SparkStormrider t1_ispgaap wrote on October 17, 2022 at 6:50 PM

I used to work for a co-op, and they truly care about bringing the best offering they can to their customers (and potential customers). So many times, did the big players tried to screw us one way or the other vs make their own service offerings better. We were offering faster speeds for cheaper prices, not to mention better customer service. I know I sound like an ad right now, but man it was almost like day and night difference between the co-op and the big players. The big players are trying their best to get rid of the Universal Service Fund which the co-ops are able to pull money from to improve and maintain their services for the purpose of squeezing the smaller companies out. Greedy jerks.

FruityWelsh t1_isq5byj wrote on October 17, 2022 at 9:35 PM

All of my CO-OP experiences have been better. Grocery store Co-op? Better prices and more options of things I actually wanted. Why? Because they ask and have a way for people to ask about getting certain things. Coffee store coop same thing. Electric Co-op, payment system and website was bad, complained about it, and they made changes.

It's crazy what a group can do when you don't have to keep sending things up a massive chain to make changes, and how much people care about their stores and their communities when given the chance.

tankerkiller125real t1_isqsehb wrote on October 18, 2022 at 12:33 AM

I wish we had way more of them.

SparkStormrider t1_issmmf4 wrote on October 18, 2022 at 12:28 PM

I'm with you, and personally I think part of it is lack of knowledge, at least around here where I live it is. Once I do let people know about what a co-op is they are immediately on the hunt for one. Sadly, where I live there aren't any close by, but that won't stop me for encouraging others to go with a co-op before one of the big companies