In my experience, the retail shopping environment has been on an increasing rate of decline over the past decade+. Post-covid, it seems corporations have figured out how to maximize profit, in part, by reducing labor and tailoring towards online sales.
I grew up in a time when people would complain about salespeople pestering them by simply asking if they needed help with anything. Now, I would love to have someone help me with a purchase.
I recently bought some sneakers in a store and it turned out I probably bought the wrong ones for my needs. A knowledgable salesperson likely would have saved me from wasting my money on the wrong purchase. Most of the supermarkets in my area are self-check out only. These stupid things never work for me so it takes me forever to simply scan a few items. At some stores, items are locked up behind glass so I’m not even able to make a purchase - pushing me to buy from an online retailer instead.
I try to go out of my way to find stores that have humans working there. I try not to buy things online and try to support my local businesses. This is becoming increasingly more difficult and I fear the day will come soon where I’m not able to shop in a physical store.
Especially in this post pandemic world, I crave human interaction. I crave a brief interaction with someone who’s a member of my community.
There’s a small two-location food market I shop at weekly. It’s a fifteen minute walk where I do at least 85% of my shopping. Most of the produce and goods are procured within a hundred miles. There are no self-checkouts. I’ve gotten to know the people who work there. We talk about produce and the neighborhood and the weather. I freaking love that place and legit do not know what I would do without it.
I imagine I’m in the minority. I imagine most people, especially younger people, desire not interacting with others. Some people find it difficult to engage in real life. Some people are fraught with the impact social media addiction has struck upon them - be it the fear of judgement or bigotry or simply not knowing how to interact respectfully with others.
I remember a time when people would say they trust online reviews more than salespeople who get paid on commission. Is this still a prevalent idea? I’ll admit that I typically ignore reviews because reviews have become their own industry. However, there are times I’ve bought a product, found it to be trash, then saw some reviews, buried below the ‘paid’ ones, warning me to stay away.
I feel strongly, I am fearful, that as we shift more and more of our shopping online - easily enabled by [Click To Buy] buttons and mobile wallets - corporate capitalism is gaining ground on mom and pop shops. Never mind the rise of the likes of Temu. Moreover, the Walmartification of everything is diluting our sense of community.
It’s because we only shop online and in warehouses, it’s because we have no choice but to not engage with anyone, it’s because we’re increasing our reliance on 6" in-our-face screens, it’s because we don’t ever need to leave the comfort of our home that our neighborhoods and society are doomed to crumble.
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i prefer to buy in-store when i can because i like to be able to feel the textures of the product and to see the size of the thing in real life, which is hard to do from just an image. yeah sonetimes they put a ruler next to the photo but it’s not the same as being able to turn the object around in your hands, smell it, stretch it, test it, etc.
I’ve heard the sentiment that change and convenience are killing society before, and I’m sure I’ll hear it again. I prefer to shop online. I get no sense of community from stores where every interaction has a hanging financial incentive around it, I get it from local organized runs, other frequent visitors of the dog park, etc. To me, that line of reasoning feels almost like lamenting how good the pipes in your house are, because you don’t need to call a plumber and get to interact with them.
Shopping online gives me more options, more reviews, easier ways to look up additional technical details without feeling weird taking space in an aisle while researching on my phone. It’s also more efficient in terms of total driving; one person making deliveries for everyone in a neighborhood requires less total driving than all those people making individual trips to a store. And it frees up more time for me to do things I actually want with the people I enjoy.
It depends on what you’re buying. For me.it’s not as much about the review its more about the product info.and price. For books or eletronics online is better because you don’t need to see the product as much as you need technical.information.
For Clothes, perfume, fresh food etc I prefer to go to a store since it’s important to see it. Clothes are always a problem when they don’t fit and if I’m goingo to have to return it (if it doesn’t fit) it’s just faster to go to a store.
Sometimes prices are a thing too, it can be a lot cheaper online and unless you’re rich this does make a difference
Sometimes prices are a thing too, it can be a lot cheaper online and unless you’re rich this does make a difference
Just a word of caution - I have found some retailers like Amazon and Target to sometimes be more expensive than local stores. Things like kitchen and bathroom items in particular.
Oh for sure. I don’t buy everyday things at amazon, i do it opd school and go to wallmart in person.
It depends.
For things that need to fit right like shoes or clothes, I much prefer shopping in person. I know online shopping has free returns/exchanges, but it’s a hassle to have to send stuff back, not to mention the time it takes. I only buy online if there really is no place in my area where it’s available.
For groceries, I definitely prefer to do everything in person. I like to select fresh produce myself. I’m also kinda picky in that I always take the second or third item on the shelf instead of the one in front. I also do not like my frozen/refrigerated groceries to be potentially sitting out in room temperature waiting for curb-side pickup or for delivery.
As for salespeople, I prefer not to be approached while I’m browsing lol. But yes it would be great if there’s someone available IF I ever need help. That’s rare though because when I’m looking to buy something, I do my research beforehand so I know what to look for and the purpose of being in the store is just to check it out in person.
I have a somewhat skewed perspective on this. I get the hate for large corporate stores like Walmart and Amazon, but as someone who can’t drive due to being legally blind, both companies have given me a level of independence I’ve never had before. Before grocery delivery became widespread due to Walmart+, I had to take a cab to and from the store (extra $30 each way plus tips). I remember reaching out to a locally owned grocery store 20 years ago and asked if they would be willing to deliver weekly groceries for a monthly fee. I was told in no uncertain terms to go fuck myself, they literally laughed at me. Times change though, and now I can get everything I want or need for a fraction what it used to cost even with inflation. I can also shop more confidently since I can see the products better and get more info about them online then in a store.
It really is telling when people can’t get help without having to give money to mega corporations.
I love using my local high street. I like looking at things before I buy them, to see what they are made of and how well. The keepers of specialist stores will absolutely help you to buy the right product and not waste your money. I like having an errand to run on my bike.
I’m not a fan. It’s almost as bad as shopping online. If I had my druthers, I’d never shop again, just repeat-order things I already know meet my needs.
I imagine I’m in the minority. I imagine most people, especially younger people, desire not interacting with others. Some people find it difficult to engage in real life. Some people are fraught with the impact social media addiction has struck upon them - be it the fear of judgement or bigotry or simply not knowing how to interact respectfully with others.
Self checkout is just way quicker. No need to look down and essentially think that there is something wrong with people that prefer the quicker and more convenient option.
Also interactions with cashiers are extremely superficial anyways so either I take off my headphones and say a few words about nothing or i can just keep them on listening to good music while I have to shop for some bullshit.
I value time over superficial interactions.
It really isn’t faster though when you risk having some issue that requires help half the time.
That doesn’t happen that often though.
Half the time? Either something is wrong with that store or you need to learn how to use it properly. I have issues maybe once a year.
Hate shopping in retail stores. Much much much happier shopping for everything online. Can take my time, read/watch reviews, compare costs, etc
The sneakers thing you mentioned was interesting. When I needed a new pair, I deliberately went to a local store because of the service. Did I know I would end up paying a bit more? Yes. Was it worth it because of the better service I got, and the knowledge that I was supporting a local business? Also yes!
Large retailers are going to have to adapt or die.
Half the time I didn’t even bother looking in the store she something when I know I can get it off of Amazon I’m like a day.
I’ve been looking for Dot’s Pretzels around me and can’t find them at Publix, CVS, or Walgreens. Amazon has them for one day delivery.
It’s *because* we only shop online and in warehouses, it’s because we have no choice but to *not* engage with anyone, it’s because we’re increasing our reliance on 6" in-our-face screens, it’s because we don’t ever need to leave the comfort of our home that our neighborhoods and society are doomed to crumble.
lol no. It’s because shopping in person is a hellish gauntlet designed to make the stock price go, not to make sure I can reliably and comfortably meet my material needs.
I don’t owe anyone anything, least of all fucking brick and mortar chain stores.
If that means the end of society, good fucking riddance. There’s nothing worth saving about retail.
least of all fucking brick and mortar chain stores.
It’s interesting you got that far into what I wrote and that was your takeaway. One of my points is that the chain stores in particular have ruined the shopping experience.
You think online shopping isn’t a hellish gauntlet designed for stock prices to go up? Dude, the entire internet is designed to sell you shit.
So, you prefer ‘virtual’ stores owned by billionaires and mega corps that you’ll never have to enter over stores owned and operated by your family and neighbors? You prefer a workforce of robots over employing your community? You prefer your personal information being bought and sold so corporations can target ads towards you for their profit? You prefer that these corporations succeed and eliminate all sense of community and turn humanity into nothing more than consumers?
Considering 80% of your post is rhetorical questions, I don’t think a reply is actually appreciated.
I had to laugh at “an increasing decline” 🤣. Good ol double negative.
I appreciate this. I had a hard time coming up with the proper wording. If a value decreases one year by 5% then decreases 7% the following year, is that not an increase in the value’s decline?
“Increasing rate of decline” might be more technically correct, but we all knew what you meant. :)
Thanks! I’ll fix that.
Depends. I almost always buy clothes and shoes in actual stores, as shopping for them online is a wasteful hassle. There are also some shops that I enjoy visiting, like second-hand stores or Asian supermarkets, where it’s interesting to just browse and buy interesting things I wasn’t specifically looking for.
On the other hand, I always buy stuff like electronics online. Electronics stores are more expensive and have a way smaller selection, so I don’t bother with them. Generally if I’m looking for something specific, buying it online is just more convenient.
