The retail market is changing and it’s not going to be pretty for a lot of retailers.
I seldom set foot in a store these days, other than Home Improvement stores. Even then, I get much from Amazon when I don’t need it right away and the item is “shippable”. Prices and selection are better, fellow consumers’ reviews generally are far superior to the knowledge of the floor salespeople in a retail store. The only real downside is having to wait a couple days to get the product in hand.
I don’t see how retail is ever going to compete with that. The exceptions (but only to a degree) would be clothing (but even that could change quickly if clothing sizes were really standardized), food, and large items that are impractical to ship or need installation.
IMHO, some of this situation is the retailers’ fault(not investing in employees, not reacting to market demands, taking political positions), but part is just changing times and technologies.
Prices and selection are better, fellow consumers’ reviews generally are far superior to the knowledge of the floor salespeople in a retail store.
I’ve noticed more and more in recent years, asking someone for help in a store is generally useless. The people working there generally have no knowledge of the products in their own stores. It makes for a frustrating shopping experience unless you know exactly what you want, and exactly where on the shelf it is, so you can grab it and go.
but even that could change quickly if clothing sizes were really standardized)...”
Would that be such things labeled as “One size fits most” and we find ourselves relegated to pull on polyester everything? I long for the days of real fabric slacks that are lined, fit properly and last more than one season. Tired of the sleezy, bag lady look in women’s clothing.