Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics Member Submitted Links Retailers

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/26/the-10-biggest-retail-bankruptcies-of-2020.html

It has dawned on me that most of the surviving large retail stores have decided to compete with places like Amazon. Its pretty interesting. Wallmart and Target now take orders by email and phone. Now they have windows for you to do your order then stop by and pickup what you ordered. Target is claiming they can deliver on the same day you order, in the big city, etc. I fully expect the grocery stores to jump onto this as well.

Its interesting. Amazon, for instance, was waaaaaaaaaay ahead of the curve and actually has some retail stores in the big cities to compete, I assume, with the remaining retailers. I fear the art of "shopping" is in for a complete overhaul before this is all over.

I don't live in the big city. The closest is Victoria, BC but I can't go there yet and won't go until I don't have to spend 150.00 on a covid test. The next closest is over 3 hours away (Seattle). So, we don't do a whole lot of 'shopping'. except on the net. The local retailers, in my town I pretty laid back. My wife started a jewelry store, years ago, because she hated shopping down town where those in the stores didn't even say hello when you walked in (and it hasn't changed that much).

Interesting times!

Shopping is and has always been a pain in the ass. All of us driving miles and miles in our pollutant spewing autos, filling the parking lots and jamming the stores is stupid and inefficient.

If anything good came of covid it was the improvement of delivery infrastructure.

Kroger recently built a huge robotic grocery warehouse nearby and deliver fresh groceries in refrigerated trucks. Grocery store prices and no tipping allowed. Between them and Amazon I never need to go "shopping"

I hate and despise shopping; unfortunately, I’m trying to gird myself up for some. I seriously need some clothes that come close to fitting that aren’t gray sweats. I also need new furniture; mine has survived 15 years and three different cats. Haven’t bought new shoes in over 5 years.

But every time I think of it I just shudder. I have always hated the manipulation of advertising and now my sensitivity seems to be much worse. And I’m seriously allergic to anyone who wants to sell me something, rather than help me buy something.

I think Amazon has a program where they will send you several items for you to try out, and if you don’t like them you can return them for free. But I’m not sure if that still is the deal. That was something they had going several years ago. I never tried it but I was aware of it.

There are several retailers that will do that. Uunfortunately I have a horrible time getting things returned; I don’t know why. It’s just almost impossible for me to do, I have no idea why. There are a couple of discount clothing stores just down the road and I’ve promised myself I will get there tomorrow.

You need to transport yourself back in time and somehow become English aristocracy whereby you would have a valet that would do all of this for you. Hey.. I could use one too!

Although my “uniform” these days consists solely of Levi’s and a T-shirt. And either sandals, flip-flops, or some sort of hiking/walking shoes. Sometimes I think I should break that mold and then I ask myself why? Although it can be fun sometimes to dress up. At least someone once told me that.

A lot of what retailers are doing today is not to mimic Amazon, but out of necessity to survive COVID - last year. Retailers did everything they could to make shopping as safe and convenient as possible for shoppers.

They simply carried those new protocols into this year and are keeping this new way of shopping.

I have never been one to blow my own horn, but believe me I have tried. I just cannot contort that much. I used to dress up back when I sang baritone in the Eugene Symphony chorus. I wore a tux with all the accoutrements when we did our thing. And by the way I could also sing my part very well. Quit your heart fluttering Rick.

When I was back at my 40th high school reunion there was a classmate of mine sitting directly across the seat from us while we partook took of the reunion luau. Her name was Diane Arikake. Bear in mind I am 6’6”. She told me directly “Ken, back when we were in high school I thought of you as an Aryan God”. And she said this directly with her husband sitting next to her. And my wife sitting next to me. I didn’t know what to say so I just responded “thank you”. And then we sat for a while in awkwardness. Perhaps it was her wine talking although Martha was wondering wtf?

But remember Rick…..I am hard to get.

I don’t like the look of those emoticons. So I don’t think I’m going to use them anymore as I don’t really know how to. If anyone out there does not get my humor….so be it… Union.

Even though that is long dead and gone.

I use Amazon a LOT. Enough so Prime membership is worth it, so that makes most shipping free and generally about two days. I also order from Albertson's supermarket, and pick up my order the next day. Never need to go in, since they will bring it out and stick in in my bin. Super safe, but I find I'm actually a better shopper when I do it instead of them. Oh well, never let perfect be the enemy of "good enough". I was getting dog food delivered from Petco, but my wife has a Costco membership she shares with her brother, so she picks it up now.

Last time I ordered from Walmart.com, I ordered $70 worth of stuff. They cancelled all of my order except for a roll of duct tape. Ordered it from Amazon, and it was the same price and delivered in two days. Bye bye, Walmart!