Thousands of jobs are going away due to the success of buying online. Libraries and bookstores got hit first. Now all the other standard stores are closing. Soon there will be empty buildings tenantless everywhere in the hundreds thousands millions. Bazillions? Success of one affects the viability of what used to be. You can buy it cheaper online and have it delivered to you so it's more convenient. You never have get up off your aq** for anything anymore. Just go to the door and get the package. Over and done. Ain't we got fun? That doesn't work for me. I am a HANDS ON purchaser. I do not trust the internet to deliver what it promises/represents. But I am in the minority and we are not the preferred customer at all.
Does anyone go to travel agencies to purchase tickets anymore or is everything done on line all the time?
Sigh.
Amazon is today what the Sears catalog was for many years (and you couldn't touch the merchandise before buying from it either). The only difference is one doesn't get it in the mail (that and one can't use it for .. um ... "alternative purposes" in the outhouse).
It's hard seeing icons like Macy's and Sears disappear. This town has one of the few Kmarts left in existence (it's a part of Sears). When it was first built, it was the biggest store ever built in these parts (made the bowling alley look puny). At that time, the community was served by several dime-stores and numerous mom-n-pop stores, as well as a few hardware stores (think general stores like you see in westerns). Many petitions were circulated aimed at keeping the so-called "big valley store" (meaning Sacramento) out of this little town. But they weren't successful. Within a few years of Kmart's opening, most of the dime stores as well as many of the mom-n-pop stores closed shop. They just couldn't compete with Kmart. All but 2 hardware stores went under as well. Many jobs were lost. Folks thought that the local JCPenney store would be run out of town as well. However, within a few years, other stores moved in around Kmart (grocery, sporting goods, restaurants, etc.), not only providing jobs for all those who had been displaced,but many more as well. The JCPenny's didn't go out of business, but rather it expanded to 4x its former size. Yes, Kmart changed the area, but it didn't kill it like so many had feared.
Although Amazon is a giant today, one day it too will be just a memory. Just like Woolworth, Wards, Gemco, Radio Shack, Western Auto, Rexall, Toys R Us, and so many others.
Nice Jugs 