Over the years the former middle class, currently working poor have steadily moved from shopping at Macys to shopping at Dollar Stores.
Over the years the former middle class, currently working poor have steadily moved from shopping at Macys to shopping at Dollar Stores.
A large part of it is that service at department stores is atrocious, and they all look and feel like something out of an 80's dystopian move with bad lighting, dirty floors, and half empty shelves.The decline of the department store is multifaceted but in the end most of them failed to keep to keep up with retail trends over many decades. Their customers are at Amazon, Target, Walmart/Sam's, and Costco.
The decline of the department store is multifaceted but in the end most of them failed to keep to keep up with retail trends over many decades. Their customers are at Amazon, Target, Walmart/Sam's, and Costco.
I mean, that's pretty stupid anyhow, buying cables from a retailer is just giving your money away. They've always bilked consumers as much as possible on that shit.Grok trying to deny, delay and deflect the impact of Tariffs
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We just had a natural experiment where prices for goods went up and people flipped their shit. The idea that people would pay more for USA-made stuff is absolutely laughable.Yeah other companies have tried this experiment too and found out the same.
Also Americans love the idea of more domestic manufacturing but few actually want to take the jobs, especially low value manufacturing.
I think it depends on the items being considered for purchase. I would absolutely purchase USA made work boots. I have an anecdotal experience. The brand was Matterhorn boots. This was when I had to crawl alot in crawlspaces ect, they were listed under mining worker boots. The USA made ones lasted longer, but here's the rub, they didn't have insulation for like winter. So I purchased "almost" the exact same boots with insulation, but they were made in China. The waterproofing of the USA made pair lasted the life of the boots, the China made ones, 3 months before water proofing failed. Insulation is no good if your feet get wet.We just had a natural experiment where prices for goods went up and people flipped their shit. The idea that people would pay more for USA-made stuff is absolutely laughable.
I'd love a pair of White's or Nick's boots for work but they are so expensive. My USA made Danners and Chippewas have held up pretty well though. Even better than my old Red Wings. Learned a long time ago that one pricey well built boot will protect me and last longer than the same money put into multiple cheap junk.I think it depends on the items being considered for purchase. I would absolutely purchase USA made work boots. I have an anecdotal experience. The brand was Matterhorn boots. This was when I had to crawl alot in crawlspaces ect, they were listed under mining worker boots. The USA made ones lasted longer, but here's the rub, they didn't have insulation for like winter. So I purchased "almost" the exact same boots with insulation, but they were made in China. The waterproofing of the USA made pair lasted the life of the boots, the China made ones, 3 months before water proofing failed. Insulation is no good if your feet get wet.
So the 3rd pair I bought were just like the originals, same model number, made in USA. the water proofing lasted beyond 3 or more years. The price wasn't much difference. I think the insulated ones may have been 20 mucks more. I can't remember, but the quality was garbage. If it wasn't for trying the second USA pair, I wouldn't have believed there was that much of a quality difference.
My current work boots, were 550 bucks, 16" lineman boots. Work gives me 200 towards boots every year. But I don't use it, because the 200dollar boots are garbage as well. My Wesco boots, I sent them in for custom fitting during a rebuild which was 325 ish, they appeared brand new, but wearing them told me otherwise, because a new pair takes like 2 months of oiling and wearing to break in properly. The 3rd go around was having them mainly re soled. w shipping ect, was about 260, by this time I got my work to cover the boot allowance towards rebuilding. Which was also increased to 250 per year. I need to send them again for the heel portion wearing, but it's been 2 years.
Same with my Lineman's body belt, safety trap (Buck-squeeze) and Climbers.
I have a pair of Hoffmans that are good but they are only 10" and the heel probably wouldn't pass the 3/4'' measurement from safety dept.I'd love a pair of White's or Nick's boots for work but they are so expensive. My USA made Danners and Chippewas have held up pretty well though. Even better than my old Red Wings. Learned a long time ago that one pricey well built boot will protect me and last longer than the same money put into multiple cheap junk.
I look for quality in products, and while I never assume that a product from China will definitely be lower quality, it does tend to trend in that direction for very obvious reasons. That said, an American made product is absolutely going to be more expensive and if a company is going to bother to make a product for a 100% markup, they'll probably pitch in a few additional high quality components to make the products actually better and longer lasting. It's the 'boots theory' in practice (actually in practice in the case of American footwear companies).We just had a natural experiment where prices for goods went up and people flipped their shit. The idea that people would pay more for USA-made stuff is absolutely laughable.
In my experience it's like this;I look for quality in products, and while I never assume that a product from China will definitely be lower quality, it does tend to trend in that direction for very obvious reasons. That said, an American made product is absolutely going to be more expensive and if a company is going to bother to make a product for a 100% markup, they'll probably pitch in a few additional high quality components to make the products actually better and longer lasting. It's the 'boots theory' in practice (actually in practice in the case of American footwear companies).
Now the flip side of the above, one can find themselves in either an economic situation or an education (or lack thereof) situation where they can't actually afford/don't know to look for these higher quality but more expensive products. That's the target market for trash consumer goods.
Kind of but Walmart targets exactly what it’s good at and masters it. They don’t play in the “messy middle”.Isn't Walmart just the evolution of the department store?
Hi Sears/Circuit City/Frys/Radio Shack.Kind of but Walmart targets exactly what it’s good at and masters it. They don’t play in the “messy middle”.
You will not go to a Walmart and have a suit altered to fit you better (and wait weeks for that to happen)
You won’t go to a Walmart to have someone show you how to use a vacuum or TV remote.
You won’t go to Walmart and have a cosmetologist there *sometimes* to help apply makeup or teach about makeup.
Walmart is not accepting a return from Target AND GIVING YOU CASH BACK.
I worked at a dying retailer 35 years ago and they flat out refused to trim their business model and never had the cash or sales volume to continue doing stuff they did in the 50s to 70s. They continually half assed things that frankly nobody was interested in and the rare customer who was interested in it they screwed it up badly.
A large part of it is that service at department stores is atrocious, and they all look and feel like something out of an 80's dystopian move with bad lighting, dirty floors, and half empty shelves.
Every time I've gone to one recently, I have ended up walking out without the product I went there to buy, and this is like 5 times in a row now. Last time I went to Dillard's, sometime early last fall, I literally could not find a single working register in the entire store that could check me out, and this is like 5pm on a Saturday. It has gotten to the point that I feel it is a waste of my time to even go in person.
Honestly, they deserve to go out of business.
I feel like for certain things, department stores have just abdicated service as part of their business model as they've rushed to compete at the bottom dollar, so they end up just being a more inconvenient and messier form of dedicated clothing store. And other stores (JCPenney) didn't understand their customer base and how they liked to shop (coupons), and completely alienated those core customers, many who likely never came back when they tried to fix that fiasco.The decline of the department store is multifaceted but in the end most of them failed to keep to keep up with retail trends over many decades. Their customers are at Amazon, Target, Walmart/Sam's, and Costco.
Hi Sears/Circuit City/Frys/Radio Shack.
I wouldn't even know where to start for regular footwear, that's my crutch. I either wear work boots, or house slippers that can be worn outside. I know the ones in the past were made in USA, reason I spent 40 dolars on a pair of slippers, but I also wanted ones with rubber soles for outside. I am on my 4th pair since 2015ish, I'll run them until the soles start falling off. Bearpaws. My mother in law got this last pair for me for xmas. Just checked they are made in china. The stitching is coming loose on one of them, they are like a moccasin style, or sowed around the top edge. Corner has come loose. IDK if they moved them all over there or if she just got a similar style.I look for quality in products, and while I never assume that a product from China will definitely be lower quality, it does tend to trend in that direction for very obvious reasons. That said, an American made product is absolutely going to be more expensive and if a company is going to bother to make a product for a 100% markup, they'll probably pitch in a few additional high quality components to make the products actually better and longer lasting. It's the 'boots theory' in practice (actually in practice in the case of American footwear companies).
Now the flip side of the above, one can find themselves in either an economic situation or an education (or lack thereof) situation where they can't actually afford/don't know to look for these higher quality but more expensive products. That's the target market for trash consumer goods.
According to MAGA, you need to eat the higher costs. Those are American mark ups!When my mom was alive.. she needed batteries for her hearing aids and I would get a few for her every 6 weeks or so.
Then I saw the prices online.. even ebay and you could get like 10 times more for the same price. Never went to Radio Shack again.
I suspect a lot of us did that once we saw the insane mark ups.
I feel like for certain things, department stores have just abdicated service as part of their business model as they've rushed to compete at the bottom dollar, so they end up just being a more inconvenient and messier form of dedicated clothing store. And other stores (JCPenney) didn't understand their customer base and how they liked to shop (coupons), and completely alienated those core customers, many who likely never came back when they tried to fix that fiasco.
One personal anecdote, I was recently looking for a sport coat for occasional work things or just dressing up to go out. It's something I don't routinely wear, so having sales help to discuss options or fit was a valuable service to me, which is why I went to a dedicated store over say, a Macy's.
According to MAGA, you need to eat the higher costs. Those are American mark ups!
I think Nordstrom, given their market positioning as a bit more of a luxury brand, didn't totally abdicate on the service front.I had good luck at Nordstrom when I was recently buying a sport coat. Actually had knowledgeable staff in that section who measured me and made good suggestions on fabric and color.
That’s exactly what the messy middle is. You want to do it but you don’t want to spend any time, effort or money doing it thus the experience will always disappointI feel like for certain things, department stores have just abdicated service as part of their business model as they've rushed to compete at the bottom dollar, so they end up just being a more inconvenient and messier form of dedicated clothing store. And other stores (JCPenney) didn't understand their customer base and how they liked to shop (coupons), and completely alienated those core customers, many who likely never came back when they tried to fix that fiasco.
One personal anecdote, I was recently looking for a sport coat for occasional work things or just dressing up to go out. It's something I don't routinely wear, so having sales help to discuss options or fit was a valuable service to me, which is why I went to a dedicated store over say, a Macy's.