Those Asians BSS refuse to let a cent pass them by!

[natura87]

I will continue to shop at my local KBBS becuase they have the products I like. I can get my Miss Jessies, Kinky Curly, Design Essentials, Diety Shampoo, Moroccan Oil, Taliah Wajiid and World of Curls gel there. The Black ones carry Dax, relaxers and weave.

Spend your money where you see fit.

 

[petitefille]

I really don't get the argument about black business having crappy service when you can get treated just as crappy at the KBSS. And that is actually only a small part of the argument. I'm not trying to police other people but why would ANYONE want to support a business that refuses to let your people in the market. This is a classic case of keeping "us" down in my opinion. They'll take our money but won't let us in?

However, I do understand that some people don't have the luxury of boycotting. Sometimes there aren't a lot of options depending on where you are. But seeing people basically saying "yeah they hate us, but so what I'm still going to give them my hard earned dollars" is a bit disappointing.

TopShelf you posted the thread and it turned into something you didn't expect. You have to take the good with the bad. That's the way of public discussion boards. People CAN (and DO) say what they want here. It's ok to disagree, no need to get all worked up.

I had to run out so I didn't get to read the entire thread yet. But it doesn't seem to me like they're specifically being racist towards black people... they're shutting out all non-Koreans. I think that's where the confusion came in, was people claiming it had to do with race.

[ETA: I guess what I'm trying to say here is it's less about them trying to keep black people down, and more about Koreans trying to keep themselves up .At the end of the day, Koreans are not directly targeting black people negatively---they're doing this to all non-Koreans. I don't see it as any different from black people convening to only purchase black products. The difference is in the power because Koreans have built it but the intent is the same. It all boils down to racial pride, which I don't really agree with in the first place. The last thing I want is for my race to define me, let alone my purchases.]

Another thing I saw right away is it wrongfully assumes Koreans are taking the black/African market. The hair comes from Asians, not us---so of course money would flow out of our pockets and into theirs---because it's Asian hair to give. In terms of products, that's a whole other thing and I can appreciate not wanting to support those sorts of tactics. Unfortunately, when the hair is technically "their" market, it's easier to buy everything in one place.

I can get behind trying to take back the synthetic hair market or the product market. But there seems to be deeper issues here than simply purchasing from a black store---black stores also carry non-black products :/

 

[JustifiablyMe]

For me, it's a lot more than just them selling products to us. They've been known to sell knock-off Kizure Professional curling irons, those heavy ones you see in the salons, that you have to stick in that little mini-oven to heat? And Kizure is a BLACK-OWNED company. Some stylists were buying them thinking they were the real ones, and realized they weren't when there were heating issues with them.
Plus, there are some weave/wig companies that are BLACK-OWNED as well. What they do? Made knock-off versions of those, stick the company's name on it and pass it off as that company's brand. So they're bootlegging black-owned products and taking all the profits from them.

THIS is what I worry about. They knock off everything - how do you know you're not buying a bootleg version? I bought a bottle of Aphogee from Sally's that's $11.49 and the BSS had it for $8.49. I was wondering how they can sell it for so much cheaper. I'd rather just pay the extra money at Sally's because at least I know I'm not buying a knockoff.

 

[petitefille]

Still reading the original thread and I came across this:

"PTN: How do you think African Americans lost ownership of beauty supply stores for black hair? What can we do to gain back control? Do you think we are willing to do that?"
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=578481

I honestly think it has 100% to do with the explosion of the weave market. If the weave market wasn't as big as it was, I don't think Asian BSS's would have an advantage.

 

[TopShelf]

KammyGirl I don't HAVE TO do anything, but it's hard for me to continously address/debate faceless fonts......so ta-ta

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I don't have a problem with not patronizing a place that treats you crappy.

I feel some kind of way about boycotting because the Koreans block black people from entering the market.

The nature of business is keeping others from getting their hands on your piece of the pie.

The answer to the korean strangle hold on the bss market is to find a way around them through hook or crook. It's not supposed to be easy or nice. But small companies do it everyday across industries. Black commerce doesn't get a pass.

If I wanted to run a bss the first thing I'd do is solicit a cheap korean speaking/reading interpreter on craigslist so that I could at least access the trade magazines and suppliers. If I was feeling really gully I'd find me a korean flirt buddy to do my bidding.

What I wouldn't do is sit up and wait on somebody to help me take money out of their pocket by sharing their resources. What confuses me every time I read about these boycotts is why people think koreans should help black commerce? It is counter intuitive to help a competitor.

 

[Kinky4Agirl]

Where were all the beauty supply stores before the Asians and Koreans took over? If not for them, would we even have any good supply stores??? Be careful what you ask for.

 

[mz.rae]

I really don't get the argument about black business having crappy service when you can get treated just as crappy at the KBSS. And that is actually only a small part of the argument. I'm not trying to police other people but why would ANYONE want to support a business that refuses to let your people in the market. This is a classic case of keeping "us" down in my opinion. They'll take our money but won't let us in?

However, I do understand that some people don't have the luxury of boycotting. Sometimes there aren't a lot of options depending on where you are. But seeing people basically saying "yeah they hate us, but so what I'm still going to give them my hard earned dollars" is a bit disappointing.

@TopShelf you posted the thread and it turned into something you didn't expect. You have to take the good with the bad. That's the way of public discussion boards. People CAN (and DO) say what they want here. It's ok to disagree, no need to get all worked up.

None of the KBSS have given me crappy service. But then again I don't frequent KBSS I go to either Sally's, Ulta, or Amazon so really this is a none issue for me. There aren't any black BSS where I live so it's not like I can go to one if I wanted to.

 

[Rocky91]

It's so fascinating to me that whenever we have a convo about supporting black businesses, people run each other over in a race to recount the times they've been treated like crap by a black business owner.

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[LdyKamz]

@KammyGirl I don't HAVE TO do anything, but it's hard for me to continously address/debate faceless fonts......so ta-ta

I don't really understand what the problem is here. erplexed You don't have to address anything. You are on a PUBLIC discussion forum so people are going to respond to things you say and it may not always be what you want to read. If you don't like something why don't you ignore it? And if you choose not to ignore then you should probably expect for people on a PUBLIC forum to respond to you.

I'm confused about why you are so upset and what you feel the need to debate or address? People give their opinions here and that's it. But since you are hell bent on being pissed off about something I say have at it.

 

[FelaShrine]

Where were all the beauty supply stores before the Asians and Koreans took over? If not for them, would we even have any good supply stores??? Be careful what you ask for.

Um I have a great Haitian one that I patronize

If yall feel good having an asian Zimmerman following you around, good for you.

 

[LdyKamz]

You're in NY right FelaShrine

Can you PM me with your Haitian store, if you feel like sharing.

 

[FelaShrine]

^NY yes but I dont live in the city

check out virtuenow's sticky thread (index of black business), there should be some in the city

 

[petitefille]

It's so fascinating to me that whenever we have a convo about supporting black businesses, people run each other over in a race to recount the times they've been treated like crap by a black business owner.

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

When someone (like the previous poster) calls KBSS-owners the "Korean Zimmerman" following you around, that's a direct reference to poor customer service. If you're going to make the "poor customer service" argument against KBSS, then it's fair to make it about black BSS's.

 

[MystiqueBabe]

Might as well start donating to the KKK as well since it doesn't matter where your money is going despite the fact of your race being deliberately discriminated and blocked from being successful.

Now you are just being ridiculous.

I find it hard to believe that the Koreans own all the hair weave distributing. I did a simple google search and I can buy hair straight from China, India, and a whole bunch of other places. Also you can talk to the distrubutor onsite. So getting weave hair is NOT the problem.

 

[LivingInPeace]

Maybe it's just me but I've never had good customer service at any beauty supply store. The asians follow me and pretend they aren't while not offering me assistance. The blacks ignore me until I get to the register and say as little as possible and the whites stand at the end of the aisle I'm in to make sure I'm not stealing. I thought it was an industry motto, "Treat the customer like crap. She'll be back."

That's why I buy most of hair stuff online, at Whole Foods, The Vitamin Shoppe or at the drugstore.

 

[fiyahwerks]

I'm in Detroit, Michigan, and I think we have more KBSS than fast food restaurants...lol

The KBSS store near me, I notice they are starting to carry a lot of natural lines and have more natural items. They are pretty friendly, prompt and knowledgeable.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand the reason for the boycott. I have been in some unfriendly KBSS environments (stalking the customer, won't let you view hair, dusty/old products, etc.).

I love to support black owned businesses, so I definitely try when possible. Like many others, online is our only outlet to reach them. We may have 1 to 2 stores that sells black owned products here. You would think we would have more being that our city is over 80% African American. If we had like a Sage Naturalceuticals, I would only shop there. I just wish we had more community-owned store fronts to push some of those products, which is a whole new discussion within itself.

The sticky list is a great start!

 

[HeavenlySkies]

Now you are just being ridiculous.

I find it hard to believe that the Koreans own all the hair weave distributing. I did a simple google search and I can buy hair straight from China, India, and a whole bunch of other places. Also you can talk to the distrubutor onsite. So getting weave hair is NOT the problem.

lol ok. here you go.
https://www.google.com/search?q=kor...69i57j69i62l3.7760j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
​