The Amazon effect

[KenONeill]

15 hours ago, Paul007 said:

So when we have dead and derelict town centres because people are too lazy to go and get the stuff as it's easier to use t'internet, what are we to do with them all?

When easier means "better choice for less money"...

[Aspman]

16 hours ago, Paul007 said:

So when we have dead and derelict town centres because people are too lazy to go and get the stuff as it's easier to use t'internet, what are we to do with them all?

 

They're going to be rezoned as residential.

 

Ok there will still be no parking and no shops nearby so you'll need transport but you can't expect the government o think of everything.

[Guest]

Disregard my last!

Edited 3 April, 2017 by Guest
Fubar'd the link!

[Guest]

22 hours ago, SkodaVRS1963 said:

 

Guess where I won't be going to next time I'm in Bristol?

The rest of the UK?

[Ryeman]

American retailing in trouble it seems 

The Great Retail Apocalypse of 2017 - The Atlantic via NextDraft
http://nxt.fm/2oi4pQ0

[ColinD]

Some 30years ago I frequently worked in a shop, our shop; retailer of sports, toys and much more, 3 floors, lift, 10's of thousand of square feet, 90+ year old business, 15+ staff.

 

I have to say the high street is on death row and has been ever since the mall effect was introduced. Amazon isn't the death knell, but it's a pretty big nail in the box. About 5 years ago I did a survey day outside liverpool1. Liverpool1 is a big city centre retail development, everyone going in was a 'retail' customer or browser.

 

Where do you do your shopping for gifts?

Amazon was the #1 thing first said out of 98% of the answers for over 100 people, in a high street retail environment. boom.

 

Blue Water; huge uk mall, is worried as they have to introduce parking charges; apparently many places will with car parks of a certain size as I recall the news item. So the shopping mall is purely a physical browse, touch feel. Thats why the likes of argos and many others are so keen on click/collect, or view one of the products in a store, you like, click. it's on it's way to you now sir... then again sir is a rarity, more likely mate or can I call you Colin...

 

Leeds had a huge new shopping centre open...the day it opened, the council imposed parking charges on highstreet area car parks... c'mon.

 

Head of sainsburys this week, well last, they pay however many hundred millions of pounds for high street/high value rates, others don't. There is zero emotion for me on this one, shopkeepers pre supermarkets didn't get a deal when they came in and pounded indy's into the ground.... how many local sellers of fruit now? More in chic areas I know, it's good. I'd have to drive 20+mins each way to get to my nearest real bread baker!

 

/My view from a long way back:

Out of town developments are covert planning ops to allow councils to rebuild city centres with office or accommodation centres on bown but not waste land...  

 

The amazon effect, sadly this is a the joy and pain of the internet. I think had we as a retailer survived, we'd have to have adapted and essentially closed anyway. The internet allows joe in his bedroom to compete with anyone else. Your average box or cheap store won't have specialist kit, that's where the internet can help. 

 

Only this morning I was looking at a product, I could not find any european stockists, only amazon. The founders simply say, people like to buy on amazon, so we're there.

 

I have seen significant price differences now on amazon to other warehouse providers. Seems the penny has clicked that a race to the bottom on pricing benefits no one. It's quite common in tech and some outdoor related stuff for amazon to be higher. 

 

I have an amazon prime account, I benefit from amazon affiliate income; pence on the £10's, I dislike amazon, mostly historical from my retail roots. But in lieu of any local retail shops, including mall stores, I use it and I almost have to use it. Even paying for postage from an online seller; non amazon, it's cheaper and greener than me sitting in my car, in a town centre, finding parking,  paying for parking, paying a parking or bus lane fine on the way home... Is it as much fun? No. But then I'm also far less likely to suffer the great unwashed.

 

/Hermit out.

 

 

 

[Ryeman]

I like the country drive to the town but hate shopping.

it looks like Westfield shareholders must be suffering......lots of American malls they manage must be threatened.

[Ttaskmaster]

Some things you just cannot buy online, unless you're happy sending it back (at your own cost) several times until it fits.
Other things are easier to go get in person, humans can be good to talk your requirements out with in person, instruction manuals and YouTube videos are no substitute for someone pointing and saying "that button there"...

 

I do a lot of online shopping, but equally I am happy to go get the best stuff in person. Food in particular.

[Ryeman]

I couldn't buy shoes online but a certain brand of clothes I like I can confidently order.

Cars.......?

[camelspyyder]

Colin, Amazon UK is full of European (and more distant sellers), but if you cant find what you want just cut and paste your search into a foreign amazon site. or a foreign ebay site.

 

I have bought phones from amazon france, custom converse from ebay.com(USA) and of course there's alibaba and aliexpress too.

 

And all without having to deal with a human interface who cannot really help in a shop that pays minimum wage.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 21 April, 2017 by camelspyyder

[aolt]

I've got Cribbs Causeway close by, and as mentioned above I treat it as a look and feel of products. It's also nice to have a bit of a stomp around the shops as well though.

[Ryeman]

What 'they' don't know about you isn't worth knowing.....no, not the NSA 

How Online Shopping Makes Suckers of Us All - The Atlantic via NextDraft
http://theatln.tc/2oFyAk0

[MartynVRS]

Used to work for a small rugby shop, selling rugby stuff and fitness brands. We were one of the first to start selling Under Armour stuff and it was really good, sold strongly in store, on the site and on eBay and Amazon. Until one day the Amazon and eBay sales stopped almost dead. Amazon now started selling Under Armour themselves. So we dropped price a bit but then so did they. As a test I dropped something to cost price and they still dropped further. They basically drop it to the point that they lose but you can make either so you stop selling it. A great way for them to trend what sells and when by letting other mugs risk it first. They saw the sales so they took them. This was about 4 years ago and the rugby shop isn't there anymore. Amazon didn't help them but they would have gone under eventually anyway as they couldn't react fast enough, nor compete on price. High St rates are disgusting so it was a matter of time.

I still shop Amazon and have Prime so can get stuff next day for no extra but I've noticed prices creeping up and other places online being cheaper. I do try and give my sale to the little guy where I can.

[Ryeman]

What SME is safe?.

 

https://www.recode.net/2017/6/16/15819120/amazon-whole-foods-real-estate-delivery-stores

[expostmanpat]

I would suggest that the likes of Amazon are terrible for the country and eventually for the consumer. Whilst i am on the fence regarding eventual price hikes (no doubt there will always be competition) but with these global retailers basing themselves in tax havens and paying minimum tax to local (as in country) goverment then eventually the taxes revenue losses from the high street will be felt and as sure as eggs are eggs the goverment will not absorb these losses so either funding to services will decline or taxes in other areas that cant be avoided will rise.