Posted on 10/29/2019 8:28:31 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Step 1) Go to the mall (or stand-alone store like Best Buy or Home Depot.)
Step 2) Look, touch, taste, test, and compare the items you are interested in purchasing.
Step 3) Choose the make/model/options that exactly fit your wants and needs.
Step 4) Whip out your phone and look up the chosen item on Amazon, compare pricing to the in-store item, then hit ‘Buy Now.’
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Or you could go to the counter, show them the Amazon price that is fulfilled by Amazon and they will price match on the spot and you don’t have to wait for the product and hope the UPS or USPS or FedEx people don’t destroy it in shipping.
I went to Home Depot this AM, spent a little over $100, and the biggest change in Home Depot is all check out is self service {except for contractors}.
At 8:15 AM there was well over 50 vehicles in the lot and there was a "He'p wanted" sign, start at $13.00/hour with benefits.
Earlier this week I checked Home Depot for a power washer, but bought one at Amazon, and saved $80.
If the product is the exact same, then the price becomes a main factor {along with availability}.
I think Best Buy became a store front for Amazon so much so that I think they price match with Amazon. I know I was guilty of some of that nothing can replace that hands on feeling except maybe free return with printable shipping labels.
Actually the alteration in indoor “malls” and department stores (true, not cruddy Wal-Mart etc) I see as just a correction
We are too obsessive, and fadish. Someone comes up with a concept and everyone - including businessmen - is all in.
Before the ‘net and on-line (catalog - that’s all it is, guys) shopping became truly big, mall were “dying” and new artificial “towns” with parking right at all the shops, or “outdoor malls” were growing. They’re STILL building these things.
It was a reaction to the PITA of needing something that is in ONE store INSIDE a mall far from parking. Suddenly, the old style of specialty stores right on the street front became logical again.
ALL types of shopping have their place. The challenge is to refrain from obsessing on one only to find 30 years later that maybe it isn’t the end-all be-all.
If we can reach a balance, it would be great. There won’t be as many “malls” (indoor), but they definitely have their use so there will still be malls. As there will also be main-street shops.
How is having to re-package an item and send it out in the mail great? I’ll never understand that. But then, state “free” or “cheap” and people go into feeding frenzy, just like to Wal-Mart and Target (killing the real department stores).
So you made the effort to GO to that store, then instead of getting said item IMMEDIATELY while there in front of you, which is verifiably in good shape, you order something that will take at least another several hours and could cost you extra in shipping. And even more time if it’s garbage and needs to be re-packaged and sent out again.
That’s beyond bizarre...
Well all I got is the Canadian perspective in a government town - meaning people have secure jobs.
Sears is gone. Kmart is gone. Target is gone. All we have is the Bay, and it is on its way out if you ever go there and see how empty it is. The anchor stores, outside of Walmart, are finished. Toys R Us here is half empty.
The malls are busy on the weekend. Outside of the weekend you might as well close shop because no one is here.
We have a Nintendo Switch and rarely buy new games at Best Buy. Instead we go to our local online used website and buy a game for $60. Play it. Sell it $45 a couple months later.
As a family of 6 we generally shop for clothes at Salvation Army.
Some of these dead malls are being turned into ecommerce distribution centers.
> Some of these dead malls are being turned into ecommerce distribution centers.
Our local mall was built in 1977 and started going downhill over a decade ago, but it refused to die till roughly 3 years ago. For the last years of it’s run it had the distinction of being home to over 30 store-front churches. It had a couple of holdouts in business right up to the end. I has occasion to visit one of the proprietors on a few occasions. Imagine an entire parking lot devoid of cars and one unmarked rear door that was apparently the only entryway into the ghost-town that looked like everybody had just walked away one day and never came back, which is in-fact exactly what happened.
The final irony in this story is that, in roughly a year’s time the mall was demolished and a giant Amazon distribution center took its place.
About 20 miles south of here one of the largest malls in this part of the country is meeting the same fate.
The only thing propping up malls is women’s clothing and accessories - many women need to try on / see it in the mirror before they buy, and that’s a pain with online shopping. Whoever figures out a way for women to reliably try on stuff online and view it in a virtual mirror will be the next Bezos and will drive the final nail into malls.
As opposed to finding receipt and standing in line for an hour to hope they have a record. Costco is easy compared to most outfits but is a half hour away. Anyway just put item back in box it came it and ask to return, they email you a shipping label and you either take it to nearest shipper or have them come by and pick it up.
Anyway sounds like you have never tried to use Amazon because they will have items that you will never find in any local store. If you want a rally odd item look on eBay. I actually only go to town for perishable food items everything else is delivered to my home and as a bonus I practically heat my house with the card board boxes.
You would be completely wrong about me. I use amazon and STARTED with eBay for what it was originally meant for, OLD stuff not returnable anyway. My husband is very big on amazon so we have plenty experience as a whole.
I do everything I can to avoid buying on-line though (again, that’s catalog purchasing, it’s nothing new). If I buy in real life I get it immediately and ensure it is in good shape so those alleged lines are moot. Even if I do return in person it is almost never a long wait, and no problem. My area is heavily populated so yes, we have many of each store around so no problem there, especially when it is on the way to work, etc. If one is a complete hermit who insists on staying in the house, yes, I guess that would be inconvenient.
Sorry, I don’t want to figure out how to put something back in its highly engineered packaging and then go to the mail store (also a good wait). The ROI IMO is poor.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.
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