Big Box Stores - Round and round the death clock goes. Will they die soon? Nobody knows.

[Rock_Hard_Rooster]

I passed a Best Buy on my way to work recently and have started wondering how long these types of stores actually have left. I kind of appreciate these stores in some sort of weird way and actually do enjoy stopping on in and picking something up if I'm interested in it. I don't mind doing online shopping but I've always liked physical shopping more.

Do you guys do the same thing or just do all your shit online? How many years are left in these stores?

 

[From The Uncanny Valley]

I miss malls so fucking much

 

[Megaroad 2012]

I miss malls so fucking much

I always enjoyed our family Sunday trips to the mall when I was a kid in the 90s, and of course just hanging out there with friends when I got my driver's license.

Wouldn't even buy anything usually, just walked around checking things out.

 

[Papa Adolfo's Take'n'Bake]

I don't think they go outright, jus downsize. There's something to be sais for the convenience of "I want this paeticular thing that is hard to name but also want to see what they have in stock" and bring it home with you same day. I think that more proficiently, these stores ramp up online presence, offer delivery, AND (for those who don't really want packages brought to their doorstep for their address to be tracked and their package stolen) act as pickup locations for things people order.

That and they're good for peoole who say "fuck amazon"

 

[The Magnificence]

I prefer to actually put eyes on big ticket items - TVs, appliances, etc. - but that seems to be going the way of the dodo.

Big Boxes in general I suppose we will have a few hang on for years yet. Best Buy in particular I am honestly shocked still exists today.

 

[Beak Thing]

A lot of big box stores are adapting by offering online ordering, delivery and pickup. They have a lot of the same distribution infrastructure as Amazon so it makes sense to adapt their model while offering something online retailers don't, namely the ability to go in and buy something immediately with no wait time.

Personally I like going to stores to buy things, it's nice to get out of the house, interact with people and get something I need on top of it. One of my favorite memories from back in the day was going to Micro Center to buy new computer games and peripherals in the big boxes with the full-color box art and real manuals. I still remember unboxing SimCity 2000 and Age of Empires for the first time.

My guess is we'll see a reversion back to the pre-big box era with those retailers going under or downsizing to be replaced by smaller independent stores that offer more specialized items and personal service. There's definitely demand for this niche, especially for anything where it might help to get the opinion of someone knowledgeable about the products. Local retailers are part of the community so you get so much more out of shopping there vs. a chain.