Who you gonna trust? Not many business sectors win over consumers

Hate that auto dealer? How about that mechanic? Or, ugh, that contractor, too.

Now you can add grocery stores and banks/financial institutions to the list of business sectors you least trust, according to a survey by the Better Business Bureau and Gallup.

The bad news is, 13 of 15 categories of industries had fallen in their trust level during a seven month period, between September 2007 and last April. Nearly half of those surveyed say they have only "some, very little or no trust at all" in companies they do business with in every day life.

"This is a sign of the times," said Joe Balasa, chief operating officer of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. "People today want value added for their hard earned money and if they don't get it, it affects their level of trust."

People had various reasons for how they felt, said BBB spokesman Tom Joyce.

"But the findings included the increasing prices for food, energy and health care as the drivers," said Joyce.

The BBB and Gallup talked with about 1,000 people and wanted to learn more about the relationship between consumers and businesses. The groups will bring together leaders from each of the industries to study the survey.

The striking difference that seven months can bring was evident with the large increases of "very little trust" or "no trust" for home improvement stores, which soared 33 percent, and banks/financial institutions/stock brokers, which jumped 30 percent. Others who saw a jump in their distrust level were department stores and gas stations, each with about 27 percent more.

Even at the other end of the spectrum with businesses that consumers trust "a great deal" or "quite a lot," saw some erosion. The most trusted included pharmacies and drug stores, but their favor levels dipped 9 percent.

Shirlanne Lemm, president of the Greater O'Hare Association/Elk Grove Chamber, said she wasn't surprised by the findings.

"They are very in line with what is being said in the media," said Lemm. "Housing, mortgages, food and gas are all areas that everyone is keenly aware of because of what is in the news. That in itself would bring the trust level down even if they didn't have personal experience with that industry."

Joyce said the respondents were chosen at random and may not have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. "Some people said the companies need to do a better job of standing behind their promises and do a better job with their services," said Joyce. "They made that loud and clear."