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Do you think the Pandemic will change the way we shop permanently? Right now the stores aren't really refilling the shelves because so many shoppers order online. So I'm thinking this could be a trend and the decline of the "superstore".

Superstores, Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Home Depot and others have created huge internal malls. Instead of shopping malls with a variety of shops the superstores have a wide variety of departments BUT malls are becoming more obsolete over the last 2 decades, partly do to the superstores and I was pondering that this crisis of in-person shopping might also be the death of the superstore.

I know with my order online and no contact pick-up, it has spoiled me and I won't go back to in-store shopping unless I have to.

What do you think?

Is in-person shopping on its way out?

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  • 4 votes
Leelu 7 Dec 9
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24 comments

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6

It might change the way many/some people shop. For me personally, I live in a rural area with few options so online shopping is nearly my norm even before the pandemic. I still have to pick up most of my orders from the post office in town. Online shopping does not allow me to avoid face to face contact with other people. Only a few courier services would drop off packages at our place.

6

Retail has always been changing. Remember when we had downtowns ,then outdoor malls ,then indoor malls,then strip malls, then recreated downtowns and now we have online malls,AKA Amazon.
I have a feeling I'll see one more change after this one.

I'm hoping for virtual holographic shopping like Star Trek where you can try things on and check them out before you buy without ever leaving your home. How fun would that be?

@Leelu They're really close to that. Lands End and Macy's had options where you can enter your dimensions, and they would show how the clothes looked on you. I never did it, so I don't know how accurate or effective it was, but I'm sure it's advancing quickly.

5

Even before the pandemic, online shopping made the concept of a superstore seems inefficient/old fashioned to me in so many ways. It takes time and effort to travel to a physical store with no guarantee that you will even find what you are looking for. In addition, fully stocked stores will inevitably have unsold inventory which is wasteful and not at all eco-conscious. I envision a small storefront type model with limited inventory where consumers can see, touch or try on samples and then purchase made-to-order items in the desired size, color etc. This would help eliminate the production of unneeded goods.
Anecdotally, even people with jobs and resources tell me they are spending less and realizing they are needing less. Shopping as an activity is becoming less and less appealing. This pandemic may be the thing that turns the tide away from conspicuous consumption and rampant consumerism. At least I hope so.

That may be, at least, like you, I hope so.

5

Do you remember a chain called “Service Merchandise” back in the 70s and 80s? They were a showroom with 1display of each inventory item. You could look at it, feel, turn it on etc. If you wanted to buy, you put the item info on a clipboard and turned that in, paying at that time. Then the item(s) would come down a large conveyor, in full packaging. I am thinking that they gave up a little too soon. A hybrid of physical store and online ordering might really work, now.

I agree with you, I have to try on clothes, esp shoes, before buying. I think one item fits of every ten I try on! Also, I really need to see produce before buying. I stock up on what’s looking good that day.

Zster Level 8 Dec 9, 2020

Yes, I remember them and shopped there often. I'm at a time in my life I only shop for clothes at 2 stores and their sizes are known to me. I can't even remember the last time I sent something back. I would agree with shoes though, I would need to try them on but I only buy 1 or 2 pairs a year so that won't change my shopping much.

I will say that I have been so pleasantly surprised about my produce orders. I'm pretty picky so naturally I had concerns but I haven't been disappointed not even once since March. They do a great job and I fill out the survey every week because they don't allow tipping. It's the only way I can thank them.

3

If my personal thoughts are anything to go by, I will probably enjoy going back to the high street at least, but will still be shopping on line more than I did a year ago. there will be a balance found eventually, and I think that there is value in seeing and handling the goods, and speaking to the sellers in person, ( especially in the smaller high street shop ) but the big out of town stores, not so much.

3

I do not think the shelves are bare because the stores cannot be bothered, I think that the shelves are bare because we are teetering on the brink of severe shortages or perhaps just failing harvesting & distribution, poorly covered up by speading the shelves thinly with whatever they have so mass panic does not ensue.
Remember what happened with TP, for no reason whatsoever? Now imagine if even just a few foodstuffs were suddenly seen to be "unavailable". I am buying a gun.

3

I never was a recreational shopper, and only used shopping malls as needed for gift buying. Over the past couple decades, the rude and inconsiderate behavior of other shoppers, crowded retail staging, and parking hassles just magnified that. Online shopping suits me in so many ways to comparison shop, select delivery/pickup options, avoid crowds, now more than ever!

Yes, me too.

3

A little of both maybe. I'm guessing in-store shopping will rebound but online shopping and delivery will have been given a boost and will stick around.

skado Level 9 Dec 9, 2020

I think you're right. Some, like me, will online all we can and others who don't might the public interaction or even like it will go back.

@Leelu
My own shopping habits have been permanently altered I’m sure. I haven’t been in a store since March... and I haven’t missed it.

@skado I don't miss it either.

3

I've been shopping online for a while. Not due to the v, but because I just don't like being around people, and have found it to be cheaper.

I shop by Instacart now, which is much more expensive than going to the store in person. That said, I much prefer to avoid people, too, and the extra cost is worth it!

Buying groceries online has always ended up more expensive. Larger items are sometimes cheaper online but individual shipping makes small items more expensive online.

@Organist1 because I had been exposed to covid I quarantined for 10 days so I did my first instacart order earlier in the week. I was very pleased with the timing and the items they sent. It did cost me an extra 10% for a tip. I live 11 miles from the store so I'm feeling guilty because I didn't make it 15%.I had the option of only paying $2.71 instead of $6.50 for the tip. If that's all the worker got for doing my shopping I'm really feeling guilty now. Does the store give them anything?

@Lorajay Here's how it works.
[jungleworks.com].

2

No, I very much doubt it. Humans are social creatures and need interaction with each other. Some people do not have friends and the only interaction they have is with the shop assistant.

2

I haven't seen a movie in a theater for a year. In fact, the last movie I saw in a theater was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and it was awful. I really want to go see movies in theaters again. I'm wondering if that will ever be something we can do now that most movies are released through a streaming service.

2

Sure hope so. It will cut down on traffic. However, it may increase consumerism.

Would be nice if there are less vehicles on the road after this but even if people shop more from home the delivery drivers will increase.

@Leelu The fewer small cars will be replaced by large trucks. Still, I think the overall traffic will diminish.

2

Personally, I like to go to see products in person. I don't think I am alone in this.

The pandemic will change shopping practices to some extent and after the pandemic is over, things won't go completely back the the way things were, but some of the old shopping ways will partially return.

Before the pandemic, I'd look at products on line and look at product reviews before I buy things. When it came to my TV, I went to Best Buy and looked to see which TVs had to best picture, and then bough the TV on line which save me $300. That was after I also checked the product reviews on line.

I found that if you use the 20% off coupons at Bed Bath and Beyond, the product price is usually lower than the Amazon price for a lot of products. I save the coupans as they come int he mail because you can only use one coupon per item, but most locations will also take expired store coupons. One time I went near Christmas, and I had about half a dozen coupons left in the stack, so after making my purchase I turned aroudn to the customers in line and handed them out to other customers in line.

Anyway, for some things, you just want to see the product in person before buying it. I think many store chains will go out of business or reduce locations. In turn this will in turn force malls and other commercial spaces to lower the ratailer's rents, which will keep some stores in business.

2

The trend for online shopping over in person retail shopping has been evolving for some time now. There's no telling though, as people need socialization, so it's possible an in person revitalization may swing the pendulum back towards retail. But then I think the popular trend will swing back to internet. Just my take on it.

2

For me personally my shopping habits have changed once we were able to order online, now with the pandemic yes I agree that it's much easier to order ahead hopefully the people pulling the orders are being paid at a rate where they can survive also. 🙂 And now for something really important. 🤔 where's the donuts! 😁

1

I don't think I will ever shop in quite the same way again. I prefer shopping in person because items are more expensive with delivery fees, and it's harder to see what's on sale. That being said, I do like the pick-up feature for when my day is full or I just don't have the energy to shop.

1

Yes and NO BUT maybe the good side of it might actually be that people may just realize (????) for a change that Hoarding Dunny (Toilet ) paper is NOT an effective anti-virus measure....LOL.

1

Stores like Walmart and Target I could see going away sooner than they would have because of all this.

But to put lowes and home depot in that same breath is foolish. Anyone who knows what they're doing always inspects lumber before they purchase it. Getting rid of those won't happen as long as we have a construction industry.

1

I find that ordering things online for home delivery , increases the costs of most delivered items . With everyone claiming being underpaid for working , and also loosing income due to the pandemic , I keep wondering how they think they can waste their income for this kind of convience ?

For a lot of people, it is not just convience but safety, in this country the government asked certain parts of the population to remain in their homes, and not go out, even shopping.

"Claiming" to be underpaid....

I don't pay more, I save a lot. My card gives rewards and with my grocery orders alone I earn $35-$50 credit on my account every month. I also get free shipping on everything. Shopping smart doesn't stop at the computer.

1

Ask Bezos.

1

it already has

1

Walmart will still be around, and they started walmart+.

@Thirst2learn I hope so but I doubt it

@Thirst2learn
Closing two stores doesn't mean their going under.

@xenoview its a start they fuck employees hard

0

Personally, I much prefer to shop in person hence I can see, choose and, hopefully know that I AM getting exactly what I want and that it is, in some way, actually fresh or new rather than someone else's junk.

0

I will always continue to do a fair amount of in person shopping, esp. for clothing and food, because I want to see in person what I'm buying, as well as the convenience and savings, as long as stores continue to allow in person shopping. With clothing I always want to be able to try things on to be sure they fit. I am skeptical about buying everything online and having to go by photos and info about a product. I want to see and touch things most of the time, unless it's a book, DVD or CD. Those things I don't need to see in person to know what I'm buying. Even with electronics, I want to see things in person before buying them, even if it's just a demo model. I can't believe people are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on buying a car online that they have not seen in person to look at even a demo model.

I don't do impulse buying and most advertising doesn't work on me. I guess I'm just smarter and more skeptical than most.

Hmmm... that was a nice post right up until you patted yourself on the back and denigrated most everyone else.

@Leelu Whatever. Sometimes the truth hurts. Maybe you should join DaisyMaeNot over on the the Online Dating group so you can both bash me for being honest. I'll say what I want. If you don't like it, block me or fuck off..

@TomMcGiverin No, I want people to see your ego just as it is. Forewarned is forearmed.

@Leelu Whatever. Like your words really hurt me. I won't be bullied by the self-appointed gender police.. I won't kiss ass to women on this site to be liked or popular, nor should you do that to be the same with men on here.

@TomMcGiverin 😀

@Leelu DaiseyMae blocked me, but Leelu can't resist the last word.....

@TomMcGiverin Awww... and you're trying so hard too. Kiss-kiss!

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