Posted on 05/08/2016 7:03:16 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Home Defect and Louie’s are a different model so to speak because they also supply the trades. They’ll need to maintain a brick and mortar presence.
Well retail store jobs were (traditionally) a low level entry job for the most part. Thanks to lack of manufacturing that’s been changed. The root of the problem isn’t Amazon...it’s lack of real jobs.
I check Ebay before I buy in stores anymore. For one thing, the stores probably won’t have what I need because they have such stale inventories. Second, I usually find Ebay is 10:1 or even 50:1 on most items. That $50 dollar watch my wife liked for “junk jewelry”, $4 delivered on Ebay. Exact same watch the store was selling for $50.
Try going to Radio Shack or Best Buy and buying a small AM/FM radio; $20, $40, even $75. Only $5 delivered on Ebay for a product the stores don’t even carry.
It isn’t even worth the gas money to go to stores anymore.
I think this is a little known fact. I picked out a nice little netbook on Amazon that was a good deal. Stuck it in my cart and was going to wait a couple of days to purchase it. When I went to buy it the price had gone up 35 bucks. Deleted it from my cart. Didn't go on Amazon for a couple of days and then went back. Price had gone down. I got it.
I buy nearly all my clothes now on Amazon. One heck of a lot better than traipsing from one department store to another and still not finding what you want.
This is the inevitable evolution of our market. People were conditioned by Walmart and others to get much more for their money, disregarding the “middle man” retailer, who for generations has been berated, many times appropriately and many times unfairly, as a gouger.
People are trading price and the convenience of home delivery for personal customer service.
I can’t blame the consumer, and I am a retailer myself. I have adjusted for this competition.
True. They prefer under 30, and won’t even consider anyone over 40. The managers generally burn out quickly—my son has outlasted at least four teams in the past three years—he is the most senior person in his position, and the top producer in the country.
The one thing he does get is tons of incentive prizes—he hasn’t paid for a gift since he started. They give out gift cards and merchandise for achievements. Unfortunately, there is really no place for him to go. He is a hard worker, but they don’t promote from within—they prefer fresh college meat for the grinder. They also offer incentives to quit without regard to merit; they must figure it’s cheaper than promoting. It’s a strange mix of management by algorithm.
Ha. You’ve never worked on a real farming operation. I know men who would say to this, “but it’s air conditioned?”
And this description is also just like most manufacturing work, too. One great example is air conditioningmanufacturing. It runs break neck for two seasons then largely shuts down and everyone gets fired. It’s been like this for longer than I’ve been around.
What I see is that the left feels done with Walmart and now wants to tame Amazon. Voila, this article. My small farm/manf town would love to have Amazon here.
I hope Barnes and Noble stays in business. If it folds, I will be 40 miles away from the nearest bookstore—and I live in an urban area.
Best Buy will match Amazon.com prices right in the store. They will even look it up for you, saving the cost of shipping and the wait for delivery.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp/price-match-guarantee/pcmcat290300050002.c?id=pcmcat290300050002
Remember that every time you buy at Amazon or use Facebook, you are funding the liberal left wing agenda that the owners of these companies use against you.
It’s no different than when Sears dominated retail in the previous two centuries with their catalog business.
Stores should just adopt the Amazon model, and reduce the size of their big box stores.
I dont have time to go to these places, and Amazon Prime is just too good a deal to pass up.
I still shop at stores that have real customer service, hard to find now though. Trying to find store employees that know what is in the store, and some knowledge of the products is getting harder. Then often employees are surly, acting as though a customer is a pain.
My son has been working at an Amazon facility for almost a year now. As a "picker" he walks his butt off, but he's making $4.00 more per hour than minimum wage. He has health, dental and vision insurance and, after he's been there a year, he'll be eligible for tuition assistance. He probably wouldn't be getting any of the above from your "brick and mortar" stores right out of high school.
Farm? Did I mention agriculture? I grew up moving furniture, worked in heavy equipment years before they had enclosed cabs, and ran a family farm. You ain’t telling me nothing about hot, sore or seasonal. Lol
Amazon has seasonal peaks, but it remains busy all year. They prefer turnover to ensure they don’t end up like the auto manufacturers.
I wouldn’t want a line job anywhere, so it’s job skin off my back. I am not begrudgingly them, just stating the facts. It’s a profitable enterprise, performing in a good market. A lack of opportunity is no cause to complain, just an incentive to get a better job somewhere else.
Wise plan.
Good way to avoid discrimination lawsuits. Observe people for a while, note the ones who aren't very productive, or who cause trouble, shut down, fire all. At the next startup, rehire whoever was good.
The poster that noted that Amazon (and others) don't want to be saddled with sub-par workers like the old line auto manufacturers has a point. Firing a snowflake after 90 days can be problematic in manufacturing. Firing a snowflake's relative can be even harder in a union shop.
Re: “I have been told that managers over age 40 need not apply at the South Dallas fulfillment center.”
Also true in Seattle.
Partly because the pay scale is low (they offer stock options on their 277 P/E stock instead!) and experienced managers will leave at the first opportunity.
And partly because if your crew is not hitting quota, the manager must get out on the floor and pull and pack just like the low wage, usually foreign born workers.
I bought car parts on Amazon - not available at the main dealer.
I bought coffee on Amazon - brand not available at bricks and mortar.
I bought a garden tool on Amazon - not available at the main dealer.
I bought cat food on Amazon - brand not available at bricks and mortar.(fussy cat!)
Need I say more?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.