Buy local, keep dollars here

Before we know it, the holiday season will soon arrive. The time between Halloween and New Year's will be the biggest shopping days of the year. We recommend that you shop locally.

Why? For several reasons.

1. Convenience. Nothing matches the ease of buying locally and taking the product home. If it's not in stock, you can usually get a rain check. The product is handed to you after payment.

2. Selection. A catalogue or Web page can't replace seeing the product with your own eyes, touching it and asking questions (if necessary) and having a salesperson answer them. 3. Service. Some stores offer gift wrapping. If it's a big itemsome offer delivery service or help you transfer the product to your vehicle. And local stores have people to answer questions if you have a problem after the purchase.

4. Ease of exchange. If you bought it locally, the item can be returned for exchange or your money back, quickly and hassle free. 5. Keep the dollars circulating here. When you buy locallyyour money works for you locally. One percent of the sales tax stays right here. You've helped the local economy by supporting a local store and keeping local people employed.

6. Payment choices. You can pay with cash, credit card or check.

When you shop out-of-town by computer or by via mail order, you help another city and the people who live there. Almost always, you must pay by credit card. If you receive a defective product or you want to return it for any reason, good luck. If you get permission to return it, you must box it up and ship it back. If you're lucky, you'll get a replacement before June.

We acknowledge that there are advantages, too, in shopping by computer or by mail. Prices are usually cheaper. Some products are only available by mail or computer. And there's convenience, too, by shopping at home.

But buying at local stores is the best way to shop when you consider the big picture.

And last but not least, if they advertise in the Camarillo Acorn, you should buy twice as much.