Slow Death of Department Stores as Non-Store Retailers Including Amazon Flourish

[Ptarmigan]

Slow Death of Department Stores as Non-Store Retailers Including Amazon Flourish
https://mishtalk.com/uncategorized/slow-death-of-department-stores-as-non-store-retailers-including-amazon-flourish/

Nonstore retailers are holding pandemic gains as department stores slowly sink into oblivion.



Non-store retailers include kiosks, vending machines, direct selling, telemarketing, direct marketing and e-tailing. Amazon is the largest non-store retailer.

I calculate the percentage excluding items that cannot or normally do not happen except in person. That list includes gas stations, food services, grocery stores, and motor vehicles.

Nonstore Retail Sales as Percent of Advance Retail Sales Detail

Department stores have declined before COVID pandemic.

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Dozens of reasons for this, including many brick and mortar stores switching to self checkout, keeping a pitiful selection in store (WalMart:don't see your size/color/preference? Order online from us! Customer: Why bother, I'll just add it to my Amazon order and not have to drive to the store at all), sorry excuses for customer service (I want to find a bluetooth hack and blast bestial war metal in all the cashiers with earbuds in everywhere).

While taking away from the big box stores doesn't bother me, I know this tread is hurting the mom and pop storefronts much worse.

[Eupher]

Dozens of reasons for this, including many brick and mortar stores switching to self checkout, keeping a pitiful selection in store (WalMart:don't see your size/color/preference? Order online from us! Customer: Why bother, I'll just add it to my Amazon order and not have to drive to the store at all), sorry excuses for customer service (I want to find a bluetooth hack and blast bestial war metal in all the cashiers with earbuds in everywhere).

While taking away from the big box stores doesn't bother me, I know this tread is hurting the mom and pop storefronts much worse.

Agreed, especially about the business of driving to the store. I get less and less tolerant of morons behind the wheel and continually look for opportunities to NOT have to drive anywhere -- if I can avoid it.

Customer service? Really? In a brick 'n mortar store? Good luck with that!

[Old n Grumpy]

I get a lot of stuff online but when buying clothes it’s nice to be able to try them on and see the quality of what you’re buying.

On the other hand sometimes getting there,parking and occasionally feral youths can spoil your shopping experience