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Will most retails stores cease to exist in the future?

S

steppinthrax

Diamond Member
Within the past 10 to 15 years we have seen computer retail suffer (CompUSA, Circuit City etc..)

The Online presence is putting extreme pressure on traditional brick and mortar stores that sell small non-perishable products that can be easily shipped (electronics, books, shoes etc..). I'm hearing now that amazon has been experimenting with 1 and 2 hour shipping!!! Which means that could potentially include food, medicine and other items that you typically need now.

It seems the only thing holding back complete competition with all retail is "slow shipping". If UPS/FedEx and other shipping companies can provide shipping within several hours and/or multiple distribution hubs can be made by amazon so that products can come out real quick.

The only thing I see that would be difficult to ship would be large bulky materials (drywall/2x4s). Home Depot, Lowes and clothing stores may be the only thing left.

Imagine making your grocery selections online (including perishable produce) and other items. Getting a body scan done and getting clothes shipped to you based on your (prescription). Obtain books via a e-book reader and working from home!!!!!
 
You are assuming that people will feel comfortable using the internet to order items and expose their financials.

Perishables & liabilities issues for delays in critical items will not be worth it to the suppliers.

People also like to closely examine items, touch/feel the quality; examine the look.

Such is not available via a computers; all you have available is a picture & descritpion selected by a vendor
 
Yes, in the inevitable heat death of the universe, not just most but all retail stores will cease to exist (including all those that have ever and will ever exist, even for civilizations we do not yet know about).
 
Need to figure out how to securely deliver goods if that is to happen, otherwise people will just steal everything.
 
steppinthrax said:
Imagine making your grocery selections online (including perishable produce) and other items.
Click to expand...

There's a few sites that already do that. One here called Grocery Gateway is operated by one of the B&M chains. They pick your order up at the nearest store and drop it off at your house. I need to set this up for my Grandma because she has trouble getting out in the winter.

B&M stores will likely never go away, but there will definitely be a drastic redrawing of the retail landscape

What's going to disappear
-Middle income department stores (eg. Sears)
-Electronics and hobby dealers
-Media retailers (book stores, record stores, video game retailers)
-Travel agencies
-Specialty big box stores

What's going to survive
-Discount department stores (Walmart)
-High end department stores
-Smaller specialty shops with personalized service
-Grocery stores (though they'll likely expand to include housewares)
 
steppinthrax said:
Imagine making your grocery selections online (including perishable produce) and other items.
Click to expand...

I don't have to imagine it. I can have almost all the major supermarkets deliver almost anyhting they sell right to my door.

I don't though because I am not a lazy lardass who thinks spending half an hour clicking picture on the internet is better than spending half an hour going and actually buying said items.
 
mmntech said:
There's a few sites that already do that. One here called Grocery Gateway is operated by one of the B&M chains. They pick your order up at the nearest store and drop it off at your house. I need to set this up for my Grandma because she has trouble getting out in the winter.

B&M stores will likely never go away, but there will definitely be a drastic redrawing of the retail landscape

What's going to disappear
-Middle income department stores (eg. Sears)
-Electronics and hobby dealers
-Media retailers (book stores, record stores, video game retailers)
-Travel agencies
-Specialty big box stores

What's going to survive
-Discount department stores (Walmart)
-High end department stores
-Smaller specialty shops with personalized service
-Grocery stores (though they'll likely expand to include housewares)
Click to expand...

I agree for the most part. I don't see me ever buying mainstream groceries online. I enjoy grocery shopping, and especially with produce, I want to see exactly what I'm buying. I'd buy esoteric groceries online, but haven't really so far.
 
pete6032 said:
Need to figure out how to securely deliver goods if that is to happen, otherwise people will just steal everything.
Click to expand...

I think fedex or ups has some sort of "deposit box" program where the package is dropped into a secure lock box where it can be retreived. But I imagine usps maybe keeping the package for u to pick up or some company doing that for you.
 
Bring back Webvan and Value America. Maybe eToys.com and Pets.com too. Yeah like internet stores are so successful.

Costco and Trader Joe's say hi.
 
Last edited:
I think we will eventually be left with only a few major local retailers. Places like Walmart, and grocery stores, arn't going away any time soon. Smaller specialized stores, sadly, they don't stand a chance trying to compete against the big internet retailers. Places like Walmart are probably safe because they have "I need it now" items. Grocery stores for same reason, that and shipping produce or meat via regular parcel mail would not work very well.

The sad part is, this means a lot more jobs down the drain in an economy that is already lacking jobs. But, we're all guilty of it. I order online all the time. It's just more convenient if it's something I don't need right now.

Though it's a double edge sword. I buy a lot online because all that stuff I can't even get here if I wanted to. Stuff like PC components or cables you pretty much need to buy online. You can buy some basic cables locally but the prices are a joke compared to online.
 
SMOGZINN said:
Given a long long long enough time frame, then yes all retail stores, along with everything else, will cease to exist.
Click to expand...
fixed....
When homo sapiens no longer exist on the face of the Earth. :biggrin:

B&M (daily necessities/need it now)

Food/groceries
Clothes/shoes.
Hardware stores
Home electronics/ large appliances.
Optical/Eyeglass stores
Pharmacy.

Internet (things you can wait for later)

Books/music/video games
Hobbyists toys.
Computer parts etc.
 
steppinthrax said:
Within the past 10 to 15 years we have seen computer retail suffer (CompUSA, Circuit City etc..)

The Online presence is putting extreme pressure on traditional brick and mortar stores that sell small non-perishable products that can be easily shipped (electronics, books, shoes etc..). I'm hearing now that amazon has been experimenting with 1 and 2 hour shipping!!! Which means that could potentially include food, medicine and other items that you typically need now.

It seems the only thing holding back complete competition with all retail is "slow shipping". If UPS/FedEx and other shipping companies can provide shipping within several hours and/or multiple distribution hubs can be made by amazon so that products can come out real quick.

The only thing I see that would be difficult to ship would be large bulky materials (drywall/2x4s). Home Depot, Lowes and clothing stores may be the only thing left.

Imagine making your grocery selections online (including perishable produce) and other items. Getting a body scan done and getting clothes shipped to you based on your (prescription). Obtain books via a e-book reader and working from home!!!!!
Click to expand...

Your being a bit ridiculous again, shipping for the most part is all ready pretty efficient.

They aren't going to pay some guy to sit on a motorcycle and ship a Box of Tea bags or a steak knife to you in an hour, unless you're ready to pay a high premium for it.

Some things I like to do in person myself, as in picking out my produce/meat etc.
 
Last edited:
MongGrel said:
Your being a bit ridiculous again, shipping for the most part is all ready pretty efficient.

They aren't going to pay some guy to sit on a motorcycle and ship a Box of Tea bags or a steak knife to you in an hour, unless you're ready to pay a high premium for it.

Some things I like to do in person myself, as in picking out my produce/meat etc.
Click to expand...

It already exist

http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoc...hour-delivery-targeting-the-web-and-wal-mart/

At least ebay/amazon. They are doing it in major cities. I'm assuming you have to have a min order or pay a higher price to ship that "one steak knife".
 
Clothing stores will never cease to exist, especially women's clothing. I understand most of you are males, but ask a female about clothing sizes. The numbers, they don't actually mean anything. A man knows that a 34/32 is going to be that in every manufacturer, as it is an actual measurement. Women, on the other hand, have to remember which size they are for specific brands / lines, as they all differ. A size 2 in one is actually a size 3 in another, etc. It is incredibly stupid. Plus, body types change over time and it is good to be able to try on clothes before you buy them.

Regardless of that, I'd love to be able to do something like order all my groceries online and simply pick them up from a loading dock at a warehouse. I don't need to walk around the store or any of that. I know what I want to buy and I know how much of it I need.
 
smackababy said:
Clothing stores will never cease to exist, especially women's clothing. I understand most of you are males, but ask a female about clothing sizes. The numbers, they don't actually mean anything. A man knows that a 34/32 is going to be that in every manufacturer, as it is an actual measurement. Women, on the other hand, have to remember which size they are for specific brands / lines, as they all differ. A size 2 in one is actually a size 3 in another, etc. It is incredibly stupid. Plus, body types change over time and it is good to be able to try on clothes before you buy them.

Regardless of that, I'd love to be able to do something like order all my groceries online and simply pick them up from a loading dock at a warehouse. I don't need to walk around the store or any of that. I know what I want to buy and I know how much of it I need.
Click to expand...

That's funny, because my wife buys tons of clothes online and just returns stuff she doesn't like or doesn't fit. And the way she talks about it, that isn't unusual among her friends.

Regarding groceries, I guess you don't buy much fresh food. Otherwise you wouldn't want somebody else picking your produce or meat for you.
 
steppinthrax said:
I think fedex or ups has some sort of "deposit box" program where the package is dropped into a secure lock box where it can be retreived. But I imagine usps maybe keeping the package for u to pick up or some company doing that for you.
Click to expand...

But then that kind of defeats the purpose of shopping online - the convenience of having it delivered to your doorstep. There needs to be some way for delivery drivers to leave the package secured on the premise.
 
ElFenix said:
mattress stores seem to be flourishing, even though i've never seen anyone in one.
Click to expand...

margin rich



B&M has been changing. Vendor subsidies and the drive to zero in most major categories leaves us with an experience economy. The stores that make the experience something special are the ones that will stick around.

We have created this service economy and now we have t deal with it.


Basically all margin was moved back to the vendor. Everyone cut each others throats till there was no blood left.


I am glad I left retail
 
mmntech said:
There's a few sites that already do that. One here called Grocery Gateway is operated by one of the B&M chains. They pick your order up at the nearest store and drop it off at your house. I need to set this up for my Grandma because she has trouble getting out in the winter.

B&M stores will likely never go away, but there will definitely be a drastic redrawing of the retail landscape

What's going to disappear
-Middle income department stores (eg. Sears)
-Electronics and hobby dealers
-Media retailers (book stores, record stores, video game retailers)
-Travel agencies
-Specialty big box stores

What's going to survive
-Discount department stores (Walmart)
-High end department stores
-Smaller specialty shops with personalized service
-Grocery stores (though they'll likely expand to include housewares)
Click to expand...

I think that is pretty much spot on.

One thing for sure is that we are going to be seeing more and more "dead malls" in the immediate future. It seems like, except for some more upscale areas, shopping malls are dying at alarming rates.
 
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