Buying Black - What's Your Success Rate? [View all]

In the spirit of Kwanzaa, I wanted to see if we could dialogue about purchasing goods and services in the black community.

Do you make it a priority?
Are you having success with it?
Have you had bad experiences? Did it discourage you?
Do you think it matters?

I am one-foot-in and one-foot-out. I am an Amazon addict. I love the ease, the prices, the shipping, the speed. But I have been thinking that it's quite possible that I could go to Etsy and find black businesses.

I belong to two Facebook groups, one of black businesses in Baltimore, and one of black businesses in Maryland. And whenever I need something, I go there first. I've been amazed at how quickly I have been able to find: cleaners, yard work, exterminators, electricians, painters, gutter cleaners. And yet, I still have a home warranty, and I can't guarantee a black business. I wish there were black home warranty companies.

At any rate, I make an effort. I'm not at 100%, but I'm at least 25%.

I don't know if my area has black grocery stores and I'm not sure that I'm willing to drive to one. I'm very lazy about grocery shopping. Instacart.com. But who knows, maybe they have a delivery service.