Is Ecommerce the end of Traditional stores?

United States
October 30, 2009 8:50pm CST
Has online shopping affected brick and mooter stores? Would you rather sit back at your personal computer and buy what you need instead of getting dressed to drive to the store? How long will it be until we no longer needed traditional stores?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@amitavroy (4819)
• India
31 Oct 09
well no matter what happens to the computer world. No matter how advance human being become. But there is one thing which still is in the mind of a person and that is to go to the store, see the thing and then buy. And that is the reason that i think it is never going to happen.
• United States
31 Oct 09
I see where you're coming from by saying it's almost like a psychological part of humans. Yet, if Ecommerce has made the competition so stiff that traditional stores wouldn't have enough revenue to support their overhead, wouldn't they have to close shop therefor forcing even more Ecommerce?
• United States
31 Oct 09
Well for some people it depends on if they could pay shipping and handling or if its cheaper just to pay tax at the store. For the people who like to shop, the look at it as exercise i know some people carry some type of gadget with them that tells them how many miles they have walked. And like other people have said too it depends on how easy it is for you to find clothes, I know that cause I'm so short it is hard for me personally to shop online just because I have to try them on first.
• United States
31 Oct 09
Another cost that you didn't take into account and is a growing concern is gas. While some stores are close or on a daily route that you already travel, some malls or other outlets may be a good drive away. Right now, gas is at a relatively low price but when it rises, will we be as willing to travel to the store and burn gas when you could just shop online?
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
31 Oct 09
The only things I buy online are books. But I also continue to visit bookstores, the ones made with actual paper. The two complement each other and in my opinion can co-exist with each other. I will let others comment on other items since I never trusted myself buying any other kind of item online.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
31 Oct 09
I like to shop online for things that I don't have to see in person. But there are a number of things that I wouldn't buy online. Then again, maybe if I could go somewhere and look at one in person, then I might go online and try to find the best deal on the item. Clothing is one thing that I would really have a hard time purchasing online. First of all, if it doesn't fit, then you have to ship it back. And a lot of times you have to pay for shipping in addition to the purchase price. Although, I have gotten a good deal on a few things that I have purchased online. I purchased my mouse and keyboard as a set for my computer online and got a really good deal. They weren't anything that I really had to look at in person to purchase so it wasn't a big deal. Perhaps it just depends on the products. But I don't see typical brick and mortar stores going completely out of business any time soon. Maybe they just need to provide a little bit better deals.
• United States
31 Oct 09
You make a good point with the clothing issue. My fiance has a difficult time finding jeans that fit. She recently got the idea that she would ind a style and size that works for her in stores, but then go online to purchase them when ever she needed to. So that is very similar to what you said. Maybe clothing companies will start making fitting stores only and then say buy online. It makes since because the company wouldn't have to distribute inventory each store every month.
• United States
1 Nov 09
I believe that eCommerce has severely affected traditional stores, although will not wipe them out entirely. It will be important for these "brick and mortar" stores to adapt to the internet, or else they will lose their business to those who have - consider Barnes and Noble, who is doing just fine because of their excellent website. At the same time, there will always be a place for stores which offer (a) strong customer service, and (b) things which cannot be readily shipped via the internet - like groceries, or hot meals.
@Gongfuboy (130)
• China
31 Oct 09
hi, dude In my genuine opinion, I don't think the traditional stores will disappear one day even in the future, just like the television still can't completely replace role of radio, because some advantages of the traditional story won't ever be replaced by the ecommerce, for example, you know customer experience is very important when you go shopping that scarcely happen online. So in the visible future, I believe the ecommerce and the stores of brck and mortar will be compatible with each other.