Well... we tried to buy local

[Sedalia Dave]

Wife went into a beauty supply shop to buy a product she had seen advertised on TV. Clerk flatly told her and that they didn't have any but she could easily buy them off TV.  

 

Wife just shook her head and walked out. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find it online.

Edited June 28, 2017 by Sedalia Dave

[Pat Riot]

Someday the future unemployed clerk will be sitting around angry and bitter trying to figure out what happened...

 

I had a guy at Cabela's tell me they didn't have a jacket liner I was looking for in the store and that I could order it on line. I was baffled and asked if he could see if he could order me one and I would come in and pick it up. He looked at me like I was stupid and then began instructing me on how to find the website to order it myself. Moron! I asked him if he liked working there. He said "Yes". I asked him if he thought he'd be working much longer if people just bought everything on line. I walked away as he stood there trying to comprehend what I meant. I found another employee and she helped me out. I told her about Idiotboy. She told me he was new...I'll bet he never did figure out what I meant.

 

Stores shouldn't hire mouth-breathers.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I've run into this dozens of times recently.  Items that used to be common are no longer available.  A manager at JCP told me I could order it from their on-line catalog but I couldn't get it from the store.  Couldn't find it in the catalog on-line either and ended up buying it from the manufacturere for less than I used to get fro Pennys, even with a small shipping fee.

 

One local mall is sitting about half empty and the merchants are crying their eyes out because everyone is using the web to buy things: things that no local shops carry.

 

I don't have a lot of sympathy for them.

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

Retailer stupidity and wastefulness will not last much longer.  The Future is here.  Generic items, pre-packaged goods, and most hardware items are destined to be primarily on-line sales. Even furniture, tuxedo rentals and groceries are moving to the on-line model.  From an economic standpoint, it makes no sense for a retailer to pay the overhead associated with brick and mortar stores - rent/mortgages, operating costs, employee salaries and benefits, taxes, etc. - when he can instead pay a "fulfillment center" a modest fee to warehouse his stock in a cheap neighborhood and ship it out as on-line orders come in.  Simple, clean, efficient.  Competition will eventually send most retailers to a new line of work.

 

Some specialty stores will survive - paint, guns, high-end fashions, fine art, etc. - that sell goods that are too dangerous or too bulky to ship cheaply and quickly, or  goods that most buyers want to "touch" before purchase, or regulated goods.  But they will be few, and probably not numerous enough to support large malls.  Expect to see a limited revival of "downtown" shopping.

 

For the most part, this is a good thing.  I hated Christmas shopping for years; I love it now, and I don't need to leave my home to do it.  A whole level of profit taking is disappearing from the distribution chain, making goods more affordable.  You can find things in Italy that are not available here, order them, and receive them within days.  The whole world is a store, and it has been miniaturized and stuffed into a box in your home office.  The fuel savings and positive environmental effects are significant.  The end of "Mall Sprawl" is admirable.  

 

I'm having a hard time conceiving of a down side.  Just keep those blanking delivery drones out of my air space......

 

LL

[Clay Mosby]

I''m finding I buy more and more online because things are not available locally. Example: I needed a couple miniature on/off toggle switches for a couple motorized toys I'm building. It was a 20-25 mile drive to get to the closest store that had them in stock. ( I do miss Radio Shack!) Figuring in time wasted and gas, it was cheaper to buy online.  I don't like it because I'm old school and prefer to hold in hand most things before I buy.

[Rye Miles #13621]

8 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

Someday the future unemployed clerk will be sitting around angry and bitter trying to figure out what happened...

 

I had a guy at Cabela's tell me they didn't have a jacket liner I was looking for in the store and that I could order it on line. I was baffled and asked if he could see if he could order me one and I would come in and pick it up. He looked at me like I was stupid and then began instructing me on how to find the website to order it myself. Moron! I asked him if he liked working there. He said "Yes". I asked him if he thought he'd be working much longer if people just bought everything on line. I walked away as he stood there trying to comprehend what I meant. I found another employee and she helped me out. I told her about Idiotboy. She told me he was new...I'll bet he never did figure out what I meant.

 

Stores shouldn't hire mouth-breathers.

Oh c'mon Pat that poor new guy probably had more important stuff to do on his phone like reading texts, checking his email and tweeting! How dare you bother him!!

[Pat Riot]

Another thing that gets me is "self checkout". I hate it, but I always see store employees happily steering people to them to use them.

[Calico Mary]

I won't use those damn self checkout things....HATE em!!!!   but y'all are right about buying online versus a retail store....shipping companies are loving every minute of it, maybe some of the folks that worked in stores can get hired on at one of them places.....

[Shotgun Clay]

I knew we were doomed when we started pumping our own gas.

[Rye Miles #13621]

They just opened an Amazon outlet here like a mile from my house, I'll be able to order stuff and go pick it up there and the shipping will be either free or cheaper!

[Utah Bob #35998]

On the other hand, a new gun store just opened in town. The other places, one is a chain and one independent, will sell you what they have in stock buy are not particularly interested in ordering unless youwanr to buyin bulk get a mega expensive custom item.

The new place has a better stock, friendlier people and will order what you want.

I just ordered a Tyalor Cattleman from them. They'll get all my business from now on.

[Smoken D]

The on line shopping is great for us folks living way out in the country. Big towns are 4 hour round trip at the least and then ya got to drive all over town which ain't no fun when you are use to seeing maybe 20 vehicles a week. The one thing I hate seeing is Christmas time and kids not experiencing the thrill of store shopping and all the decorations. That is when the 4 hour round trip is special.

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

36 minutes ago, Calico Mary said:

I won't use those damn self checkout things....HATE em!!!!   but y'all are right about buying online versus a retail store....shipping companies are loving every minute of it, maybe some of the folks that worked in stores can get hired on at one of them places.....

 

Maybe, Mary...but then again, the WSJ has an article this morning discussing UPS's freeze on its non-union retirement plan...seems they are $10 billion underfunded; this after they pulled out of a larger pension plan for union drivers last year, leaving behind already-retired drivers whose pensions will now be cut as the fund wallows in underperforming investments.

 

Remember when pension plans were guaranteed, and protected by ERISA laws enforced by the government?  Not anymore.  What you have today may be totally gone 5 years from now.

 

LL

[Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804]

I don't care for online shopping!  Wife and I pay cash for almost everything. If I have to buy something online, that requires going and buying a prepaid card to cover what I need and then ordering - and waiting.

[Utah Bob #35998]

36 minutes ago, Smoken D said:

The on line shopping is great for us folks living way out in the country. Big towns are 4 hour round trip at the least and then ya got to drive all over town which ain't no fun when you are use to seeing maybe 20 vehicles a week. The one thing I hate seeing is Christmas time and kids not experiencing the thrill of store shopping and all the decorations. That is when the 4 hour round trip is special.

Yup.

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

38 minutes ago, Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 said:

 

Maybe, Mary...but then again, the WSJ has an article this morning discussing UPS's freeze on its non-union retirement plan...seems they are $10 billion underfunded; this after they pulled out of a larger pension plan for union drivers last year, leaving behind already-retired drivers whose pensions will now be cut as the fund wallows in underperforming investments.

 

Remember when pension plans were guaranteed, and protected by ERISA laws enforced by the government?  Not anymore.  What you have today may be totally gone 5 years from now.

 

LL

Sometimes big business looks out for the little guy. When I retired from Amoco after merger with BP. One of Amoco's commitments was for the retired employees benefits and retirements would be honored. I still have great health insurance for me and wife, and besides the matching dollar for dollar on investments of either Amoco, BP, or other stock options, BP still honors them, as well as the retirement funds for monthly payouts. including death benefits for either. Can't say the same for many others. MT

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

You're a fortunate fellow, Marshal.  The pressure of stagnant low interest rates, falling earnings and rising costs has forced MANY companies to cut back or abandon benefit programs that their workers thought were unchangeable.  Big Oil may be a bit more insulated, given its earnings history.  Hang on to that pension!

 

LL

Edited June 28, 2017 by Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438

[Pat Riot]

1 hour ago, Smoken D said:

The on line shopping is great for us folks living way out in the country. Big towns are 4 hour round trip at the least and then ya got to drive all over town which ain't no fun when you are use to seeing maybe 20 vehicles a week. The one thing I hate seeing is Christmas time and kids not experiencing the thrill of store shopping and all the decorations. That is when the 4 hour round trip is special.

I buy a lot of things on line, like motorcycle and car parts, but I also go to stores to buy things that I can't get on line or things that I cannot wait on to have it / them delivered. One thing I refuse to buy on line are clothes, except for the occasional Tee Shirt I like to try my clothes, shoes and boots on before buying. Rave reviews mean nothing in regards to clothing sizes and the way that they fit me. I also like to buy local when I can so I do buy things at stores that I know I can get cheaper on line but I like my little town and I want to keep it going.

[Noz]

My wife saw an item ($20) for our camper.  I contacted all of the local, then big box stores and no one carried it. I went direct to the producer on line, ordered and was astounded to receive the item via FedX in 23 hours from ordering.  Makes a 50 mile round trip to shop kinda foolish.

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

I just bought a part for my German-made dishwasher on EBay-UK.  The dishwasher is 7 years old, and this part is not available in the US.  I could have ordered it directly from the manufacturer, if I wanted to pay $340 plus shipping.  Instead, I'm getting a lightly used part for 21 Pounds plus shipping.  I'll chance it.

 

LL

[Finagler 6853 Life]

Self checkouts don't bother me much.  I've used them enough to be able to fly through them most of the time.  More and more stores will go to self checkouts with all the emphasis on $15/hr minimum wage.  Instead of paying some kid or first time to the job market person $12/hr for checking us out or waiting/busing tables, we will just set up a series of kiosks and self checkouts with one person monitoring 6 if them.  From and industrial/efficiency standpoint, it makes a lot of sense.  There is an article every week about the stores and restaurants that are closing in cities where the $15/hr minimum has been adopted.  I guess they will have to fix their own lunch.  $15/hr sounds good and gets lots of press but it is unsustainable in practice for entry level work.

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

Amazon has become the biggest retail sales company in the US and doesn't own a retail store.

it is the future.

ike

[Noz]

I ordered 1000 coated bullets from Missouri Bullet Co 22 hours ago.  They are in my hands.  That's hard to beat!!!!

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

I use the self checkouts as much as possible.  I watched a 20 something guy steal a loaf of bread.

[Alpo]

I don't think I would mind the self-checkout, if it saved money.

 

Back in the 70s, gas at 35 cents, but self service gas was 31. They were paying me 4 cents a gallon to pump my own gas.

 

I go to the grocery store and get a bottle of milk. Take it through the cashier, it costs me $3. Take it through the self checkout, it costs me $3. What's my incentive to do their work for them?

[JudgeBagodonuts]

I prefer self checkouts, so I can bag the groceries the way I want to bag them. Before self checkout, I'd often take the bag as packed by the store bagger, and then re-pack it. My wife felt that it was rude to do it right in front of the bagger, but I prefer my potato chips, bread, rolls, and eggs intact when they get home. When I was in college, I worked as a cashier, and can still efficiently bag groceries at a pace where the cashier can barely keep ahead of me. 

 

[Roger Ball]

I will always use a self-checkout if it's available, unless I'm purchasing alcohol, seeking a discount, or something else that requires a store representative.

 

I find that the person at the self-checkout always handles and bags my goods exactly how I want it done. And, even better than that, the machine is usually more polite and speaks better English than whoever is manning the till...

[Calico Mary]

I bag my own as much as possible, but still want a cashier ringing it up.  If only they'd TRAIN the people bagging that you CAN put more than 1 item in each bag...that there's no reason to use 20 bags for 4 bags worth of stuff...no wonder so many places want to ban them.....