Have you notice alot of Business Are Now Going Out of Business? (Charlotte: money, coastal)

[DaddySpice]

^ Oh yeah, I'll bet Amazon's really worried about that.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by Tober138

I read that they are moving toward more of an on-line only type of operation.

Its sad to see more and more traditional brick-and-mortar retailers moving their entire business online. Electronics stores (aside from Best Buy) are all but extinct and it looks like bookstores are soon to follow. Who would have thought that e-commerce would eventually completely replace traditional retail?

[Stripes17]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Its sad to see more and more traditional brick-and-mortar retailers moving their entire business online. Electronics stores (aside from Best Buy) are all but extinct and it looks like bookstores are soon to follow. Who would have thought that e-commerce would eventually completely replace traditional retail?

I've got no problem shopping for electronics online versus going into a store like Best Buy.

These places have treated the customer like cash cows, fleecing the uneducated on every facet of the operation, scaring many into unneeded accessories, services, warranties, etc.

They deserve it when the consumers realize this and move along to greener pastures.

[vmaxnc]

Originally Posted by Stripes17

I've got no problem shopping for electronics online versus going into a store like Best Buy.

These places have treated the customer like cash cows, fleecing the uneducated on every facet of the operation, scaring many into unneeded accessories, services, warranties, etc.

They deserve it when the consumers realize this and move along to greener pastures.

The problem is that there are a lot of businesses and people that didn't treat the customer like that but that are now gone or about to go out because too many consumers:

1. Treat all businesses as if they are exactly the same. BB is not and never was the standard for customer service, professional sales staff, and integrity.

2. Assume that they can get all the info they need from a few websites, and random recommendations from people who may or may not (usually not) don't know diddly about the topic.

3. Wasted the resources of the better businesses then bought online for the cheaper price. In some cases those same people then called the better businesses asking them fix the mess caused by online shopping.

4, Made poor decisions because of too many assumptions made, and never took responsibility for those bad decisions.

5. Failed to understand that the sales process is a 2-way street. When properly managed, both parties come away happy. Assuming that all salespeople are lower life forms and don't deserve any respect generally ensures a bad result.

I could go on and on, but I personally know of several businesses that refused to compromise their own integrity, and could not compete in the internet-price-depressed market. The final result of all this will be that you'll buy from BB, Walmart, or online, and proper service will only be available to those willing to pay a large premium for it.

FWIW I'm not talking about buying a single box, or commodity items that are bought only at the lowest possible price. I'm talking about items and systems that require education, customization and follow-up for the consumer to get the best result.

[mikealialex]

Originally Posted by vmaxnc

The problem is that there are a lot of businesses and people that didn't treat the customer like that but that are now gone or about to go out because too many consumers:

1. Treat all businesses as if they are exactly the same. BB is not and never was the standard for customer service, professional sales staff, and integrity.

2. Assume that they can get all the info they need from a few websites, and random recommendations from people who may or may not (usually not) don't know diddly about the topic.

3. Wasted the resources of the better businesses then bought online for the cheaper price. In some cases those same people then called the better businesses asking them fix the mess caused by online shopping.

4, Made poor decisions because of too many assumptions made, and never took responsibility for those bad decisions.

5. Failed to understand that the sales process is a 2-way street. When properly managed, both parties come away happy. Assuming that all salespeople are lower life forms and don't deserve any respect generally ensures a bad result.

I could go on and on, but I personally know of several businesses that refused to compromise their own integrity, and could not compete in the internet-price-depressed market. The final result of all this will be that you'll buy from BB, Walmart, or online, and proper service will only be available to those willing to pay a large premium for it.

FWIW I'm not talking about buying a single box, or commodity items that are bought only at the lowest possible price. I'm talking about items and systems that require education, customization and follow-up for the consumer to get the best result.

I knew a long time ago that retail brick & mortar were in trouble. More and more consumers would come in, spend an hour with a sales clerk getting information, then go home to order online. Well guess what? The sales clerk gets paid by the shopper actually buying something. Otherwise, clerks go away, and you're left with Google. How anyone can buy all of their goods online is a mystery to me. Hmmm...maybe I'll look to Amazon for the answer!

[yantosh22]

Originally Posted by mikealialex

.....How anyone can buy all of their goods online is a mystery to me. Hmmm...maybe I'll look to Amazon for the answer!

I don't think they will for everything. However the big box chain retailers really have become nothing more than distribution centers for bubble packaged goods made in China. The clerks they employ at low wages often don't know anything about the products and that is if you can find one to talk to. So these days most people will at least do some research on-line before heading to the store and given there isn't much advantage to this now, the next logical step is they just buy on-line too.

The big boxes have nothing but themselves to blame. Making it worse is the rather high combined sales tax in Mecklenburg of ~8.25%. Buy from Amazon, which usually throws in free shipping, and you can save the hassle and the taxes.

[DaddySpice]

Originally Posted by yantosh22

Making it worse is the rather high combined sales tax in Mecklenburg of ~8.25%. Buy from Amazon, which usually throws in free shipping, and you can save the hassle and the taxes.

Save the taxes? What, you mean you don't report your online and out-of-state purchase on your NC state tax form and pay up? Can you really do that? I'm shocked.

[aeksis]

In future we will have two kinds of people:
first - who live, work, buy and die in Internet!
second - who refuse any electronics and will live in wild natural world!
who is right? good question! will see!

[vmaxnc]

Originally Posted by DaddySpice

Save the taxes? What, you mean you don't report your online and out-of-state purchase on your NC state tax form and pay up? Can you really do that? I'm shocked.

I sense sarcasm. It is true that we're supposed to report those purchases, but I doubt that very many people actually do it. I know there was legislation in progress a couple years ago to recoup that lost tax income as online sales increased steadily, but haven't heard anything about it recently.

[coastalgirl]

Originally Posted by Stripes17

I've got no problem shopping for electronics online versus going into a store like Best Buy.

These places have treated the customer like cash cows, fleecing the uneducated on every facet of the operation, scaring many into unneeded accessories, services, warranties, etc.

They deserve it when the consumers realize this and move along to greener pastures.

I don't have a problem buying online either, but it's nice to go to the store and see the item first. We chose our tv at Best Buy and came home to purchase it on Amazon for $300 less. For poster Mikealialix: we did not spend time with any salespeople. We just looked around and chose on our own.

The customers who are scared into the unnecessary accessories are not going to realize they are being duped. I think that's the whole point. Best Buy can spot dumb customers a mile away.