What shops do you not bother going into anymore?

This post has been deleted.

Can't recall the last time I stepped into a book shop/newsagents. Clothes and shoes likewise - Lidl and online works fine for someone as terminally uncool as me. I actively avoid the centre of town these days so high is the parking cost for the most part plus it takes ages to drive around anyway most of the time.

Back in the day browsing books, music and home video could kill a couple of hours and you'd have something to read, listen to or watch later. Now it's all at home and not as enjoyable.

The Dutch East India Company.

I cant find a branch anywhere these days.

Penneys.

I was in it yesterday and it just reminded me that we are all being trained to be rampant consumers and buy a lot of things that we don't need.

Lots of cheap and plastic tat that we don't need that will end up getting incinerated or end up in landfill.

I see Penneys were selling Mrs Potts teapots and some people posted online that they bought 3 or 4 each. Why? You don't need 4 versions of the same teapot that will probably fall apart quickly.

Also, comes back to things not being made to last.

The older I get, the less I need or want.

I was born with nothing and I'll die with nothing (materially speaking).

...it is predicted that up to 1 billion jobs will be lost in transport, retail and associated service sectors once everything goes online and shopping ceases to be a leisure or social activity, except for individuals or small family groups online in their own homes etc.

One can see this happening already with boarded up and abandoned shop fronts in our city and town centres and many sectors going online that were previously available in shops. Many city centres where it is difficult or expensive to park are already suffering as a result of the move to online shopping or free to park shopping centres. More leisure oriented lettings are taking place such as restaurants, cafes or very large retail outlets such as Tesco instead of small scale owner operated retail.

Many specialist items are going online and only high sale items are available in shops. Specialist advice and service are no longer available and a buyer must do all research online before attempting to buy what they need.

Gone are travel agencies, CD and music stores, specialist hardware stores, independent book stores except Easons which have reduced their book content and increased stationery, giftware, confectionery, magazines etc etc at the loss of serious adult literature which has all moved online.

sugarman wrote: »

Back on topic, I find myself rarely going into most shops these days unless theres something I know of thats on sale/cheaper than online ...or else to have a look at something in person or try something on before ordering it online for cheaper:pac:

Thats really good for this economy, staff in shops in Ireland love it when you pick their brains / try stuff on / answer questions, and you go off then and order online from overseas. The less people that pay vat and taxes in Ireland the higher those rates will have to go. They are already quite a bit higher than the UK.