Are brick and mortar stores an inferior business model?

I'm a big fan of Amazon
Groceries and drinks aside we did nearly all of our holiday gift shopping on Amazon

One small incident...a large build it yourself furniture kit arrived in a busted package, all the planks and legs were intact but the hardware (nuts, bolts, washers) was lost in transit

An hour drive to and from Tru-Value and $53 later I had what I needed (the furniture company told me they'd send a new bolt kit in 3 weeks or so...I wasn't waiting)

Sometimes you do get beat up by shipping stuff around!
Some small shops will likely survive

I totally failed in internet commerce...I had a website that sold bricks and mortar.

No - I like to look at/touch what I'm buying. I just ordered a new case for my iPhone - it's not exactly what I expected and I would have know that had I been able to see it in person.

And I have no idea how people buy clothes/shoes on-line.

this is stuff i will never buy online.

"My only concern is what it is doing to our economy, the long term implications could be far reaching."

How long are humans going to work 40-some hours a week for 50 years of their lives? While I totally agree with the idea that productive work is a valuable, even indispensable, part of life I also have to say that we've been going down the road of working most of our lives away for decades and what do we have to show for it? I feel that more efficient models and methods should be helping people not only into doing more meaningful work but all living better lives but not working to just stay alive.

I don't know what the answer really is but the deterioration of low end retail jobs shouldn't be considered a bad thing. There simply has to be a better way for everyone to come out on top.

No brick and mortar stores are not inferior. Why would you think that????( You must be under the age of 40.) They have been a tried and true format of merchandising for centuries. As for stores running out or calling for inventory etc. Amazon runs out of stuff as well. Plus WHO WANTS TO RETURN SOMETHING BIG like a tv through the mail???? I know I don't. I like instant gratification with a purchase, instant return with a purchase AND see what I am buying. I dont want to be standing in line at the post office with a large package to return and than wait for a replacement. I want it the day of return

Now all that said i do buy stuff online. Maybe one or two items from amazon per year but only stuff I cant find at physical stores and they are always small easily returnable items. Again I would never buy fresh food or large ticket items, cloths etc. Online.

If Brick and Mortar were inferior Amazon would not have purchased Whole Foods. They know that not everything can be done online.

> The only real remaining advantages [of brick and mortar stores] are the ability to get something right when you need it

Well, there's also shipping costs for heavy items. A few years ago I decided to start doing my own basic maintenance on my car; changing the oil, rotating the tires, et cetera. I didn't want to screw around with the jack that came with the car, so I bought a nice floor jack. A massive beast! -- I thought I might need another jack just to lift this monster into my car. If I had ordered it through Amazon the shipping cost would have been about $70. Instead I drove a two hour round trip and bought it in person.

SCHILLING FOR AMAZON NOW,HUH?🤨