Can we do anything for the small businesses damaged tonight?
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Posted Jun 1, 2020, 3:23 AM UTC · edited
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I would say help protecting the remaining structure, boarding up windows, securing valuables, etc, while insurance companies do their thing.
Also, please note that not all chain businesses are operated the same way. Some are just franchises owned by small business owners and are in the same boat as the others you mentioned. It's pretty common with restaurants - you'd have to google the specific brand.
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Good point — thank you
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Pretty sure Men's Wearhouse is like this. I live in dtx and every AM when I walk my dog I see the same man opening up. He dresses sharp.
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Anecdotal but when I worked at Radioshack you'd see the same thing. Not dressed nearly as sharp, though. We were corporate af
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My store window was smashed. I’m so fucken grossed out.
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Walgreens and MW's may be chains, but it doesn't make it okay at all. They both offer jobs and vital services, less so with MW, but I'm sure they were planning to open up soon too, and now this.
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. . . This post isn’t advocating their looting? Workers losing their job is an important topic we need to address but that’s not what this is asking.
I’m less inclined to donate money to the Walgreens Corporation over helping a small local business owner.
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Not to sound too extreme, and I agree with you, but let's be real honest with ourselves here. Walgreen's may be providing (very low paying) jobs to people, and are needed in communities, especially during a pandemic. But let's not act like they haven't eaten up nearly every single family owned corner pharmacy across the country and intentionally drive costs so low to eliminate any competition from small businesses, all while lining their executives' pockets.
Not to make this something it's not, it's obviously not about looting and I really don't condone any of it. That said, they are part of this current systems' problems, along with every other national gigantic corporation that preys on the lower classes for profit.
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My prescriptions are handled at that Walgreens, who knows when I will be able to pick them up again. Regardless of your moral high ground, people actually live/work in these neighborhoods and rely on those stores every day.
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and are needed in communities, especially during a pandemic.
I don't condone any of it
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Of course, and in an ideal situation we’d be giving wages and compensation to all the workers who’ve now lost their jobs still during the midst of a pandemic. Unfortunately it’ll probably be up to Walgreens for this and given their track record I doubt they’d follow through with caring for their low wage workers . . .
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Oh, i completely agree there!
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Idk about all Walgreens, but they been doing good for their employees affected in other areas of the country. A close friend of mine works in the mid west and they had to close up early the past few days- first due to protests, then due to curfew, and his store was broken into last night. They’re being paid for all their scheduled hours despite their shortened shifts.
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Pharmacy techs can start at $20 bucks an hour. Shit, even retail associates in Boston make $15 an hour...I thought that was the "minimum living wage?" They also qualify for benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, Paid time off, tuition reimbursement.
It's also not your job. It's someone else's job, and people like you rationalizing only make it OK to destroy their livelihood.
"Family owned corner pharmacies" are a relic. The reason they are gone is because they can't compete. Walgreens provides CHEAPER goods in LARGER varieties. It's that simple. Economy of scale only HELPS poor families because their income is disproportionately spent on goods and services.
Competition is a good thing. Destroying perhaps a few dozen people's jobs by taking out a store (and robbing the pharmacy blind of drugs) is 100% not OK.
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Sorry you're so triggered by my statement, apparently so much so that you didn't read it or missed the part where i said i don't condone any of the looting and the protests should not be turned into something it's not.
That said, and if you're still actually reading, no they do not make $15/hr, and that's not minimum wage. BTW obviously my point about low pay doesn't apply to licensed pharmacists. Cashier's make $12.50, and supervisors don't even make $15.
Do you feel the same way about Walmart too?
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you're mad because Walgreens saves you money? WTF is wrong with you? Check your privilege, some people need the low prices places like Walgreens provide because they're living paycheck to paycheck.
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Maybe you should see the big picture of their effect instead of defending corporations and their parasitic tendencies.
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Walgreens and Mens Wearhouse don't franchise.
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Would upvote this twice if I could. More people will be out of work because of this.
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MW's parent company is also in financial trouble and could be heading for bankruptcy. I wouldn't be surprised to see that store not reopen.
None of that is to say that people need to be donating to them or something, however.
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I reached out to the cafe on facebook and let them know ppl might be willing to fundraise. Don't know if it would make a difference but hopefully they know the community cares abt them.
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No they're pretty much screwed and tonight was the final nail in the coffin.
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Some of the small businesses that were damaged tonight need to set up a go fund me page if they can. Insurance only covers so much. Especially if you are a consignment shop there is only so much insurance is willing to cover for, they aren't going to cover the product costs that you put the money into buying the products for the store especially as a small boutique. ( speaking from personal experience and knowing other business owners as well who suffered from damages from this week in other states).
Just depends on how good your insurance is but still nothing can really replace all of the product costs, they will definitely cover repairs and property damage but I'm not too sure about stolen goods it's been hit or miss for some owners.
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Has anyone been able to find a clip of that segment on NBC? I've been searching and haven't been able to find it :(
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I was watching last night and it looks like they made a shortened clip here
The cafe bonjour section starts at the 19 minute mark. They did cut some but it shows the owner talking and the damaged storefront.
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write them a check?
open your wallet and give them money directly, or patronize their store
pretty obvious
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This isn’t excusing looting?
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I guess I missed the word "donating" when I read it the first time. I'll delete it.
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anyone have a link to the Café Bonjour story? want to hear more about it and can’t find anything so far
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here’s a link to the story. The section covering Cafe Bonjour starts at the 19 minute mark. They didn’t include his whole interview but they still show the storefront and have the owner sharing his feelings.
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The people who work at Walgreens and Men's Warehouse are not "rich enough" and now they are out of a job, probably forever.
People seem to think "rich" companies just have piles of money sitting around all the time. Guess what? They employee people who work in the community, and because of looters/rioters they now don't have jobs.
If a Walgreens closes, that might mean a "pharmacy desert" in downtown areas. There's a reason there aren't many mom and pop pharmacies left, it's nearly impossible to compete with the large chains. They provide economies of scale, low prices, and good variety/service/selection. Sure, they are impersonal and corporate and all that; but please don't pretend it's a victimless crime to destroy some chain store, because it isn't.
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If you read the post text you’ll see no one is advocating for the looting
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They literally said they "don't give a fuck" when "rich chains" get looted.
Using the same logic you use, silence is violence, right?
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Are you even reading the post? I’m talking about donating to small businesses, not promoting big business looting.
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They're not going to be out of a job forever, please. Stop. Walgreens and Men's Warehouse will be fine.
Additionally, there are several CVS pharmacies in proximity to that Walgreen's.
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The companies will be fine--the people who work for them? Nope.
But after all who gives a fuck about them anyway right?
/s
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A friend of mine did some research just last week about the best online fundraising platforms. She had some issues with GoFundMe, and shared this list of alternatives:
fundrazr.com
fundly
Bonfire
snowball
99pledges
DonateKindly
indiegogo
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You can support their right to bear arms on that property perhaps. Korean store owners might be able to chime in.
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Make their cries for help go viral, are there any videos we can share?
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I would have thought that insurance companies cover theft and property damage. Why does the fact that it is labeled as a ‘riot’ change that? (Honest question, I have no clues about how insurance works)
Edit: Don’t just downvote me...I want to more about insurance. Please tell me instead of downvoting lol.
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Hey OP if these guys get their heads out of their asses and actually help with setting up a go fund me that actuly benefits the small bidi eases, please post an EDIT. I would love to help.
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This thread is such a shitshow, was hoping to plan a gofundme or planned patronage for the small shops. if anything good comes out of it I’ll be sure to post.
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Lol hang in there. You're doing a good thing!
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This has been a difficult year to say the least.
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Would love to start a gofundme for these small businesses.
And to the people that say businesses will be okay since they have insurance... basically all insurance policies have "civil unrest" clauses to deny those claims.
Edit: I have reached out to the restaurant on Facebook and linked them to this thread showing our support. Hopefully they respond.
It’s really frustrating seeing people say “Well they have insurance!” There was a fire at my uncles business a few years ago, insurance didn’t even come close to covering the damage. I can’t imagine how these business owners are feeling.
Insurance companies are part of the problem. I don't trust them to pay out.
Civil unrest is a pre-existing condition.
The policies are written to exclude people intentionally trashing the place, otherwise the cost of insurance would skyrocket.
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I’m all for helping the small businesses but if they have insurance they should be covered.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-riot-insurance-20150501-story.html
And they won’t be OK! They’re fucked even if they collect. It’s a nightmare for them. So angry at these scumbag looters.
Having dealt with insurance myself, it's not as easy as that article says it is.
Years ago, there was a parade that started two cities away from my business. Some people walked by and smashed the door and three windows and stole a tv. The insurance company initially denied the claim due to "civil unrest" even though the only thing going on was a parade a few cities away.
It took me 8 MONTHS before I got my money back.. and this was just from a PARADE.. not a riot.
Edit: Also keep in mind, not every insurance policy is the same.
Yeah, I understand the difficulty in filing and winning insurance claims. I was just clarifying the statement that the owners wouldn’t be covered. Nothing more.
rioting, civil unrest, and acts of war or terrorism aren't always covered
source: im an insurance agent
edit for clairy: the latter two are never covered, the former two can be covered
[deleted]
I never said these acts were always covered. I said they should be under standard business insurance. I understand it’s a complicated world. That’s why I qualified my statement.
what's "standard business insurance"?
edit: ok i'm gonna stop this game now and just tell you to stop talking out your ass because you really don't sound very knowledgeable at all about this particular subject
have a good night, killa
I would imagine very few small businesses carry the needed level of insurance. Even fewer will have business interruption insurance, which is likely far more valuable in these situations. If your store was destroyed and completely cleaned out it could be months before you have any chance to reopen.
Couple that with the fact that most every small business has been closed or seeing reduced revenue for 3 months because of the pandemic and its a perfect storm. There is no punishment severe enough for the damage these rioters have caused.
do you work in insurance?
because if not, then I'm not inclined to believe you at all
(because I do)
And the employees don't have insurance! Now they won't have jobs to go back to.
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