubs or vitamins. Owner-operated places usually have an owner who cares about what they sell (see #1, above).
   
   
3. I want people to shop with me, too. Perhaps you've seen my barely restrained rage about online yoga classes? If not, I shall summarize: they lack a whole host of safety features you get in person, they marginalize the local instructor and feed the pockets of the super-rich instructors, and they mean you have to practice with a screen in your face. I'd like to think that I offer an important service. I've spent thousands of hours (and dollars) on training that excites me. I cannot WAIT to share what I have learned with you. In fact, I know your name. I bring you snacks. I care when you are sick or injured, and I want you to find your own best practice.
   

I know that money is tight (I teach prenatal yoga... I'm not exactly in the market for a private island these days). For many, there isn't enough money for food. I'm not writing this blog post to address people who are truly financially insecure. This post is for you, whoever you are who made it to the end. I would love to invite you to join me in voting with your dollars. Spending a little bit more for the higher level of research, customer service, and attention that you get for loving your local friends. The more of our money we spend supporting them, the more options we'll continue to have.

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