Just goes to show you that it's always a matter of perspective...check out this very positive letter to the editor in the Missoulian from May 16th 2008: Letters for Friday, May 16, 2008 Recent service less than stellar I consider myself a conscientious citizen because, among other things, I shop locally for everything I can. I have given up the “box stores” and big corporate chains. Although I feel good about those choices and habits, I have been very disappointed lately. I am a small business owner myself, which heightens the disappointment. Recently, I have had a couple of very bad experiences at local businesses. At one local business, I went in wanting to buy a specific product. They did not have it in my size. They did not offer to order it, or help me find another style, they simply turned me away in a brusque manner. At another business, I inquired about buying a product that they had available for sale, and they told me to buy it elsewhere, in a very rude way. I am not aware of anything offensive about me that bothered these businesses. I am a normal, clean, well-dressed, polite individual who uses “please,” and “thank you,” and says it with a genuine smile. I am glad these businesses are doing so well in this economy that they don’t seem to need my money, but I still don’t like to be treated in a negative manner. To be fair, I’ve had many good experiences at local businesses. Most recently, Betty’s Divine and the Bike Doctor offered exemplary service. I just wish all local businesses offered the same great service, and would make purchasing their products easy. It would make shopping locally a lot more fun, in addition to being a positive social choice. Andrea Utick, Missoula