Not long ago, the media narrative was that the big box stores were putting the mom and pop neighborhood stores out of business. The big box stores were the bad guys and local governments were being pressured to do something about it. Now, the narrative is that online shopping, and particularly Amazon.com, is putting the big box stores out of business, and Walmart, Macy's, and Sears are victims of the evil online giants like Amazon.com. Wouldn't you think that the demise of the shopping mall stores would simply open new opportunities for mom and pop stores? Not everyone wants to shop online and not everything can be conveniently bought online.
This is an excellent topic, and it does seem like the trend might be in scaling down the stores back to neighborhood groceries and smaller locally-owned businesses. Walmart has been replacing some of the large stores with the small Neighborhood Markets, and Dollar stores are expanding to sell more than just $1 priced items. At the same time, online buying is also skyrocketing; so it seems like there is a place for all of these stores. We use a variety of all three kinds of stores. The local hardware store is much closer and easier than going all of the way to Lowes; so when we just need 1-2 items, we usually at least try to get it at the hardware store first. We go to Walmart 1-2 times per month, and try to get there early in the morning before it is too busy to park or shop. Same thing with Sam's. Those large box stores still seem to get a lot of business; plus they also offer the convenience of ordering online and then picking it up at the store with no shipping charges. The Walmart grocery is only a few blocks from where we live, and when I order online, it can be sent there instead of the Super-Wally , and that makes it much easier to pick up. Some things are just much cheaper on Amazon, and they have the largest selection, plus 2-day free shipping; so we still use Amazon for things that are cheaper there than they are locally, and that we do not need immediately.
Yes, although there are always losers, from time to time, in business, the marketplace works things out. Nevertheless, government always wants to get involved, from towns prohibiting Walmart stores to states trying to tax the online stores into oblivion, and it is always the consumer who pays for their interference.
I subscribe to amazon prime, but the post office does not recognize my address as legit (real). We are rural and have no post office delivery here. A handful of years ago they (assuming post office) came along and planted an address sign at the end of my road. But I can't for the life of me get anything delivered to my house. Amazon can take up to a week for delivery. So frustrating! I only keep the prime feature so I can watch movies.
That's not good. I get very good service from Amazon.com, with most things delivered within two days.
That's too bad, is there anybody close enough to have packages shipped there and you could get them from their house? Their movies are good but not worth the yearly price of prime in my opinion. Netflix is not much different than Amazon video. I stopped my prime and don't miss the video at all.
Mom and Pop stores suffer the most having to compete first with shopping malls then the larger retailers like Meijer, Walmart, and Target. Now because the need to increase their prices to help stay in business they are losing even loyal customers to the dollars stores.
I shop locally owned stores as much as possible but there aren't many left. I did buy my new deck materials from a local lumber store rather than going to Lowe's or Home Depot.
We have stopped our Netflix subscription for a few months. Just couldn't fine anything good to watch currently. We do our share of online shopping, because there are certain things, even with big box stores, that are only sold online. The only "mom and pop" business we use here is a tailor shop. He does a good job, but reviews state that he charges to much.........and those reviews are correct, but the other tailor shop in our area costs darn near the same. There was a Hallmark "mom and pop" store down the street from us, but they had to close due to a lease hike in cost. I seldom seen many people in the store, since there is also a Hallmark store in our local mall.
We do a lot of shopping at Wal Mart but also buy things online, especially Amazon.com. Mom and pop stores these days are mostly boutique stores that sell artsy fartsy items but we do try to shop at them. Some mom and pop stores are more expensive than the big box stores but that is NOT always the case, it is just more difficult to find the good ones vs the highway robbery. I think that is why the big names do so well. Herb M 682-351-3712
Welcome to the forum, Herb. I think the big draw for big box stores is the ability to find everything in one place, and the draw for online shopping is convenience. Price plays into it, as well. It's probably not a good idea to include your phone number here.
On today's news a local very young man started a tiny store in our county called Blue Bag grocery. He feels that there are not enough smaller grocery stores. The report says his store and all can fit inside a Walmart 18 wheeler.Think its like a tiny 7-11 but sells fresh produce and etc. Was a good story and I wish him well.