Community Chat

[cherry]

If this keeps going a few monopolies will own everything

[Cats3000]

Where in the US Constitution is the federal government given the power to assure "consumer welfare"?  I submit it doesn't exist.  

The federal government should stay away from any action that tells businesses how to operate, what they can charge, etc.  Consumers don't need government help to do what they can do on their own; that is vote with their feet when businesses no longer serve their needs.

You accuse Amazon of taking "loss leaders" to force other companies out of business.  Do you have any proof of that?   Don't you understand the concept of economies of scale.  If you buy a lot from a manufacturer, you can get a discount that small purchasers can't.

Amazon being accused of snuffing out innovation.  Sorry.  That's a hoax.  Amazon IS innovation at it's best.  It has revolutionized retail like no other company has done for centuries.

[beach-mom]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Toys R Us is one of the midpoints of our community. I met my first friend there after we moved here. Our carts bumped together! Like so many of you, I watched my children's eyes light up when they would get to go there, either to spend "birthday" money or pick out a gift for one of their friends. I think all of our Little Tikes outdoor toys came from there, and the last items we shopped for regularly were in the video game department. The long-time SA in charge of putting together bikes moved there. Shortly before DS "outgrew" the store they bought out FAO Schwarz. I don't think the store was ever the same after that. 

Good memories. 

I guess I should try to spend the "Geoffrey dollars" we still have in a drawer upstairs - IF they would still honor them, which I doubt. DS was trying to save them, and then they got put away and forgotten about. 

[gidgetgh]

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@beach-momwrote:

I'm so sorry to hear this. Toys R Us is one of the midpoints of our community. I met my first friend there after we moved here. Our carts bumped together! Like so many of you, I watched my children's eyes light up when they would get to go there, either to spend "birthday" money or pick out a gift for one of their friends. I think all of our Little Tikes outdoor toys came from there, and the last items we shopped for regularly were in the video game department. The long-time SA in charge of putting together bikes moved there. Shortly before DS "outgrew" the store they bought out FAO Schwartz. I don't think the store was ever the same after that. 

Good memories. 

I guess I should try to spend the "Geoffrey dollars" we still have in a drawer upstairs - IF they would still honor them, which I doubt. DS was trying to save them, and then they got put away and forgotten about. 

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@beach-mom- I’d pull them out and try to use them. Or at least call and see if they’ll take them. 

[suzyQ3]

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@Cats3000wrote:

Where in the US Constitution is the federal government given the power to assure "consumer welfare"?  I submit it doesn't exist.  

The federal government should stay away from any action that tells businesses how to operate, what they can charge, etc.  Consumers don't need government help to do what they can do on their own; that is vote with their feet when businesses no longer serve their needs.

You accuse Amazon of taking "loss leaders" to force other companies out of business.  Do you have any proof of that?   Don't you understand the concept of economies of scale.  If you buy a lot from a manufacturer, you can get a discount that small purchasers can't.

Amazon being accused of snuffing out innovation.  Sorry.  That's a hoax.  Amazon IS innovation at it's best.  It has revolutionized retail like no other company has done for centuries.

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I'm sorry, @Cats3000, but I have to ask: Are you a descendant of the Robber Barons of the late 19th/early 20th century? Or perhaps laissez-faire relatives?

Consumers deserve protection from businesses and corporations whose only raison d'etre is the almighty dollar.

Yours is a bleak worldview.

[cherry]

If this keeps up ,entrepreneur's, will never be able to enter the business world

[Caaareful Shopper]

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@cherrywrote:

If this keeps up ,entrepreneur's, will never be able to enter the business world

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@cherry  I have to disagree with this.  New businesses are starting every day.  The difference is how they sell and the medium in which they sell.  Today it's all about innovation and the electronic retail environment.  Small businesses are popping up all over.  But instead of paying for a high lease to a brick & mortar management real estate company, they pay % fees to sell via online retail conglomerates.  

Sticking with Amazon -- business owners of all kinds can sell their products thru them.  Amazon even recently started a handmade entity where small business owners can sell their items like greeting cards and toys, and new inventions as well. 

Look at the model of Zulily -- the vast majority of products found on their site are individual small businesses, and more & more pop up every day.  There's Etsy, Ebay, and a slew of other big umbrella companies where small businesses have been smart enough to partner to sell their products.

Times evolve.  If business owners don't evolve with it, they disappear.  It's being able to be flexible, smart, and have strategic planning that give businesses the chance to succeed in changing times.  Holding onto the business plan of, "this is the way we always do business" is the quickest way to go out of business.  Remember "five and dime" stores (Woolworth's)?

It starts with the consumer demand.  If customers did not like to shop online, brick & mortar stores would still reign supreme.

[panda1234]

I remember my kids looking forward to that thick, Black Friday catalogue they put out. They would circle the toys they wanted for Christmas that year. 

[cherry]

I disagree @carefulshopper  small businesses use places like Toys to establish themselves ,and become known Fortune magazine, has an article I posted ,to back me up