tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post8757172972393857996..comments2024-03-28T12:35:42.918-07:00Comments on The Forty-Five: A Visit To Fry'sToirdhealbheach Beucailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-8110061569928303872017-07-11T21:22:34.416-07:002017-07-11T21:22:34.416-07:00Linda - CompUSA - Man, there's a name I have n...Linda - CompUSA - Man, there's a name I have not heard in forever. Reminds me of Egghead Sofware stores and the small local outlets that (once upon a time) sold Apple.<br /><br />Strategic thinking is to blame, I suspect. No-one could have predicted the internet 30 years ago but 20 years ago the writing was on the wall, albeit in faint letters. In retrospect, more time might have been spent on figuring how to bridge the gap.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-50194933869941998682017-07-11T21:20:04.091-07:002017-07-11T21:20:04.091-07:00Glen - You are right, of course. Even most busine...Glen - You are right, of course. Even most business software is up on the cloud at this point. I have not repaired the last three laptops I owned - cheaper to buy a new one. And Amazon - or indeed, lots of other online stores - is just as convenient or more so than actually shopping.<br /><br />The radio thing bothers me a bit (Odd, because I do not do it) - but only because becoming dependent on a single form of communication - wireless phones and the Internet - ultimately means that communications are far more vulnerable than they should be.<br /><br />The issue of declining jobs due to automation and the change in consumer shopping (Soon, I would argue, to matched by the same change in how businesses work) is not a hope producing exercise. I can see a day where warehouse jobs and food service industries will be fought over.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-51233200836191174012017-07-11T21:15:31.884-07:002017-07-11T21:15:31.884-07:00Rain - True enough. I have had the same experienc...Rain - True enough. I have had the same experience at Large Box Home Supply Stores or Pet Stores or even some smaller stores (used book stores come to mind). And a specialty shop that relies only on brick and mortar sales is probably begging for a losing sale any more. And yes, Amazon is increasingly used by lots of folks (even us for groceries at this point). But it has been a long time - maybe never - since I saw a large store - cavernous, one might say - with more employees than customers.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-21080715729433545062017-07-11T20:12:50.136-07:002017-07-11T20:12:50.136-07:00The same thing happened to CompUSA. And Radio Shac...The same thing happened to CompUSA. And Radio Shack, too, for that matter. They turned their backs on what made them popular. Couldn't compete with the online prices, then lost their customer base because they no longer sold what people went there for.<br /><br />Sad comment of the state of the economy, so to speak.LindaGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12203719919661519350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-26654333286349741052017-07-11T11:36:01.208-07:002017-07-11T11:36:01.208-07:00It's a sign of the times, TB. No one buys gam...It's a sign of the times, TB. No one buys games at a store anymore; they download them, or buy licenses or subscriptions to play them in "the cloud." No one builds a computer anymore; they go to a website, "build" it online, and place an order. You don't repair a computer (or any other "consumer electronics") anymore; you throw it away. Heck; you can't even replace the batteries on most laptops anymore! Most teens don't know what "ham radio" or CB is. When you tell them, they look at you like "How quaint," and say something like "I didn't know any of those guys were still alive."<br /><br />I'll admit it; I do the Amazon thing more often than not. If I need something and know exactly what the specs are, I point, click, and order. I can either drive around (or make several calls) looking for a set of security Torx screwdrivers, or I can order the set in literally five minutes from Amazon.<br /><br />Is this going to eventually cause problems? You bet. Face it though; as long as half the country is forced to work so that the other half can sit on its collective ass, there'll be more work, and less free time. A minute saved is a minute earned...<br /><br />Peteforesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00702888855868877243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-29941144605864963042017-07-11T07:38:32.206-07:002017-07-11T07:38:32.206-07:00Hi TB :) I think that depends on the type of store...Hi TB :) I think that depends on the type of store maybe. If I need to go into an electronics/tech type store, it's usually quite empty. Same thing with the clothing stores, which can't compete with online stores and Walmart-types. When I do my monthly shopping, the grocery stores and the big box stores like Home Depot are always packed. <br /><br />Specialty shops too. Someone had the bright idea of opening a flower shop in this area...in the mountains where people have wild flowers and gardens. We predicted 1 year, it closed in 6 months. There seems to be a continual turn over of people with high hopes that their store/restaurant will work. It's too bad, but that's the way of the world now that pretty much everything is available online.<br /><br />I guess more and more people are choosing to shop online now for whatever reason. I know I am. In fact, I was going to start my Cheddar yesterday then realized I didn't have a big enough pot. I had the choice of driving to the nearest big town (45 minute drive) and getting the pot...starting the cheese today - OR - buying it on Amazon and using the gas money for shipping. I chose Amazon and waiting to make my cheese on Friday. I just can't stand driving much and being around people anymore. It's not just the rude clerks and lousy service, it's also the other customers who are usually so impatient and angry...at least that's my experience!<br /><br />I think the days of the mom and pop stores will be part of history now.Rain https://www.blogger.com/profile/14377719049819222133noreply@blogger.com