I can walk into my local Myer adn buy a DVD playe for $160.
I can get the same dvd player online for $80.

I can walk into my sunglasses hut and buy a pair of raybans for $220.
I can get the same pain online for $120.

I can walk into my Harvey Norman and buy a 24" LCD for $280.
I can get the same LCD online for $190.

As the cost of living goes up, and the government increases its charges people are going to be looking for more bang for there buck.

When the CEO's of Harveys, Myers and so froth come forward with 1.X Billion dollar profits people sometimes wonder why that actaully spend more when these guys just pocket the cash.

Shops and chain stores had a monopoly for a long time, they now need to adapt to the new age of purchasing.

Shops like myers in the cbd, harvey norman etc etc are going to go under if they dont shut shop and put everything online for a discounted price (being you arent paying rent, bills, wages, super, insurance etc)

Sears use to be an all around "American" store. Sad to see it selling crap and now closing stores. Whats happend to EmeriKa?

Maybe this is the start of the post-industrial-society that we've been hearing about? Or maybe it's just a bad economy?

It is a mix of things. Greed, stores want top buy something from china for 10 bucks and sell it for 150.
They want money for nothing. Its the only way they compete with wallmart.

The dollar is worth less and less, and to keep the illusion, you can still buy things for what you have in the past but the quality is horrible Nothing lasts anymore. I have been through a vacuum cleaner a year, for the last 5 years.
My steam cleaners last less than that. I fianlly got rid of carpet. Was cheaper than buying cleaners.

Been married 14 years and on my 5th washing machine. Clothes go crappy real fast. Bedding is bad everywhere, you rally do have to search for quality.

I can not shop in wallmart anyways, the lighting gives me seizures. The prices there are NOT that low . In fact Target has better prices on electronics most times. People think its cheaper there because it used to be. They drive out the competition then drive up the prices.

Unless all you have is wallmart, no one needs to shop there. It really is not that cheap , unless you want cheap quality crap that wont last and you have to buy it three times.

No surprise with Sears, I noticed more than once, coming home from work, I was one of only four customers in a huge department store.

Sears and K-Mar are run-down and depressing compared to a Walmart or a Target. Target and Walmart are newly remodeled, have good groceries, up to date inventory, and feel welcoming. There's always a crowd at Target and Walmart.

Of course smaller stores and some grocery chains buy locally. Big stores with big central purchasing departments are not measured on where they buy from and just go for cheap prices and nice packaging. Less and less product in the packages, but nice glossy packaging.

Originally posted by amatrine
It is a mix of things. Greed, stores want top buy something from china for 10 bucks and sell it for 150.
They want money for nothing. Its the only way they compete with wallmart.

The dollar is worth less and less, and to keep the illusion, you can still buy things for what you have in the past but the quality is horrible Nothing lasts anymore. I have been through a vacuum cleaner a year, for the last 5 years.
My steam cleaners last less than that. I fianlly got rid of carpet. Was cheaper than buying cleaners.

Been married 14 years and on my 5th washing machine. Clothes go crappy real fast. Bedding is bad everywhere, you rally do have to search for quality.

I can not shop in wallmart anyways, the lighting gives me seizures. The prices there are NOT that low . In fact Target has better prices on electronics most times. People think its cheaper there because it used to be. They drive out the competition then drive up the prices.

Unless all you have is wallmart, no one needs to shop there. It really is not that cheap , unless you want cheap quality crap that wont last and you have to buy it three times.

I totally agree with all you said!
I HATE WAL-MART Working there was HELL!!!!

I can see it, although Kmarts personnel are more pleasant and helpful than walmart, sears and Kmart are being driven out of business by the government because they don't get the chosen responsibility of surveillance that walmart won the bid for, once they are out of business then everyone will pretty much be forced to use walmart, or thats what they would have you believe