My opinion is support independent Ladies all the way. It is like comparing Burger King to the amazing mom and pop burger stand down the street.
<snip>...
Support your local businesses owners
Originally Posted by Lexxxy
Lexxxy,
Very persuasive you are. I could be won over to you point of view. However, I've had some of my best experiences through agencies. For someone who is new in town, travels a lot and is likely to move on (like me) agencies will take a chance with someone that an independent won't touch. Indies can be flakey and are often 'here today, gone tomorrow.'
Not all agencies are the same and not all are exploitative. Some in the Bay Area and in Amsterdam are structured as cooperatives, where the providers watch each others' backs and share the profits. The better agencies take care of their service providers with the understanding that satisfied employees mean satisfied customers. Not every provider wants to do the marketing side of the business, from designing the website to answering the phone. They might be working several jobs and with the agency one or two nights a week. Sure, in both places you have the slave trade rear its ugly head, but the point is you can't generalize.
In response to your analogy, I'm someone who won't patronize either Burger King or the mom&pop burger stand around the corner. I want to support local businesses, but my tastes are more like supporting a vegetarian place run by hippies.