POLL: MALLS AND THE B AND M STORES - Page 5

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

@songbird wrote:
Almost never. I buy from B & M stores online. I don't even go to the grocery store. I use instacart. I buy form big ones too like Amazon. With them, I get gree shipping and sometimes get my product delivered the day I ordered it. I buy jewelry online besides clothes. All of my appliances, TV and all electronics (phones too) online. Stores might disappear in the future. If so, I'm glad. Don't want to fight traffic and bad weather to go to the store. I don't even go to the gas station. Haven't for years after buying electric cars.

@songbird "stores might disappear in the future. If so, I'm glad".

Seriously??????

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

Group 5 minus 1 · ‎03-11-2010

It's been years since we have been to a mall.

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

@Tinkrbl44 Lately...and it's depressing...I went down the "rabbit hole" on YT of "dead malls" across the country. Where someone takes a camera, walks through, gives history on the mall, stats about it's "life" now or impending demolition or recontruction "hopes/plans." What an interesting thing...because in many cases, while malls have been "dying" over a decade of online shopping...in some cases the change or downward spiral has happened drastically in only a few recent years, or since d'am Covid!

I guess I'm a culprit...15 years ago I'd brag that "I never go to the mall anymore, I hate malls!"...but I would go to outdoor outlet malls, shopping centers, local shops...still do. In the 80's and 90's and early 2000s, my mom (who shopped for "sport") and I spent many a Saturday going to our favorite malls (I'm in CT)...two of those are still "live" and seem to be existing ok for now, though not like their heyday...they are more upscale.

You know...the pendulum always swings....lately...I've been craving brick and mortor over online shopping again. I want to see, touch, try on, walk through a store!! I'm sick of trying to "judge" an item and it's fit online!! But, also lately...it's just not as safe anymore to walk into these places sadly...lots of crime been happening and allowed to happen. Our world today (hope it improves.)

I did go to local shops, and boutiques to Christmas shop this year. Did 2/3 my shopping in B&M, and only a few items online.

I miss Macy's. I miss my local BB&B. I'm sad to see online and Jeff B...overwhelm a market to the point of destroying another. I wish there was a balance and both could exist. And be safe, of course...but that's just bigger and other issues..

I think we're getting to be a culture that sits at home for everything now!...and while I do my share, for sure...I'm longing for some of the old ways. My age showing? Maybe..

Man...those YT's are kind of stunning, shocking and really depressing (not a great endorsement to go check them out! lol) A whole bit of our lifestyle growing up...evaporated in the span of a decade. I went and read the stats on malls on Google...interesting articles on that too...the speculations, the predictions, the forcasting for the future of it all...

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

No interest in malls, my husband use to work in one since his passing in 2013, i have been twice, just too upsetting for me.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

@Steffdoggy10 wrote:
I love shopping at Brick and mortar stores, however, they are not carrying a lot of inventory these days. For example, Macy's has 10 times the clothing online that they do in the stores. I would rather feel the fabric and try some thing on in person, rather than hassling with returns

Same. I miss going to Macy's when I needed a new winter wool coat, as I do now... and the coat dept. was vast. Not only is our local Macy's gone now , but even Pre-Covid, in 2019, when I went there thinking I could find a nice new wool coat for my mom for Christmas...I didn't recognize what once was a beautiful coat dept! Picked over, sparce, and ALL puffer coats! You had to go online to find wool coats. I got my mom a puffer that year, that she also wanted. And never got the wool coat.

This year I tried to get an Ann Klein on Macy's.com, similar to my one from 12 years ago...missed out before they sold out. I hate picking a coat and many other things online.

While I might not have been much of a mall shopper in recent years, I would go to the anchor stores, like Macy's for a dressy dress or coat, etc. I miss that. It's sad.

And as others have lamented here also...quality ain't what it used to be, even in older brands...since they too source their materials from China and similar now. It IS all so predictable the styles available...much of it just meh. I keep holding onto older items some 12-15 years old because they are made much better than what's out there now!

Estellee · ‎07-12-2011

I always liked going to the mall but I am finding sometimes they don't have what I want so I have to purchase the majority of items on line.

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

I miss Christmas Tree Shoppes too. I realize they had a lot of "junk we all don't need"...but I also always got good patio plates, seasonal paper napkins, wrapping paper, beach chairs, gardening items, and various things over the years that weren't just "useless choctkes."

That was, apparently, another direct casualty of C*vid...they couldn't battle back.

We used to like to go poke around while in Cape Cod at the Falmouth one, and the big one over the bridge on the other side of the Cape. Also we had a few in CT too.

Our local Walmart sits empty too, which was a surprise. It was one of the smaller ones, as Walmarts go, so while they were liquidating some stores, I guess ours was the type to go (no pharmacy, less food in ours.) There is a bigger one, one town over. I hardly ever go there. Hardly ever went to mine, but it was our one box store of it's type in our town. Supposedly Target is going to go in there in 2025...I'm not mad about that. HomeGoods/TJ's was going to but pulled out.

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

I was lucky to have DDs and participate on the glory years of malls. It was so fun.

Haven't been in several years now and have no wish to.

Winkk · ‎03-15-2010

@spiderw wrote:
I have always enjoyed being out and about and going to different stores to shop. I like being able to see what I am purchasing in person, be around people and whether I browse or buy support these stores. While I am physically able to drive, I will continue to support local businesses.

Online shopping at certain sites like Amazon is not for me and I will leave it at that.

@spiderw ..You raise a good point. I definitely shop at local businesses. (However, I don't consider big chains like Home Depot or Target as local stores.)

Also, it depends on what I'm shopping for. If I can find what I want at a local store that's great, but I have no problem going to Amazon.

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

I'm in the downsizing stage of life so I don't do much shopping at all. However, we have a local mall that houses Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Sur La Table and Crate & Barrel. Parking is close so I don't mind dropping by there on occasion just for fun. Otherwise, I tend to shop online. It's hard to beat Amz/Wmart/Targt for quick delivery of needed household items.

I stopped by the nearest office supply store yesterday and found it closed. I was disappointed, but found another one not too far away. What I really miss are the small locally owned gift shops that were fun to browse for presents. Again, though, I can find things on Etsy that are equally nice, just not as convenient.