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Internet taking over

Jurgen the German

Jurgen the German

Willie Hall
This has been discussed briefly in the film and tv threads. The way the world is moving these days, companies that do not embrace the internet and realise how much the world is changing are set to vanish. It's partly their own fault, but it is sad in a way. I still enjoy browsing in HMV and Blockbuster and seeing what's on offer. No doubt HMV's prices for box sets are a rip off. But I don't want to have to buy everything online. There's something good about nipping down toe Blockbuster and renting a film, rather than ordering it from lovefilm and waiting 3 days for it to be sent.

Can you imagine what a pain in the arse it will be if the clothing industry heads in the same direction? Having to order something but then send it back because it doesn't fit or it looks different to the picture on the website.
 
I can't see the clothes industry heading in that direction for that very reason.

Clothing is specific, you get different styles from different places and there's beauty in its tangibility.

Films and books are the same whether you but them online of in a shop. There is no difference between the products.

I think Waterstones will be struggling soon. A book shop in a World full of Kindles, iPads and Amazon etc
 
El Guepardo said:
I can't see the clothes industry heading in that direction for that very reason.

Clothing is specific, you get different styles from different places and there's beauty in its tangibility.

Films and books are the same whether you but them online of in a shop. There is no difference between the products.

I think Waterstones will be struggling soon. A book shop in a World full of Kindles, iPads and Amazon etc
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There should be an app where you can input ALL of your measurements (including shoulder width, arm length et al) and then you need never buy something that doesn't fit again. There, I came up with the idea, now someone needs to invent it!
 
I miss the good old British butcher more than any shop. I now source from farmers units. But means I have to freeze the meat now as the distance and time of my day doesnt fit. So we buy a months meat and put in chest freezer.
I am yet to test tbe internet butcher. Has anyone tried.
 
El Guepardo said:
I can't see the clothes industry heading in that direction for that very reason.

Clothing is specific, you get different styles from different places and there's beauty in its tangibility.

Films and books are the same whether you but them online of in a shop. There is no difference between the products.

I think Waterstones will be struggling soon. A book shop in a World full of Kindles, iPads and Amazon etc
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I think it's a lot different browsing books online. For a start you constantly get suggestions based upon your previous searches (which can be a good and bad thing) where as in a shop you are maybe more likely to have a different experience looking around.

The one downside about online is that when some brick like 50 shades starts gathering momentum online it ends up selling shed loads more than it would ever (or should ever!) have done if it was purely in stores alone. But I guess that is the same for anything..
 
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i don't feel sorry for companies like hmv and jessops as all they did was eat the independents lunch any way

convenience is always going to win
 
On-line clothes shopping is on a dramatic rise, look at a company like ASOS who are posting record profits each year. Delivery and returns are free, so if you do order the wrong size or don't like the goods it doesn't mean there is much hassle returning them.
 
I dont buy clothes online as clothes are a different species. Things like technology or home appliances are so much better online.

I found a coffee machine for 170 at John Lewis which was selling for 126 online - so I brought it online. Not sure why I would spend an extra 44 quid for the EXACT same appliance.
 
Would anyone here buy "local" just for the sake of supporting jobs in the area even if cost a bit more?
 
Joesh said:
Would anyone here buy "local" just for the sake of supporting jobs in the area even if cost a bit more?
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If the product was British sourced. I'd get my meat on a daily basis if I could. Supermarket meat is about mass production and not giving a toss, which we see all to well with the horse meat problem.

Clothes I don't purposely go out to buy, I will generally buy when I am out with the misses and something catches the eye. Most of my clothes is bought online as a lot of it is generic, like Jeans, boxers, t-shirts, sweats. Thinking about it one item of clothes I'd make time to go and buy is a decent coat.
 
Joesh said:
Would anyone here buy "local" just for the sake of supporting jobs in the area even if cost a bit more?
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i think that really only applies to food tbh as non perishible items will always be produced in the most cost effective factory (unless you have someone like the Bodyshop MD who saw the big economic picture and build her factory in Glasgow because it needed jobs etc)

food i buy as much as poss from the market - and it works out cheaper and has better longevity than tesco's produce

i can see clothing heading to a market place where brand shop disappear - people will try on expensive items and then buy them cheaper online (much like they do with electronics). why spend £250 on a jacket when you order it for £200?

as such we will see a few more companies like Next and H&M come to the market - the "own brand basics" type shop, as their main competition is eachother and having both a store and an online shop are vital to the way they do business (IMHO)
 
Joesh said:
Would anyone here buy "local" just for the sake of supporting jobs in the area even if cost a bit more?
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Let me ask you something. Say you got a Londis or a Europa foods shop - a local mini supermarket you know what im talking about. Theyre celling Coco Pops for £3. You also have a Tesco next door, equidistant, to your place - they sell Coco Pops for £1.49.

Which would you go to? The mini supermarket and spend more or the Tesco and spend less. Ultimately you go shopping in a mini supermarket the chances are you will spend a tenner more than at Tescos. Thats what it boils down to.

Then again I have a Londis next door to me and they are really nice people so I buy cigarettes and maybe alcohol from there.
 
Depends if the mini supermarket is an old pub turned Tesco express in which case, they would be the same price. :-"
 
There's a small, independent food store just a stone's throw away from my doorstep. I go there all the time, even if I could save a lot of money by walking for five minutes to the nearest supermarket. That's a combination of two factors: Convenience, and the fact that the store is run by good and friendly people. Obviously I also want to make sure the store won't close down, because of the convenience factor...

I often go to the supermarket when I know I will be needing a lot of stuff though. To save money.

I would never buy clothes or food online. Electronics, CDs and books are fine, but never food and clothes.
 
I loathe real shopping, so I do as much as possible virtually. Some things you need to go and look at though.

I've no problem with shops going bust, if that's the way the populace wants to shop, tough brick. That's just the way it is, and the high street will have to change to reflect that, even if that means no physical shops at all.

Piracy however - which was one of the discussions this thread sprung from - is an issue for all shops in the entertainment sector, be they physical or virtual, and there's no way to price compete with theft.

SAINTHALO.jpg
 
I try to shop at the local farmer's market as often as possible. It's quite convenient as there are several markets every day in the city. Plus the produce does last longer and it definitely works out cheaper than the supermarket produce. I'll go to the local butcher when I need a nice piece of meat.

One of my main reasons for trying to shop locally is that I really don't trust a lot of the larger food producing companies. Their goal is to maximise profits for their shareholders, not to provide me with the healthiest product they can. I only drink organic milk because of all the added chemicals in non-organic milk. Then there's the steroids in the chicken breasts, or the GMOs that don't have to be on the label (this proposal failed at the last election - a prime example of big money buying an election). I never drink soda, and try not to eat anything with high fructose corn crap in it. I don't eat sandwich meat with nitrates or nitrites etc etc etc. There are several small local family-owned markets around the city where they have done most of the work for you so I don't have to spend hours reading every f***ing label. If it does cost a little bit more overall, that's a trade I'm willing to make in order to know what I'm putting in my body.
 
Superhudd said:
I miss the good old British butcher more than any shop. I now source from farmers units. But means I have to freeze the meat now as the distance and time of my day doesnt fit. So we buy a months meat and put in chest freezer.
I am yet to test tbe internet butcher. Has anyone tried.
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We've got 3 within walking distance to us fortunately. Couldn't do without it we spend around £15-£30 a week in them. I refuse to eat supermarket meat.
 
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