HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0032.011 2006-2008 January 2, 2007
This is being written from the standpoint a1' a concerned
citizen/consumer regarding the Hawaii Tribune article `Riga Targets Big-
13ox Retailers' that appeared in the December 28, 2006 issue. It is totally N
uncalled for to want to ban `superstores' because in the minds of ma ~
citizens it includes retai,]ers such as Costco and `N al-Mart. These ax~the p.:;
very retailers that provide numerous employment opportunities for our - ~
citizens and having a Costco would provide even more opportunitiesto an N ~ ;
already depressed Hilo economy. These stores provide consumers with
lower costs, greater choices of products, AND Ml JCH BETTER
CUSTOMER SERVICE than retailers such as K'['A and Sack-N-Save. Isn't
that what our retailers are there for?? - to provide good customer service to
its customers and reasonable costs?? I've heard Ixom a lot of clients I work
with say that they refuse to go to KTA because c:f the manner in which they
are treated (they are looked down upon because of the way they dress or the
lifestyle they have). As the paper stated, `...small businesses need to
provide better customer service to be competitive...' because at present,
stores such as KTA, monopolize the market industry keeping theix prices
`jacked-up' leaving the consumer with no other c.;hoice -they control the
cost of items just as the aixl.ines have controlled o~~r inter-island travel for so
many years. By preventing Costco and Wal-M;u~t the opportunity to be a
part of our community, people like Stacy Higa arc° protecting stores like
KTA/Sack-N-Save to continue their poox customer service and attitude
towards the consumer as well as keeping prices high and limiting the choices
for the consumer. Clients have said, `You're certainly not someone special
at KTA' from the manner in which they were treated.
Hamm. No. 7~•'~
Ref. To: Pnsot
Rif. Date d~~
Another major concern is that in order for many of us to get to Costco,
Lowe's, K-Mart it is an approximately 2 hour drive one-way to Kona. There
is a very pertinent and primary safety issue at hand because the
infrastructure of the roads to and from Kona are poorly constructed and
maintained -very plainly, they are hazardous - there are no barriers between.
the lanes or on tht shoulders to prevent major accidents. Such an issue
becomes a primary factor for the State and Coum:y to be concerned about
because when accidents occur -major liabilities become a consideration.
Thus, in essence, for Stacy Higa to propose such a ban, he is putting himself
in the limelight of a very controversial issue with anany, many consumers
who look forward to having at least a Costco in Flilo. The consumer should
have a choice of where they shop -their products, the costs, their service,
and very importantly their safety should all be choices we, the consumer,
should have. I hope the County Council will take these concerns into
consideration because the larger retailers are a definite benefAt to our
community. Thank you for your time.