Most people have no real awareness of how/why big stores took over and crushed small stores. How many of you here remember all the bullshit fax meme crap all over any small business? Any garage, parts store, hardware store or whatever... most of those same businesses which were crushed by large chains...
The basic general attitude in a small town was "fuck you" to the customers. Obviously not in every case, but that was the general attitude. Improving customer service, listening to customers, giving people what they want etc etc etc for the most part, is a newer thing.
This sounds absurd... but think back. Remember these kinds of signs all over? Behind counters? Taped to cash registers? You could walk into any small business practically and there was a general feeling of "you need us", not "we need you".
