What's going on at Amazon?

[Zerk]

Bloomberg News attributed some of this to Amazon. Just something to consider.

The battered American retail industry took a few more lumps this week, with stores at both ends of the price spectrum preparing to close their doors.
At the bottom, the seemingly ubiquitous Payless Inc. shoe chain filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to shutter hundreds of locations.
Ralph Lauren Corp., meanwhile, said it will close its flagship Fifth Avenue Polo store -- a symbol of old-fashioned luxury that no longer resonates with today’s shoppers. And the teen-apparel retailer Rue21 Inc. could be the next casualty. The chain, which has about 1,000 stores, is preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon as this month, according to people familiar with the situation.

Just a few years ago, it was sold to private equity firm Apax Partners for about a billion dollars. “It’s an industry that’s still in search for answers,” said Noel Hebert, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “I don’t know how many malls can reinvent themselves.”

This would be interesting if you tied it in, a tangent, or a point. Amazon is not a high end store, or budget either.


I haven't been in a payless for over 20 years or more. Never Ralph Lauren.

 

[Zerk]

Some stores are having trouble because they don't know or change customer base. IN WI Kohls has tried to become trendy and is suffering. Lands End, also WI, has or had hired a NY CEO to run the place.

I also think stores have a life. Besides getting old and dirty, people like something new. I suspect someday Walmart will become the next Kmart. The old get old, and the young get stronger.

 

[Oaktree]

I also think stores have a life. Besides getting old and dirty, people like something new. I suspect someday Walmart will become the next Kmart. The old get old, and the young get stronger.

Very true, remember 100 years ago Sears was the Amazon of its time.

I don't think brick and mortar shopping will go away. I can't be the only one who likes to look at the merchandise before I buy, or in the case of clothing try it on.
I don't order enough from Amazon to make Prime worthwhile, and if you're not a Prime member your stuff tends to get shipped when it gets shipped. Fine with me...if I need something tomorrow not likely I'll order it online.

 

[Zerk]

Funny 100 years ago we were ordering many things from a catalogue. Now it just gets here quicker.

The advantage of internet is selection, at least for me. I buy boots, which some people say they won't. But the local selection is so small, even at big stores, compared to what is actually made.

You go to a brick store, and they only have a small portion of their goods.

I like Menards and Home Depot, that tell you what store has what. I drive alot, so I pass many stores through the week.

Fleet Farm will now bring it out to you, according to add on radio. I have had stuff at Home Depot or Best Buy brought to the service counter. But service counters are usually slow, 1 or 2 people working them. Faster to just go get it off the shelf.

 

[beowulf]

I don't think brick and mortar shopping will go away.

I think you are right for some brick and mortar stores, but I think because of on-line shopping there will have to be fewer brick and mortar stores. I agree if buying clothes, but I like the convenience of Amazon for many things, and like the ability to read questions others have asked about the product and to post questions which will be answered by prior purchasers of the same product. And like to read reviews to see what others have to say (tho have to figure out which reviews are real and which are fake so I frequently check out reviews of the same product on other sites to compare). Also, for reordering things you bought before and already know about, Amazon is a good choice. And finally, because there are so many choices and suggestions for similar products, you often find something a bit different than what you were looking for that works out better and that you did not even know about before. Overall, I like the ease of it all. . .. and I don't have to put up with in-store shopping which I hate, unless it is a hardware or farm store. And I avoid trips to town.

 

[Zerk]

Feedback should force companies to improve products.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My worst experience was buying a telescoping husqvarna pole saw, and I was sent a fixed length saw, in an unsealed, previously opened box (inside bags opened), that was worth way less.
Wasn't prime, and seller wanted me to pay to return. Spoke to amazon customer service, and they would not help since it was a 3rd party seller. So I called UPS, who delivered it, and told them I was refusing to accept delivery on an opened package. I even have security cam pics of them carrying it to my porch where you can see gaps in the box sides where previous tape was cut. They returned it and I got a full refund.
I believe the seller sent the wrong item intentionally. They were soon removed as an amazon seller, but a Google search seemed to indicate the same address has been used by many different companies. Apparently they sell under multiple names.

Beware buying non prime. I still do occasionally, but on small ticket items. For the same money I ended up with my echo pole saw from a local ace hardware.

 

[Oldpath05]

My worst experience was buying a telescoping husqvarna pole saw, and I was sent a fixed length saw, in an unsealed, previously opened box (inside bags opened), that was worth way less.
Wasn't prime, and seller wanted me to pay to return. Spoke to amazon customer service, and they would not help since it was a 3rd party seller. So I called UPS, who delivered it, and told them I was refusing to accept delivery on an opened package. I even have security cam pics of them carrying it to my porch where you can see gaps in the box sides where previous tape was cut. They returned it and I got a full refund.
I believe the seller sent the wrong item intentionally. They were soon removed as an amazon seller, but a Google search seemed to indicate the same address has been used by many different companies. Apparently they sell under multiple names.

Beware buying non prime. I still do occasionally, but on small ticket items. For the same money I ended up with my echo pole saw from a local ace hardware.

I wonder how customer service would of been from ebay on the same pole saw, here's the customer service I'm going thru now from an ebay seller


New message from: clean-it-supply
"Good evening.
I do apologize about your inconvenience on this. It looks like our image for this product is wrong on Ebay. Unfortunately, we no longer have the White with Blue Lid variety. Would you like to return the Carton that you received? Please advise."
Yesterday I got the return label, wife printed it off for me, next week she'll take back to the UPS store than they should refund my card

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Most amazon returns go smooth, the pole saw was an exception because of a 3rd party seller, that amazon dropped.

Edit.

So I just looked up the pole saw I bought on amazon.. Two 3rd party sellers have it for over $1000. This is a Msrp $599 saw.

 

[TractorGuy]

Shipping update.