The slow death of the American shopping mall

[myk r sanchez]

AMAZON. And to a lesser extent, eBay and the internet in general. Why go through the trouble of getting ready, piling into your car and then fighting for parking space at a crowded mall as long as you can sit on your fat *** at home and order everything you need from Amazon, food delivery services, the internet. And with the scamdemic here, everyone's been trained to not want to socialize anymore, which is what I enjoyed most about going to malls during high school. I couldn't buy anything, but it was always the place to meet up, socialize, stare at girls, eat, etc.

Malls are an anachronism and no longer needed, because anything and everything that malls ever promised is now available on the latest iPhone 12, but yes, I miss those days and wish the world would do a hard reset towards simpler times...

 

[Demonic]

Malls have been on the downward spiral for quite a long time now. Sears, J. C. Penney almost completely gone. Amazon, the 'net in general have put on the hurt as we shop in different ways. As mentioned, I have heard of high rent driving out stores as well. Changing times....

 

[CoronetDarter]

There's an upscale mall in Roseville called The Galleria. It's a very nice mall anchored by the big retail - Macy's, JC Penny, Nordstrom, Crate & Barrel, etc. Several years ago the mall started leasing space in the main aisleways to these small kiosks. These people are like carneys; you don't dare make eye contact with one of them or they're running over practically demanding you to smell this, try that. Got to the point you couldn't have a leisurely walk from one end of the mall to the other; haven't gone inside for about two years. I shop local as much as possible, even if its not a small business at least the sales tax dollars are staying in the community.

 

[Budnicks]

AMAZON. And to a lesser extent, eBay and the internet in general. Why go through the trouble of getting ready, piling into your car and then fighting for parking space at a crowded mall as long as you can sit on your fat *** at home and order everything you need from Amazon, food delivery services, the internet. And with the scamdemic here, everyone's been trained to not want to socialize anymore, which is what I enjoyed most about going to malls during high school. I couldn't buy anything, but it was always the place to meet up, socialize, stare at girls, eat, etc.

Malls are an anachronism and no longer needed, because anything and everything that malls ever promised is now available on the latest iPhone 12, but yes, I miss those days and wish the world would do a hard reset towards simpler times...

I agree;

except for there's no human interaction like there was in
shopping malls, some good some & not so good

 

[QuickBpBp]

I will hate to see them gone... I like to try on sneakers, shirts and jeans etc... Really don't want to order them online when I NEED THEM only to get them days later and have to send them back!! Online shopping is part of the Destruction Of America where everything you do is monitored..

 

[odcics2]

Texting killed the need to socialize.

 

[Budnicks]

A bit off subject, but I'll play

Texting killed the need to socialize.

so did the so-called "Smartphones"
see everyone hunched over & staring into their damn phones 24/7
it's really truly sad

called cell phones, because you're a prisoner of the device

 

[DeltaV]

The one thing I liked about the mall anchor stores, especially the high end ones, were the young women working behind the cosmetics counter.

 

[Budnicks]

The one thing I liked about the mall anchor stores, especially the high end ones, were the young women working behind the cosmetics counter.

Target rich environment, as we used to call them

 

[myk r sanchez]

I agree;

except for there's no human interaction like there was in
shopping malls, some good some & not so good

We took the good with the bad. Today, people meet each other electronically, whether it's for work, school, dating, etc. Facebook, instagram, LinkedIn, on and on and on. I guess I'm a dinosaur but I prefer eye contact and a firm handshake when it came to my encounters. Oh well, not anymore. Technology and the scamdemic have forever changed traditional methods of socialization...

 

[gkent]

Well I for one like Amazon. 1) I don't have to rely on any particular store favoring certain brands - I have access to competitive products and a broad price range 2) I can shop 24/7 3) Amazon Prime gives me both TV AND free shipping 4) a VERY easy returns policy - I don't to deal with a clerk raising their eyebrows 'cause I bought the wronf size 5) doorstep delivery 7 days a week 6) no line-ups at the cash 7) no crowds to fight 8) no searching for a decent parking spot 9) I don't have to search for a salesclerk NOR do I have to fend off the overzealous ones. There are probably more reasons but these were the bunch that immediately come to mind.

Now the REAL dilemma is: where are all the teens going to hang out ?!?!?

 

[myk r sanchez]

Well I for one like Amazon. 1) I don't have to rely on any particular store favoring certain brands - I have access to competitive products and a broad price range 2) I can shop 24/7 3) Amazon Prime gives me both TV AND free shipping 4) a VERY easy returns policy - I don't to deal with a clerk raising their eyebrows 'cause I bought the wronf size 5) doorstep delivery 7 days a week 6) no line-ups at the cash 7) no crowds to fight 8) no searching for a decent parking spot 9) I don't have to search for a salesclerk NOR do I have to fend off the overzealous ones. There are probably more reasons but these were the bunch that immediately come to mind.

Now the REAL dilemma is: where are all the teens going to hang out ?!?!?

Dont get me wrong, i enjoy the internet as well. Like I said before, why waste the effort of getting ready, piling into your car, fighting traffic and then struggling to find parking, only to find that the brick and mortar doesn't have what you need? For car parts, i can't remember the last time I ever set foot in a Napa, oreillys or whatever. The idiotic conversation with the workers that ask me if my car is a V8 or not when im looking for wiper blades is a complete waste of my time.

BUT....there's no human interaction, there's no socialization, be it good or bad, and yes the internet is a blessed thing (LOVE THE BLUE FORUM) but I think we as a species has lost something when we don't count on seeing each other in person anymore.

As for modern kids? They're a lost cause. All they care about is burying their faces into technology, 24/7. They don't need the outside world or even how to form words in their mouths because their fondest wishes are at their fingertips and the scamdemic has all of them living in fear and cowering at home anyway...

 

[gkent]

Keep in mind that asking what size the engine is to buy wiper blades is what the computer wants them to ask. Then the parts often have to be ordered in. Why wait for them to come in to the parts store then make another trip when I can go on RockAuto and a) it remembers what my vehicle is and b) gives me a ton of price and delivery options.

An hour ago I was help a friend with a toilet problem. We need a new fill valve. All stores are currently "curb pickup" to to covid restrictions. So if we order that "on line" from the local HD, we have to wait for an email telling us when to DRIVE OVER and pick it up. The thing is the same price on Amazon and would be delivered tomorrow- probably before we'd be able to pick it up at HD !!

 

[Under Pressure]

How ironic that mail order is what put Sears and JC Penny on the map so many many years ago and is the very method of what took them out, how many of us remember a Sears catalog on or under the coffee table.
I still like going out and supporting brick and mortar so I can speak with people and look at products before I buy.
Reminds me of losing our drive in’s, a lot of that was due to land values, but Beta and VHS helped it along in the late 70’s and early 80’s as people got used to the ease of staying home on the couch after picking up a movie on the way home from work
Some changes I can do without

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

It’s funny I remember strip malls dying in the 70’s replaced by indoor malls. For some reason people want to walk in the cold between the stores. I like brick and mortar I also like little hardware stores. I travel for work and when I see a cool looking hardware store I love to stop in.

 

[gkent]

Well, Netflix killed Blockbuster and every other video rental joint. Times change. Just gotta suck it up !

 

[Kern Dog]

I don't want to suck on anything.
I am the guy that finds what I want and then I want it to stay that way. When something is good and works, I don't want it to change.

 

[QuickBpBp]

"Convienence" has it's price. Shopping online just makes people even more unfit, lazy and takes away lots of jobs... I like to get out and do things...

 

[Dibbons]

It was shopping downtown in the 1950's that was the place to go. Then the mall's put the downtown shops into a big downturn in the 1960's. Now the malls's are suffering from a big downturn. Progress? We purchase too much "stuff" already.

 

[gkent]

When something is good and works, I don't want it to change.

If you're not receptive to change you'll be run over by progress. One reason many good companies fail - because they didn't adapt. Likewise with people - how many lost their jobs because they wouldn't - not couldn't - wouldn't adapt. In my career I let a few of them go.