Actually, the company that could have been Amazon was Fingerhut. They were 100% catalog sales (cheap stuff mainly) and had a huge logistical footprint. Based in the Midwest, they had everything they needed except the foresight to move online.
I think they’re still around, but lost the market like so many other large businesses. Xerox, IBM and Kodack all gave away the store because they couldn’t get past their self image. Out of all of the retailers, I hate to see Sears go under, but they’ve been trying to commit suicide for decades. Walmart is no better than Amazon in practice or politics. A pox on both houses as far as I’m concerned.
At least Amazon pays everyone 15 hour to start. Walmart is still at 11 I believe. 8 grand a year in salary for full time can be quite an incentive.
That’s interesting. I never heard of Fingerhut. My parents were Sears people. They took me there every week when I was a boy. It was the place to shop in the 1960s.