I just saw anohter article about how bad Amazon is...

[Archae]

Mostly concentrating on how brick-and-mortar stores are going bust due to Amazon.

I've used Amazon a lot, in fact, both of my drones were in the past month bought through Amazon.

People don't go to a store for "the ambience," or to "be a part of the community" like some anti-Amazon activists claim.

Myself, and everyone I know goes to a store to buy what they need at the lowest price, when they want or need something.

When was the last time anyone here went to a Mom-And-Pop grocery store?

Or Radio Shack? Or K-Mart?

Fact is, as shopping changes, obsolete stores are going to close.

Our local Shopko closed, when the company went under.

[underpants]

1. We're actually going to mom and pop stores this afternoon

It's a part of Richmond where you can just walk down the sidewalk and pop in and out of stores.
Not really looking for anything. Just something to do.

We use Amazon all the time. We have regular deliveries of household items (laundry detergent paper towels etc) and frankly they have incredible prices and delivery. Now I do understand that there are tons of stories about their delivery people creating havoc in the streets, mostly due to the ridiculous efficiency requirements put on them. Aaaand, the wear and tear on their fillers seems untenable to me. They have to know they are going to wear out the workforce spending that just time on their feet. I was shocked that that was the model they'd come up with.

[Archae]

4. Agreed.

I was criticized when I admitted to going to Wal-Mart, but I still do.

Nowadays there is a store closer to my place called "Meijer" (pronounced "Meyer,&quot that I call "Wal-Mart Lite" since it's very much like Wal-Mart, just a third smaller in size.

I still get my groceries at a supermarket (I even have one of their "loyalty cards,&quot but this winter since the Meijer is on my bus route I'll be shopping there.

(I don't have a car.)

Even the local supermarket I go to has order on-line service and pick-up now.

[dawg day]

28. There's a Walmart within a mile of me- and I've been just once

Not being snooty (I shop at dollar stores . The one time I went, the place was dirty and cluttered, junk in the aisles, and the line was so long at the supermarket-side cashier my ice cream melted in the carton. It was pretty clear the Waltons make their profit partly from underpaying and underhiring staff.

Anyway, Walmart was the "mom and pop" killer back in the day-- and it's just not nearly as good as Amazon for convenience and choice.

I haven't gotten into ordering groceries online (there are plenty of supermarkets around me), but if I didn't have a car, I'd definitely look into that.
Best Amazon Prime experience ever-- I ordered a big exercise equipment thing, and it was 100 pounds, and got shipped free, and the delivery guys even carried the box back to the backroom. I still had to assemble it, however.

[klook]

55. When i saw how a friend who worked there was abused,

I decided to boycott Wal-Mart. That too noble and self righteous for you?

[Demsrule86]

59. Walmart pays better than Starbucks and has insurance. Starbucks pretty much are a bunch of liars.

[empedocles]

2. Amazon has enormous pricing power

[Blue_true]

38. Size does that. Also, it acts as a conduit for sellers.

I know one national brand soapmaker that seem to sell it's top soap only via Amazon, I guess it makes more on the sale.

[ZZenith]

3. We go to mom and pop stores every chance we get

because we like to support our community and the people in it, not to mention the better customer service and fresher produce. The prices are a little higher but it’s a small price to pay to keep money in the hands of those who will circulate it rather than horde it.

[treestar]

49. When on Amazon I got the impression though

the mom and pop stores can sell on Amazon. So it might actually help them.

[at140]

52. Amazon is someways IS a mom & pop store

because there are like a million small sellers you can reach via Amazon.
I never buy clothes, shoes, golf clubs & food items at Amazon.
Because I insist on trying the shoes on and must touch and feel the clothes.
As for food items, I prefer grocery stores where I can see if it is fresh.
Canned goods are expensive to ship based on cost of items.

But for odd ball items, Amazon is a good place. For example specific Bollywood movie DVD's.
Once the DVD format was not compatible with American standard, vendor would not accept return, but Amazon refunded me. That is great security & warranty in buying from strangers.

[ZZenith]

67. Um, no, it is in no way a mom and pop.

There is a reason Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world and it ain’t ‘cuz he’s helping out the little guys. Thanks for playing.

[at140]

71. Bezos created a web based retail store where

lots of small vendors can sell their stuff. Sure, Bezos skims off some profit, but the small seller gains access to millions of potential buyer which otherwise would be difficult.

I am a lifelong golfer, and over the 55 years I have been golfing, I had lots and lots of used clubs (which I blamed for my bad shots haha) which would just sit in garage taking up space & accumulating dust. I sold over 100 such my used golf clubs on eBay, which is similar to Amazon market place. I could have never sold those clubs on my own. The selling did not need any cash investment. I could advertise my stuff without fees, and paid eBay a commission after receiving money from buyer. It worked splendidly good.

[marlakay]

5. I do both I buy from Amazon

But I also buy some of my groceries from local organic co op store which is very expensive but I am eating healthy. I figure the money I save with Amazon I can afford the food at other small store.

I can’t afford to buy books from the independent shops we are retired, I use the library online for ebooks or buy used I do go to independent used book store.

As far as community goes I enjoy my shopping with Costco and Trader Joes, the customers and the people working there are happy and it makes me want to be there while I enjoy the products also.

[VarryOn]

6. We use Amazon and Walmart about equally...

For us, Amazon purchases tend to be higher value and/or harder-to-find products.

Walmart tends to be more for groceries and everyday products and prescriptions.

I'm located within 20 minutes of the Walmart headquarters and stores around here are top-notched, clean and with lots of experimental features. The area is well-to-do from a socio-economic standpoint so I dont have to deal as much with the great unwashed, deplorable types. A definite bonus!

[Blue_true]

39. When I go to Walmart, the thing that I really love is the diverse

variety of people that I see. I see people buying only the higher end stuff and others buying lower priced stuff. The diversity is invigorating to me. I have never tried Walmart's pharmacy, but have seen lines there when I shopped. I purchased a television for my oldest brother from Walmart, it's electronics selection seemed really good. Overall I have a positive opinion of the store that I go to, I have never met an unhappy employee and it's employees are really helpful when I ask where something is located.

I buy beef burgers there whenever I eat them, and I buy underwear there when I need to, because of the selection.

[VarryOn]

43. Dont get me wrong...I'm a big Walmart fan.

To be honest, my largest holding is in their stock.

They do have a lot of happy employees. Just start noticing the 20-, 25-, 35-year employees (theynare denoted on their employee badges). You'd find many with that tenure have beey nice 401k balances and piles of stock from employee stock benefits.

I like the diversity of its shoppers, except when I get the deplorables' vibe, which I get often when I'm away from NW Arkansas.

[at140]

53. Depends on time I visit Walmart

Early mornings, I see lot of seniors shopping. They are civil & dress properly.
Later in the afternoon I see a variety of people. Late at night (my Walmart open 24 hrs)
I see some weird people in store.

[Blue_true]

56. I never shop late at night. For some reason, I never developed that habit, even in college. nt

[at140]

72. In summertime Florida, best time to go out of the house is either

before 9 am or after 8 pm. Since I hate getting up early, I shop at Walmart after 8 pm during summer (which is from April through September in FL)

[Blue_true]

73. I was born and raised in Florida, went to UF, live in Florida now.

I just never shop late in the evening. My motto is "nothing good happens after 7pm", unless I am working, driving home or at home.

Seriously, I don't think that I have ever shopped after 7pm.

But, I have seen the "Walmart at midnight" picture collages, so I get a feel for what you have seen there later at night.

[at140]

74. It is a bit creepy alright, but this town I live in,

has very little violent crime. Besides Walmart has crowds of shoppers until 11 pm.

[pandr32]

7. Here on Hawaii Island it has been an enormous help

Due to the Jones Act, shipping costs here are enormous and many places won't even bother. Our Prime membership with Amazon means we can order many things and have them shipped here at no charge.

[TidalWave46]

14. Thanks for sharing that.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_Marine_Act_of_1920

Living in my own little bubble I had only heard of the Jones Act referenced in the aftermath of hurricanes. If I remember correctly, Bush was given a hard time for not quickly administering a temporary waiver.

Not sure I support the reasons why a continuing waiver isn’t issued to Hawaii. Seems like it would make sense. That’s if I’m understanding it correctly.

[pandr32]

34. John McCain advocated for its end

It is discriminatory now. Other states do not have to suffer this. Here in Hawaii we have endless boats and planes coming from all around the world, yet we are forced to observe this antiquated law.

[Blue_true]

41. Thanks for the link. The Jones Act seems outdated today.

How many ship cargo lines are USA owned with ships built here and USA crews?

I see why island merchandise can be costly.

[skypilot]

8. There is a Mom and Pop grocery store...

...in my town that I go to all the time. There is also a video rental store near me (the last one that I know of) that is owned by a man and his wife. I rent from there all the time. I would patronize more Mom and Pop businesses if there were more of them around.

[skypilot]

13. It is called Viva Video The Last Picture Store.

It is in Ardmore, PA. The owner and his wife used to be managers at the now-defunct TLA Video which used to be something of an institution here in Philadelphia. They used to not only rent videos but they had a yearly International Film Festival and a Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. All of that is gone now.

Viva Video has monthly rental plans. They are not as cheap as Netflix but their selection is a LOT larger. I've been poor too. I'm doing better financially these days than I was about 15 years ago and I like to support whatever small, local businesses are around that have what I want. And their prices are not unreasonable.

[Archae]

17. Here in Sheboygan the Meijer completely replaced the Mall.

As in they bought the Memorial Mall, tore it down, and built their store where it used to be.

[Wellstone ruled]

18. Shopco was doomed from the get go

when they were taken over by the hedge funds. As anyone who has or works retail,there is just so much margin in your goods,and if your debt load can not be serviced,well,you are toast.

Just remember,Super Valu's past CEO thought he had this Grandiose Idea of being the Largest Wholesale Grocery company as well as the Largest operator of Retail Grocery Outlets. Boy,that did not work out,the Guy destroyed the most efficient and Profitable Wholesaler in the US,only to be given a Golden Parachute and shown the door in a Board of Directors attempt to salvage their Company. Only to find they had no option but to sell the Business for pennies on the dollar to Amazon.

So common in America,some Guy with a MBA sells a line of B.S. to someone to only end up destroying that company.

[FakeNoose]

12. In my way of thinking Walmart has done more damage to retail than Amazon

I believe Amazon has created new markets and new customers who are buying stuff they never could have purchased before. Amazon actually expanded the marketplace and increased the possibility for Americans to get stuff that wasn't available in local brick-and-mortar stores.

The real bad-guy has always been Walmart, which has been stealing customers and shutting down the local Mom & Pop stores in every town they go into. They've been doing it for the last 35 or 40 years. Now Amazon has found a way to beat Walmart at their own game, and that's fine with me.

[safeinOhio]

16. Funny thing.

Big box stores like Walmart, big malls and Kmart put the mom and pop stores out of business and now Amazon is putting those big retailers out of business.
Karma.

[Celerity]

50. +10000

[Demsrule86]

60. I don't agree with you.

I worked the local Mom and Pop shops as a kid...they paid horribly...and often stiffed you.

[snowybirdie]

15. For seniors

the convenience of ordering on Amazon is great. Don't have to go out, drive crowded streets and face large big box stores to shop. The older I get, the less I want to wander all over a large store trying to find something. And sending gifts to of town relatives is so easy. Like the mom and pop stores, but a fixed income necessitates bargain hunting.

[HipChick]

20. Recovering from surgery...

alone at home...Amazon groceries were a lifesaver..

[HipChick]

19. Amazon is not just about shopping...

Corporations, Govt agencies run their business on AWS cloud...

I am not going to spend a weekend looking for something, when I can find it in 2 clicks, order it before noon, and have it at my doorstep in a few hours..

Times change, always have..

[Totally Tunsie]

21. Sometimes, Amazon is the only way to go.

I just placed a stock-up order for a product that has been discontinued by Estee Lauder. All brick and mortar stores are Sold Out. Amazon...no problem, and free shipping with 1-day delivery. How can you beat that?

Plus, I order through Amazon Smile, which contributes a (very small) fraction to my chosen school as a donation. This small school appreciates all the assistance it receives.

[Liberal In Texas]

22. One of the problems with brick and mortar stroes is that they don't always have what I'm looking for

For example last week I was looking for an adapter for an airbrush hose to go on my new air compressor and went to Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor Freight and HobbyTown. Nada.
Five minutes on Amazon and found one and it was delivered free the next day. If people don't have to run around going from store to store it's got to save on gasoline emissions even though the product is being delivered by a gas driven truck.

I do like to buy things at the local stores because I can see and feel the quality and check the size quickly. Especially true with clothing. Also when you are walking around a store you might discover something that you didn't know existed or find new products.

[SlogginThroughIt]

23. how sears wasn't a competitor to Amazon I have ho idea

They were the catalog kings. Just had to put it online. Morons.

[Archae]

24. It was the death of Sears that destroyed for good our local mall.

Penney's was long gone, replaced for a time by Hobby Lobby, but then Sears closed, and there were at the end, only about 3 or 4 shops still open.

The Mall was bought out, torn down and replaced.

[VarryOn]

30. We have a JC penney left at our mall...

But I stopped going. Their clothes are cheap-looking and frumpy. I dont see them lasting too much longer, unfortunately. Now, I buy most of my clothes at Jos. A. Banks, Dillard's and a couple online sites.

Sears went frumpy and cheap a long time ago.

It boggles my mind how it as and JC Penneys' buyers didnt tey to stay even moderately up-to-date. And mind you, I'd never be on GQ's cover.

While I hate their employees will lose their jobs, their cosing will have zero impace on my life.

[Blue_true]

45. J C Penny has a good suit selection. Good ties and socks also.

With clothes, I love to see and touch them. But Jos A Bank is very good and I have purchased shirts through them (shirts are the easiest to purchase online because sizes are very standardized, especially longsleeve dress shirts.

[VarryOn]

47. For online, I'm a big Charles Tyrwhitt fan...

I'm sure they jack up their regular procong, but they frequently have sales and send coupons. About once per year, I load up on shirts and get about 7 or 8 shirts. With discounts and coupons, I can get those for around $30-50 apiece.

The catch is their shirsts are fairly dressy. Go well with suits.

Hope that didnt sound like an ad!

[Blue_true]

51. I have seen them online JosABank is enough for me.

When I order leisure shirts, I generally spend a lot of time looking for USA brands. I have a couple local tailors that I have been thinking about trying, maybe for a special suit or a set of dress shirts, because their prices are likely to be stiff.

[VarryOn]

62. Local tailors are the way to go....

If you are willing to pay. I paid $150 for 3 new shirts abour 4 or 5 years ago, and I tipped the guy $75 (dont know if that was a fair amount or not!) Two things about them: they fit perfectly and the fabricl quality was outstanding. I had to wait about 4 weeks, too. And here's another thing...I still wear them. They just dont wear out. So, in the end, the cost may be less. Over that time, I would have probably bought 2 or 3.

Sorry to bore with messages about shirts. I love talking about good mens clothes!

Someday, I'm going to shell out for a custom suit from this tailor.

[Blue_true]

64. I am not a clothes-horse either, but when I dress up, I want quality stuff on, like you seem to want

[FakeNoose]

65. About 30 years ago (or so) Sears was trying to be Macy's

They failed at that, then they were bought by KMart who ran them into the ground.
Now Sears is pretty close to nothing, and KMart is close behind.

[stopdiggin]

25. ever tried to ask Amazon a question?

They're not a lot of help when it comes to fixing my bike (or car) -- or setting up my home stereo (although they'll gladly sell me one) -- or whether that embarrassing rash (that we really don't want to discuss) might respond to a readily available over the counter product ... But my local retail person can (and does) help me with all of these things.

I don't have any reservation or problem using the internet -- use it to research, shop and purchase on occasion -- and even recognize the advantages it brings, and it's superiority in certain aspects. But I think the idea that it can (or should) supplant brick and mortar, is equally naive.

(And -- I refuse to forgive Amazon's campaign to screw authors and publishers in book sales a short while back. Talk about kicking puppies! For that, and a hundred other sins ... )

[sir pball]

40. See, most small retailers I've been to aren't any more useful

And the ones that are knowledgeable about their products seem to be doing fine. I'm not sure of I'd call B&H Photo a "small" retailer but I pretty much always go there if I have a question about something I'm interested in, they're definitely in no danger of going under anytime soon...

[Blue_true]

46. Local retailers are not much better.

If I can't figure something out, I normally go to the manufacturer's helpline.

[Sanity Claws]

26. The biggest problem with Amazon is how it treats its employees

Another problem is that it uses anti-competitive tactics to drive out smaller competitors. This is not a reference to brick and mortar stores but to tactics like listing its own items about competitors when one searches the site, etc.
Another problem is that Amazon's push for quick delivery by subcontractors causes unsafe driving and accidents.

I have no problem with an innovator shaking up a market and causing changes. However, I have problems when that alleged innovator is using unfair labor tactics and using anti-competitive tactics.

[Blue_true]

48. I truly believe that Amazon will go fully robotic in their fulfillment.

The function actually sets up well for robots, I am sure that Amazon has people working on the how. One of the unfortunate realities is that fulfillment is like piece work, a person has to have a certain minimum number of turns to justify their employment to Amazon.

[Kilgore]

27. Careful wat you read, Amazon's rivals running a campaign to take them down

Just posted details here,

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212486238

[Stargazer09]

29. I don't many options

There are no shops near me carrying what I need, so I use Amazon a lot.

I miss shopping in brick-and-morter stores, but I can’t drive the distances required.

I am not using Amazon for the prices, but I can see why they’ve put so many stores out of business.

[RobinA]

33. I Use Amazon

because they have stuff. Recently their search function has turned to crap so I’ve decided to use Mom & Pop websites when I can. This has worked out well for me and I have less feeling that I am supporting the Evil Empire.

Now if I can only find someplace to get brand printer ink at a reduced price!

[NCLefty]

35. Amazon/Walmart didn't shut down the mom-n-pops by themselves. We all helped!

People didn't have to shop there but insisted on the lowest prices.

[Initech]

36. First it was supermarkets, then it was large markets, then it was malls, then it was Walmart...

Now it's Amazon. Little guy is always going to get usurped by the big guy. Same shit, different day.

[Blue_true]

37. What people don't talk about is that Amazon is giving

many mom and pop or parent and child shops a way to sell their goods to a mass market, with Amazon acting as a storefront and transaction processor. Some of those companies are doing well.

There is an upside and downside to all change.

[empedocles]

42. Ebay is better for that and specialty sellers

[a kennedy]

44. And IM SICK ABOUT OUR SHOPKO STORE CLOSING.....

[MontanaMama]

54. I know Amazon isn't awesome in terms of...well

a lot of things. It’s hard not to use them, however. There are so many times I try to find a product locally and look at 3 or 4 stores and can’t find it and then I can go to Amazon, compare items, read reviews and get the thing shipped in a couple days. Not to mention how often I go to a brick and mortar store and try to talk to a knowledgeable salesperson about a product and can’t find a person who knows jack...about anything they’re selling and on top of it they don’t seem to care either. It’s frustrating and a time suck only to have to order the item online anyway.

[RobinA]

57. You Said It!

Used to go in to Best Buy and they had two entire aisles of photographic printer paper. A couple years ago? An end cap. Went there to look at cameras. Asked the salesperson something about a camera and they started looking at it and fiddling with it. I could have done that! Get my paper off the Interweb now. Found a little Mom & Pop website.

[Demsrule86]

58. My daughter's girfriend works for Starbucks which pays her $9.00 and hour and has 'market place'

insurance so people can buy how much insurance they can 'afford' ; Starbucks changed there insurance in 16. They don't have full timers either and the insurance is not affordable and covers little...they said My daughter's girlfriend should apply for medicaid...she did...and is now on it...so Starbucks did what Amazon did three years ago and was not penalized at all...they suck suck and suck some more...don't believe in their progressive stick. We subsidize them...so sure Amazon shouldn't do what they did...but Walmart and Amazon pay way more than Starbucks.

[customerserviceguy]

61. These days

I don't know if the thread is about a river in South America, or a corporation trying to strangle the life out of Main Street.

What we have is a vicious cycle. In the good old days, I used to have a reasonable chance of finding what I wanted at a brick-and-mortar store, but as they cut back to only stuff that comes in a blister package, choices became limited. So, in order to find a battery for a five year old cell phone for Mom, I needed to go online to find what I wanted. That constricts the brick-and-mortar stores even more, and they scale back on what they offer, making me more likely to go online for my next non-grocery purchase.

I have been in small convenience stores here and there, but, yes, it's been a long time since I was in a Radio Shack or K-Mart.

[doc03]

63. About a year ago I bought a digital audio converter from Amazon

for $8.13. The very same part at Radio Shack was $58 plus tax. Radio Shack, K Mart and Sears are gone now.

[herding cats]

68. I still do shop local for all the things I can.

Problem is, I used to have to drive 50-60+ miles for things I can't get local. I don't do that anymore. Amazon filled that slot for me nicely and more cheaply even before I figure in travel expenses.

Everyone can hate me, but there was a void in my market and they filled it. It is what it is.

[Retrograde]

69. Last time at a family-run grocery store?

About an hour ago. They're convenient as they're in walking distance, but prices tend to be higher than at Safeway. Whoever orders their stock tends to be somewhat eccentric - one month it's a wide variety of hot sauces, the next it might be a diverse selection of Indian pickles, the month after that who knows.

I live in Silicon Valley, which means driving any place you don't absolutely have to during commute hours is out. I prefer to patronize local stores, but I will order from Amazon if it saves me driving.

[Retrograde]

70. Radio Shack and K-Mart were both national chains

Both corporate entities that sought to drive out local small businesses in places they put their stores. Chains have been putting local merchants out of business since the early 1900s - Amazon's only difference is scale.