The Year Experiment
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    Day 2 - Is Amazon the Problem?

    Every day that I open my web browser or TikTok, I am bambarded by articles and videos about major retailors ether having to close multiple locations or going bankrupt.  Most recently I have seen that Big Lots, Party City going bankrupt and Macy's, JC Penney's and others closing multiple locations.   Without fail they point out the changing consumer trends, that consumers are moving online and that this mostly due to Amazon.

    While I will agree that Amazon undeniablely plays a factor, and there is a lot to be said about the ability to shop and find deals from the comfort of your own home.  I am of the opinion that this mostly just the easiest scape goat for the retailors to use to overlook their own failures.  The first of these failures being the loss of the overall experiance.

    Now, I know I am getting older (46 at this point) but I don't think that I am old enough to use the following term... Back in my day, when I was in my teens the Internet was still in its infantcy and Amazon was just getting started at the time it was known as Cadabra and dealing in books.   So, you had to go to brick and mortor retailers or mail order to get items you wanted.  I remember going to Sears, JC Penney, Mervyns and Macy's.  All of them and I mean all of them made it an experiance, you looked forward to going most of the time, Black Friday was usually the exception.  But for the most part like I said it was an experience, when you would walk into the stores, everything was visually appealing, stores were organized and clean.   Most of the time customer service was on point as well.  That is no longer the case.

    This year I made a point to stay off of Amazon for my Christmas shopping, all of my purchases this year were completed by going to actual physical local stores.  Let's just say, the experiance these days leaves A LOT to be desired.  I visited multiple stores but they all gave the vibe of giving up...  My first visit was to my local Target, this was next to Best Buy the only place that had a organized layout. Eventhen most of the areas were a mess and the staff was more concerned about chatting with eachother rather than helping customers.  Best Buy's strong point was that they still somewhat believe in customer service.  Best Buy was literly the only place where I was asked "You finding everything alright", "Is there anything I can help you with?"   The other stores that I visited, which included JC Penney's, Boscov's and Macy's.  Where all horible, zero customer service, disorganized, long stained & wornout carpet and just dirty all around.  These stores reminded me of the last time I visited a Swap-meet and there I atleast got some customer service.

    I the end, I think that the stores that want to survive will have to come to the realization that to compete with the online retailors the likes of Amazon, they need to make their store worth visiting, people want to be treated like they matter and a clean, organized store with great customer service goes a long way.  People want to go out, they want an experience and while I think that Amazon is here to stay and we will still by from there.  There is still a place for the the Physical Store...  Dick's Sporting Goods comes to mind, I never see them not busy, evertime I have visited, I have received great service, the store is organized and clean.  Anytime I need to pick up anything for my boys or myself for sport or active type purchases, that is the first place I visit, I don't even bother with Amazon.

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