web Will retailers completely transition to online shops?

[ManaMinori 4,145]

Online shopping is gaining more popularity by the day. But will brick and mortar stores ever by completely phased out, someday?

Do you guys prefer online to physical shopping?

Are there any downsides to a business only having an online store?

[Unikitty 1,212]

Eventually, yes. I believe that with how fast we're progressing technologically, and with how rapidly the demand for consumption is increasing, it won't be all that long until we start seeing online shopping take a bigger foothold. It's human nature to find the easiest path to getting what we want. If you have a method of shopping that is more efficient than what's currently available, you can bet that people will move over en masse. After all, why deal with having to set aside time in your busy schedule for shopping, when you can just get home from work to find all your goods neatly prepared for you already?

Eventually, with tech assistance, we could see the need for even unpackaging erased. Low on butter? Order some and have a drone fly it to your designated mail port, where a computer defines the product and sorts it into the appropriate deposit location(in this case the fridge). The next time you open your fridge it'll be like you'd already refilled your butter stock.

[Luminance 2,186]

Items that I need, I'll go to the store. Items that I want, I'll probably go online.

[ManaMinori 4,145]

Eventually, yes. I believe that with how fast we're progressing technologically, and with how rapidly the demand for consumption is increasing, it won't be all that long until we start seeing online shopping take a bigger foothold. It's human nature to find the easiest path to getting what we want. If you have a method of shopping that is more efficient than what's currently available, you can bet that people will move over en masse. After all, why deal with having to set aside time in your busy schedule for shopping, when you can just get home from work to find all your goods neatly prepared for you already?

Eventually, with tech assistance, we could see the need for even unpackaging erased. Low on butter? Order some and have a drone fly it to your designated mail port, where a computer defines the product and sorts it into the appropriate deposit location(in this case the fridge). The next time you open your fridge it'll be like you'd already refilled your butter stock.

complete transition to online retail means less profit for the gas industry, as it means less consumers driving to stores and buying gas

Less profit for tire companies, because less wear on tires, because none needs to drive for what they want

Less construction, as contractors, and building supply construction companies go under

More people looking for jobs, because as physical stores go extinct for online retail, employees wouldn't be needed

It'd be a mess

[captainborgue 343]

I highly doubt it. Things like grocery stores will always exist, as even the fastest deliveries will not be able to compare with "screaming baby at 2am needs milk" runs or the like.

 

Same with clothing- anyone who has purchased clothes online knows that even knowing what size you are doesn't mean you'll fit in the item when it arrives. Going to an actual store to actually try on clothes before purchase won't just disappear. There is a certain visceral appeal in tangibility- we like physically touching stuff we are going to commit to buying.

[Shanks 10,816]

No, not entirely there will be less brick and mortar shops because more retailers will transition to that but there are some particular retailers where you still need a traditional store like groceries, and ones where people would prefer that like clothes, shoes ect... due to the fact that you can't try on stuff before you buy it online but can in a physical store location. Most of the retailers that will become predominantly online will be ones that people want like electronics and most of the ones that will remain physical will be things people need like groceries.

[EpicEnergy 23,218]

Many have already done that, it's very popular nowadays.

[Fluttershutter 2,479]

The downside is that delivery COSTS MONEY! They may call it "free" but the cost is put into the cost of the item. That's why all these grocery stores with their "free" delivery piss me off. They raise the prices for those that are willing to go to the store.

People claim they're too busy to shop. The prices go up and they have to work even more to afford stuff. 

[Pentium100 2,125]

Physical shops have their uses. For example, if I want to buy apples or whatever, I can choose the ones that look the best to me, but if I ordered them online, I would get some random one (because the employee won't take his time to pick the best ones.

Also, buying speakers or headphones (also aplies to other audio equipment, but less so), I would want to listen to them before buying. This can be helped if the online shop has a no questions asked return policy, but it's kind-of a hassle, especially if I'm not sure what model I want, so I want to try a bunch of different ones.

Same applies to clothes - maybe clothes sizes are more standardized in other countries, but here, I could have two shirts of the exact same physical size, but different "sizes". I would not buy jeans online, it would be like playing the lottery - will they be too big, too small, some weird cut or just right?

Another reason to go to a physical shop is to get the item now, not in two working days, not the next day, not in 6 hours - now.

Delivery costs money. Going to the shop costs less money, but costs some time. However, I can go to multiple shops in one "trip".

[Northern Star 1,024]

No they'll always be around, for the impatient and those that can't afford to be patient.

Even the giant that is Amazon has built physical stores.