Article

2016-10-23 Economy

Online shopping dooms brick and mortar stores/malls

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Posted by Besoeker 2016-10-23 02:41|| || Front Page|| [12 views ] Top

#1 Whilst not mentioned here, I am told that shrinkage, armed robberies, and assaults are much less of a problem with online shopping.

Encouraging to learn that 'widespread discounting' is actually the problem.

[sarc off]

Posted by Besoeker 2016-10-23 03:35|| 2016-10-23 03:35|| Front Page Top

#2 I am told that shrinkage, armed robberies, and assaults are much less of a problem with online shopping

True. Just means a smarter breed of criminal will come along.

Posted by Pappy 2016-10-23 08:26|| 2016-10-23 08:26|| Front Page Top

#3 Online shopping dooms brick and mortar stores/malls

Who wouldn't be in the position they are if they hadn't used the phrases "It's out of stock" and "We can order that for you" way too often. It all evolved to 'cutting out the middle man'.

It's the impact upon an economy in which their businesses were gatekeeper when the number of households with (analog) phones was much lower and the cost of long distance was incredible high by today's standards. Also tie that with technological expansion driving the costs down in transportation and delivery (anyone remember Railroad Express and USPS Special Delivery?).

Posted by Procopius2k 2016-10-23 09:47|| 2016-10-23 09:47|| Front Page Top

#4 IIRC, the USA has vastly overbuilt brick & mortar retail facilities, much like the housing bubble. The cheap money / ZIRP has encouraged wasteful investment in a doomed industry.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2016-10-23 11:15|| 2016-10-23 11:15|| Front Page Top

#5 Creative destruction: out with the old and in with the new. Amazon is opening a chain of retail food markets and even a couple of bookstores.

Posted by The peanut gallery 2016-10-23 17:24|| 2016-10-23 17:24|| Front Page Top

#6 Also, online retailers don't get sued when someone slips on some spilt shampoo, etc.

Posted by phil_b 2016-10-23 19:28|| 2016-10-23 19:28|| Front Page Top

#7 Back when, I could order what I needed from the Sears catalogue. Pre-internet times. I would get what I ordered within a reasonable amount of time, and on occasion they would send the next better model if what was ordered was out of stock.

No more.

The catalog disappeared.

Now the physical store is 'the catalog'. It is rare to find something in the store that I want and is in stock.
I don't bother anymore; haven't for years. The stores have become alien places.

Amazon works well enough for me.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2016-10-23 22:08|| 2016-10-23 22:08|| Front Page Top

#8 Contra Sears, take a look at the Sweetwater (musical instruments and stuff) catalog. They send out at least four 3/4 inch thick catalogs, and have a great web site. They do have a store, in Ft. Wayne, IN. A bit far for me to drive, but gear, showrooms, soundstages, and studios. They should break a billion in sales this year, easy. Nice people, good policies, individuals that know what you want and what you might not want.

A new kind of hybrid, maybe. Or maybe the old time Sears w/ catalog with just one store but great Amazon plus service.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2016-10-23 22:21|| 2016-10-23 22:21|| Front Page Top

23:26 Tennessee
22:21 Whiskey Mike
22:08 Whiskey Mike
21:52 Whiskey Mike
20:38 Huperese Platypus6497
20:13 Frank G
19:40 chris
19:28 phil_b
18:56 trailing wife
18:53 Huperese Platypus6497
18:50 trailing wife
18:47 Frank G
18:46 Frank G
18:12 Pappy
18:02 Pappy
17:38 Bobby
17:33 Frank G
17:32 Bobby
17:24 The peanut gallery
17:23 Bobby
16:31 Iblis
16:06 JohnQC
15:28 si vis pacem, para bellum
14:49 The peanut gallery