No Wonder the High Street is Dying

Derivative

This thread strikes me as a bit strange.
I mean, the premise is fine, but why the seemingly unwarranted hatred against internet shoppers?

At the end of the day, if you want a product, you go for the cheapest that is still good quality. Doesn't matter what that product is, could be a house, car, book, etc.

We replaced the red flag man that walked in front of cars, and we replaced the human calculator, now we're starting to replace retail staff. That's how the world works - technology ushers in change.

ukcarper

Pobby wrote: »

Internet shopping is a mini consumer revolution. I gave up on " bricks and mortar " retailing years ago. Sold technical stuff. Got fed up with doing demos for customers only to find that they purchased elsewhere. Mind you , had much mirth when they came crawling back with damaged and faulty items. Or goods they had no idea how to operate. Still, it is evident to me that the net is on the way up and no stopping it.

I agree it is becoming more difficult to see and feel things before you buy them and if people carry on looking at things in shops and ordering on line then there will soon come a time when you won’t be able to see things before you buy. I personally think it’s worth the extra to be able to compare product in my hand before I buy and don’t mind paying a few extra pounds for the privilege.

IronWolf

I don't understand the fascination with "saving the high street".

Its dying because people dont want to shop there, yet they like the idea of it so want to save it.

You cant have it both ways, if you like it then shop there and pay more for your products. Otherwise buy online or in the supermarket giants.

Graham_Devon

dtsazza wrote: »

Aren't you and Hamish both arguing the same thing, though? Namely, that it is more expensive to run a business on the high street than the internet (because of property and rental costs), so consumers choose to shop online instead (because it's cheaper).

No, not at all.

Hamish is blaming the customers. Quite clearly he disregards rent and business rates.

IronWolf

Graham_Devon wrote: »

No, not at all.

Hamish is blaming the customers. Quite clearly he disregards rent and business rates.

But these costs will always be higher on the high street than in warehouses, so it will always be passed onto the customer in the form of higher prices.

Ironically, the only way to drastically reduce these costs is if the high street is struggling and the rents drop.

chucknorris

Proxy wrote: »

I think graham and Hamish are secret lovers.

So secret that even they don't know.

wymondham

I shop online because of increased choice and the ability to browse anonymously. A shop can only stock so much whereas an online retailer usually gets stock direct so the choice is much improved. I'm not particularly concerned about price and if i want 'service' then i'll buy locally (such as buying a new TV - i can physically take it back if it breaks without the endless phone calls if it was online!)

We have used Tesco online since the days then sent out CD's and would never waste time in a supermarket again - shopping takes 5 or 10 mins then we can do something more useful than shuffle around a crowded store....

System

I don't like buying clothes online, need to try stuff on.

Anything else I generally get on the interwebs though.

chucknorris

Joeskeppi wrote: »

I don't like buying clothes online, need to try stuff on.


Anything else I generally get on the interwebs though.

I'll buy most things online but not trainers (or clothes), I'm too concerned about getting palmed off with fakes.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Hamish is blaming the customers. Quite clearly he disregards rent and business rates.

I've just pointed out that you could have a shop rent free and still not be able to compete with online prices.

So obviously that is not the deciding factor.