In what way would retailing be different, and our world be different, if there were no "big box" stores such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, Walmart, Staples, etc?

Shit would actually be closed during the holidays.

Yes, we would have higher prices, and yes, we would have smaller selection, but Main Street would still be alive and well. We might go back to doing a lot of special ordering (using what used to be called “the wishbook”). However, the customers and the store owners would probably actually know each other.

Which would be most beneficial depends on what you think is the best way to live. Should we know our neighbors better and settle for fewer kinds of things beyond those which we have to have? Or should we depersonalize shopping but have access to every conceivable color of pantihose?

There are good and bad to both sides. I suspect the same numbers of folks might be employed either way, with salaries not too far off from each other. However, this would be done by having many more small stores, and I suspect that benefits would not be equal.

It’s perfectly obvious that there would be higher prices, fewer sales, and generally a lower standard of living in the world.

I think the shopping experience would be worse, since people would be poorer and there would have to me many more five and dime stores with employees who are even more poorly trained and less client oriented than Walmart “associates.”

Sure they have emptied out some main streets, but towns are dying all the time anyway, even without Walmart.

You get better service when you can pay more and shop at fancier stores. There was only good service in the past because those were the only good jobs to be had. Nowadays retail jobs are at the bottom of the totem pole. Anyway with any skills at all can find a far more lucrative job. Getting rid of big box stores would not help. It would just make us have a lower standard of living—all of us, not just people on main streets in various towns across the nation.

What do you think retailing was like prior to the 1950s or so? Lots of mom & pop stores in every neighborhood, each specializing in a limited line of products. Meanwhile all “bricks & mortar” stores like Wal-Mart will conceivably be obsolete in another few decades. I can imagine a world where everything is purchased online. Invest in package delivery services!

I remember no box stores. I think it’s better now. I like the availability, prices, variety, extra open time. Box stores have created many jobs for students with all the extra hours. And they are such a bonus to shift workers!

I grew up in the era of large department stores, like Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bonwit Teller’s, Lord & Tailor, Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman’s, Nordstrom’s, Best & Co. and the like. They sold clothes, linens, shoes, appliances, food, candy, make-up, lingerie, and had real salespeople to wait on you.

But there were also mom & pop stores, like the shoemaker’s, ice cream parlor, bowling alleys where we set up our own pins, drug stores, Army & Navy, stationery, small appliance repair shops, etc.

I sometimes think our impression that things would be better without the big-box stores is nothing more than nostalgia. “The good old days” as it were.

Were products better quality before places like Wal*Mart started trying to have them made as fast as possible to get them out the door? I think they were, but I have only lived in the era of big box stores like K-Mart. I suspect that the big-box store played a large role in situations like the desertification of Mongolia to provide cheap cashmere sweaters by telling people they need More! Stuff! Always the low Price! Cheap!!, but we can never know that for sure, eh?

There would be more family owned businesses with a conscience when it comes to how employees are treated. There would be a more level playing field making competition more fair.

There would be competition for prices, and eventually one of these small local stores would realize that it can beat the competition by selling items in bulk and lowering prices.

You know, if there weren’t any big box stores, I bet a lot of us could still pack our worldly goods into a covered wagon, instead of having to rent storage units because our houses are too full.

It would be nice to have some balance. I like stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, and Staples, but for certain items I prefer local stores, or at minimum stores that are highly specialized and know a lot about the products they are selling with better service.

What I like about the mega chains is I can buy several things in one place and returning is easy if something doesn’t match or work out. Also, if I move the chains provide some consistency. I am very annoyed that I don’t have supermarkets I like near me where I live now. I wish the chain from where I used to live was here.

Also, when traveling restaurant chains can provide a meal that you know will be decent and what you expect, even though when I live somewhere I like to frequent local restaurants. Also, when purchasing a gift for someone hundreds of miles away, I know they can exchange the gift if they need to with no problem at their local store.

Now, I do prefer department stores over these big discounters like @gailcalled mentioned. I think we had more moderate quality goods and there was more focus on buying fewer things that would last for some time. Now we buy a lot of junk that people just throw out without a thought.

@thriftymaid I think if stores were all local fewer employees would have health benefits and 401K plans set up. I know Walmart is accused of not employing people full time to avoid providing benefits, but for the most part large retail corporations do provide benefits.

@Haleth Lol, history of Walmart. For Canadians we had the Hudson’s Bay Company. Their reaction was to begin Zellar’s which, I believe, is linked to US Target.

@faye Yes, Target was part of Hudson’s.

There would be less choice but your buying decisions would be much more carefully considered and quality would likely play into your decision more if you had to order or wait for an item. Community has lost something with the demise of Main Street as well.

I remember the Sweet Shop with rows of confections and chocolates under ornate curved glass facades. An effluence of cocoa filled the air if you even got within two stores. The floors had black and white checked tiles and a glossy wax. I’d always get an Ice cream soda if I was with my Mom dispensed from large handled pumps.

I remember the burnished patina on the wooden floors and rows of penny candy at the 5 & 10 when I was a kid. There were bright little tin toys that we rolled across the floor. I remember the smell of the place was like leather mixed with licorice.

I recall one later birthday getting every Led Zeppelin album on vinyl for under 40 bucks with change for Hot Legs on a 45 at the record store up the block. I couldn’t have been more than 12. The selection was hand picked and not overwhelming but from every musical category. Those places were special. Then I remember taking a bus to the mall. The ride and freedom were fun. But still the enjoyment was in the little shops like Spencer gifts where we could find forbidden toys and gag gifts. The Sweet Shop is still there but I miss the 5 & 10.

@JLeslie . If all of the businesses were non-chain they would have group benefits—employees would demand it. When you can’t hire people because of lack of benefits you change. Also, the government is now going to penalize businesses with XX employees to provide group health insurance.

@SeventhSense . Just because big box chain stores were not present doesn’t mean there would be no large stores. Many large privately-held stores in the past were simply bought by the large chains.

@thriftymaid
Yes I know it’s just business. I’m a hopeless romantic. What can I say.

I personally would look forward to the return of the small, independent bookstores. They were always a pleasure to brouse in. Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc. just aren’t the same.

@thriftymaid Can you clarify your thought for me? Are you saying that group insurance would not be an issue, because without the big corporations insurers would be forced to give decent benefits without being part of a group?

@JLeslie . Yes, to have the highest quality employees, you provide what it takes to get them as long as you can compete. Small companies right now cannot compete with larger companies.

@thriftymaid My one problem with your theory is that in smaller towns where people have little choice about were they can work, I think all of the small businesses would simply not provide insurance. If a guy needs a job he takes what he can get. It would be only if the employers were desperate for employees that they might start offering benefits like health insurance. Your proposal works when there is a lot of competition in the market place, when businesses are fighting to hire people; but, that is not always the case in many parts of small town America. I would also argue that at the lower levels there is less of an emphasis on “quality employees” and so those people get screwed easily. This is why unions develop and big businesses eventually do push the small business out.

I’ll go just a little further off topic by saying that I hate that health care benefits is attached to a job in any way shape or form. From what I understand this basically started with trying to please the auto unions. If health insurance, pension plans, etc were available to people without having a group advantage through an employer the playing field would be more level for everyone. Whether it be through private insurers or government, that is not my argument here, just that the way things are set up right now I think even your belief that employee demands would be enough for small businesses to provide benefits actually would not happen.

someone drove right through our wal-mart the other day…..and people just kept shopping, even with a car crashing through the pharmacy. pretty sad, really.

@jonami Welcome to fluther and where is your Walmart??!!

thanks :) it’s right off of a hwy and the man was fleeing the police

http://mankatofreepress.com/bigstory/x1112098391/High-speed-chase-ends-in-crash-at-Wal-Mart

I grew up with the department store. Saks, Best & Co., Lord & Taylor’s, Bonwit Teller’s, Macy’s, Gimbels, Nieman Marcus, Henri Bendel, etc. Every city had them. There were real people to help you try on shoes, get fitted for bras, notice whether that little black dress fit properly (there were also tailors on the premises to do alterations) and generally get in your face.

Maybe we’d go back to making our own clothes and growing our own food. That would be nice. I wish I knew how to sew my own clothes and grow my own food.

Big Box stores aren’t the only game in town, though. If smaller businesses that sold clothes and food didn’t exist in an area anymore, they may pop back up in the absence of their predators. That’s happening with bookstores in my area, now that Borders closed their doors. Independent booksellers had a pretty good Christmas sale season, and no one had to write their own books. ;)

^ Yes. Perhaps small businesses would prosper. :)