cpp_is_king
Member
Yea but it's like a gas station's gas business, they use it as a lure to get you in the store to buy drinks and stuff. Same with Amazon, the retail business gets you into their ecosystem to get prime etc
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CNN: More than 8,600 brick-and-mortar stores could close their doors in 2017
- Thread starter Saucycarpdog
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Yea but it's like a gas station's gas business, they use it as a lure to get you in the store to buy drinks and stuff. Same with Amazon, the retail business gets you into their ecosystem to get prime etc
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
They don't even make THAT much money on Prime.
Honestly most of their revenue growth has all been AWS which really has jack all to do with what the average person uses Amazon for.
We're pretty much due for a recession.
Goro Majima
Kitty Genovese Member
I assume a lot of the revenue has already shifted elsewhere and that's why these stores are closing.
What revenue is left (Looks like $22 billion for Sears last year) I would wager would be more likely to shift over to something like Walmart. There's still a lot of the elderly and some luddites who refuse to buy shit online.
I think even non-prepared food will eventually move to the uber/seamless model where drivers are contracted as delivery, or a hybrid FreshDirect model where they maintain a brick and mortar store but their business will also revolve around large scale delivery.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
Buying food online currently is a pain in the ass cause I do a gazillion comparison shops in one grocery run. Where as when I want to say buy a TV I can find the TV I want and just check a couple of places.
Angelus Errare
Banned
Yea mortar sales have steadily declined over the years, not surprised brick sales are also down.
The_Inquisitor
Member
It's also insanely expensive.
Prism Sentence
Banned
3 GNCs closed down in my area unceremoniously this year. I'm mildly annoyed because now I have to go to Walmart for all my Quest Bars.
Isaac Otherworld
Member
You need to read up on how monopolies work and why they're uncompetative. Amazon is on the path of becoming a monopoly and once it does it's not going to be so cheap and convenient anymore, and nothing will have the scale and resources to complete with it.
I like shopping online and I like using amazon but it's still worrying how everywhere tge internet goes it creates monopolies like this.
I know. Just saying what we SHOULD do.
Can't afford even affordable housing if people can't even snag retail jobs.
I hate going to the store because in the city I live in customer service people seem to think that being a disrespectful asshole is acceptable behavior. I would much rather just spend my money online and have everything delivered to me. The only stores I go to in person are just Target and Macy's and with Macy's if I hit the spending limit for free shipping I'll usually go with that. Poor customer service has really soured me on the b&m shopping experience.
"GRAND CLOSING!" just doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
DontBeThatGuy
Member
This was inevitable. I do a huge chunk of my shopping online. I still have uses for actual stores in my area mind you (or when travelling of course), and probably always will, but there's just less of it.
It's gonna be rough for a lot of people, in a lot of ways, that's for sure.
It's gonna be rough for a lot of people, in a lot of ways, that's for sure.
I got a call from a Sears recruiter this week. They're thinking about putting together an engineering team to build a modern eCommerce site and are looking for a Team Lead.
I'll say that again. In 2017 they're going to start a team to start building an eCommerce.
shira
Member
If you squeeze coal hard enough it will make diamonds that millenials don't buy
http://business.financialpost.com/n...ever-but-for-millennials-it-may-also-be-passe
Were reminding them that diamonds are about the love about the underlying emotion, the personal motivation that brings these two people together, its not about the ritual, its not about the convention that thats what you do when you get married.
Well, diamonds are more about De Beers selling a particular overpriced gem with large markup that it achieved through really great marketing, but hey, you do you.
Prism Sentence
Banned
Well, it's not like it's not a thing. There's was a doll shop .5 miles from my home that's been having a "GRAND CLOSING!!" sale for, I kid you not, about 3-4 years.
They finally went out of business a few weeks ago, with the ribbon advertising still drowsily draped across the storefront like a sash belonging to a miss universe runner-up getting smashed at your local bar.
The Greek Freak
Member
Because of decades of garbage experiences at places like best buy.
Amazon is actually intelligent and nice when I have an issue. They also don't smell like feces and either have no staff or staff that treats me like a thief.
At this point amazon could charge double what best buy charges and i'd still go amazon.
I bet you don't actually need most of what you order from Amazon. We moved to where there is none. We buy shitloads less and (I think) we're happier for it. But there's also tons of tiny indy popup shops here each selling their own cool shit. Anericas brick and mortar became so rubber stamp, they're easy to replace.
SoRuffShoNuff
Member
Who do you think needs affordable housing? How are they going to pay for it when their jobs are gone?
Kohl's seems to be doing well in that space.
There should be a market for some of the other stores (if they're not stuck in a dying shopping mall) with all the closings.
JC Penney's is closing in the town I work in because Kohl's & TJ Maxx ate its lunch and the mall it's in is close to being dead. That and here's a huge outlet mall about 8 miles north of that mall. Similar situation with Sears.
And as automation comes, immigration both legal and illegal stays above birthrates. Honestly I feel Dredd 3D and Elysium are vry accurate depictions of the future. Just overcrowded and dilpaidated megacities, diverse, with lack of economic and upwards mobility.
People in the 80's started to make people look down on the McJob, the laborer and trades worker. Now people would be lucky to have those jobs in the future. You need massive and substantive investment in retraining American workers facing a job loss. If all you have known is to be a Sears sales associate, be taught something else, otherwise what will you do.
LegendofJoe
Member
Sears is an old company, it's not surprising that they failed to adapt. But otherwise yeah if you consider what their original sales model was, you would think that the transition to online would be natural.
Things are always changing, adapt or die as they say.
Aztechnology
Member
If you can't compete with the government that these companies often claim are inefficient, incompetent etc. Then you don't deserve to exist as a company.
Like this stuff with Tennessee deciding that instead of expanding their phenomenal municipal gigabit internet infastructure they're giving it to Comcast and AT&T is "economically motivated" or that there's tons of laws inihibiting other states from doing what Chattanooga did is just hilarious.
It's faux capitalism.
Amazon Prime Now in my area offers grocery shopping through the store Fresh Thyme and prices are inline with every other grocery store.
My family is wasting a lot less food being able to easily get a constant stream of fresh meat and produce. Which is another source of savings.
I thought subscriptions and kindle content were big money-makers for them, not dwarfed by AWS
unknownstranger
Member
My town has actually gained one so far this year. We just got a Winco, which feels like a mix of Safeway and Costco.
LinkAndEpona
Banned
Well then get out there and support local business.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
While you're not wrong, there's a difference in consequence when a corporation collapses vs when a government collapses, and a difference in reasons why we would want to prop up such entities regardless of said inefficiencies.
We are way past that. People had better stop clinging to the past and start retraining and rethinking our society or we are in for some dystopian shit.
Why is it "worse?"
Online shopping is so much more convenient generally, this is a good thing it's more popular
Just_myles
Member
Seriously, I don't want to ruled by one company. For anything. I still love brick and mortar stores. Fuck this.
Prime is amazing though
Kite
Member
Sad as it may be, Walmart will be the only real competition for Amazon for my $$ in online purchases. I do like the option of an actual brick and mortar store to go physically return an item or pick something up that is very heavy or delicate that I don't trust the delivery person to get up three flights of stairs in my old apartment. And Walmart is fucking everywhere.
For all these clothing and shoe stores that are closing.. those items and groceries are the only ones that I still prefer to see and buy at an actual store. Or test the size and look in store and actually buy online.
wesleyshark
Banned
Why? Amazon is providing the best type of service + the convenience of getting what you ordered the next day or in 2 days. Other companies either aren't trying to compete, or cannot.
RoninChaos
Member
A big part of this is that amazons customer service is pretty fucking spectacular. A lot of other places can't compete with their prices or customer service. And most stores' online experience sucks compared to Amazon. It's just so hassle free. Which sucks for other businesses. I don't want to see all these closures but what can you do if you can't compete?
Diprosalic
Banned
people are so eager to have retail gone, i don't know why though. i kinda like shopping in stores and browse a bit.
but i'm certainly part of the problem as i check prices online and if they are way cheaper i will order it there.
but i'm certainly part of the problem as i check prices online and if they are way cheaper i will order it there.
Netherscourge
Banned
UPS and FedEx will probably be hiring a lot more though.
Need more drivers to deliver those Amazon packages. Until drones take over anyway.
Need more drivers to deliver those Amazon packages. Until drones take over anyway.
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