Warehouse Chains Hurt Local Merchants

Warehouse Chains Hurt Local Merchants

If consumers think that they can fight back against ''big business'' by shopping at warehouse clubs (''Low Prices, Bulk Goods Lure Affluent to Warehouse Clubs,'' July 27), they might want to consider how warehouse clubs operate.

Warehouse clubs are not your locally owned corner market. They are often highly capitalized, aggressively competitive chains.

If you're ''fed up'' with big business and big government, you can ask for less from them. You can support local merchants, even if it costs more. You can purchase locally produced products rather than items marketed by multinational corporations. Otherwise, you're just part of the $40 billion warehouse club industry.

Eric Denzler Alamosa, Colo.

WYGIWYG vs. WYSIWYG

I was delighted to see the article ''Some 'Phat' New Words'' (Etceteras column), July 31. I especially enjoyed seeing the word WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) - a word almost synonymous with Mac computers. Those of us who work with IBM-type computers dream of having WYSIWYG. We have to settle for WYGIWYG (''Wiggywig'') - What You Get Is What You Get.

Richard Mittleman Downey, Calif.