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Thread: What businesses have dissappeared

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    God/dess Paris's Avatar
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    Default What businesses have dissappeared

    Since the invention of the internet? I was thinking about how the internet has revolutionized the way we live, but it also means that many businesses of yesterday are gone now. Here's what I could think of on my own:

    1. Record, Tape and CD stores
    2. Travel Agencies (Yes, you used to have to walk into a store in a strip mall or office building to buy your plane tickets)
    3. Photo printing services
    4. Photo studios (there used to be tons of those around, now they are very hard to find)


    Can you think of any other businesses that used to be in "brick and mortar" form that has died due to the internet?


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    Featured Member WiseGuy_TX's Avatar
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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    ...well, greatly reduced, i'd say newspapers & magazines, phone books, letter writing and (not a biz) but real "in person" social contact/relationships.
    "Peter, did you take Stewie to a strip-club? He smells like sweat and fear." - Lois and Stewie (Family Guy) ... "Through early morning fog I see, Visions of the things to be, The pains that are withheld for me, I realize and I can see..."

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    ^^^ I totally forget about phone books. I've run into a few situations where the internet was down and it took me a few minutes before I remembered that I could look up store phone numbers in the phone book. After awhile I started carrying them in the car since I never needed them in the house, but with the internet phones I trash them all!
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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    phone services like 411

    Encyclopedia sets

    ...yeah, what would the world be like without google

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    God/dess Paris's Avatar
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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Quote Originally Posted by Kylea2 View Post
    ^^^ I totally forget about phone books. I've run into a few situations where the internet was down and it took me a few minutes before I remembered that I could look up store phone numbers in the phone book. After awhile I started carrying them in the car since I never needed them in the house, but with the internet phones I trash them all!
    +1. I sometimes get calls from Yellowbook ad salesman, and I actually feel kind of bad for them. They are selling buggy whips in the age of automobiles.


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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Quote Originally Posted by WiseGuy_TX View Post
    ...well, greatly reduced, i'd say newspapers & magazines, phone books, letter writing and (not a biz) but real "in person" social contact/relationships.
    I'm going to have say that the internet has helped me to meet more people. I go to several meetings a month thanks to internet groups I belong to! I've met some really awesome girls here on SW, that I would not have otherwise met.


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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Oh man, I just got into it with a friend the other day about encyclopedias! She wanted to buy a set, and I was like, "what's the point?". I mean what we know about history is always changing and we often discover we were wrong about things that we previously thought were correct. Why not just go online and use the more up to date resources!

    As for the yellow pages ads... my same friend wanted to take out and business ad with them and I vetoed that idea and said it was a waste. I haven't looked at a paper phone directory in at least 3 years!
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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Quote Originally Posted by Paris View Post
    Since the invention of the internet? I was thinking about how the internet has revolutionized the way we live, but it also means that many businesses of yesterday are gone now. Here's what I could think of on my own:

    1. Record, Tape and CD stores
    2. Travel Agencies (Yes, you used to have to walk into a store in a strip mall or office building to buy your plane tickets)
    3. Photo printing services
    4. Photo studios (there used to be tons of those around, now they are very hard to find)


    Can you think of any other businesses that used to be in "brick and mortar" form that has died due to the internet?

    Haven't most matchmaking services become online? They haven't disappeared, but libraries and post offices aren't used as much. Or those places that offered fax services. The saddest ones are the record stores. This was one of my favorite places and I spent hours at various record stores. How about concert ticket venues? I don't see as many now. Many electronics stores have disappeared. I also don't see as many thrift stores/flea markets.

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    Featured Member WiseGuy_TX's Avatar
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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Quote Originally Posted by Paris View Post
    I'm going to have say that the internet has helped me to meet more people. I go to several meetings a month thanks to internet groups I belong to! I've met some really awesome girls here on SW, that I would not have otherwise met.
    ...i understand. From my perspective, i saw more real life social interactions in the decades prior to computers, mobile phones and the Internet. Take a typical 18 year old camping without a phone, computer or the net and watch the anxiety & withdrawls.
    "Peter, did you take Stewie to a strip-club? He smells like sweat and fear." - Lois and Stewie (Family Guy) ... "Through early morning fog I see, Visions of the things to be, The pains that are withheld for me, I realize and I can see..."

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Might have to add the U.S. Post Office to the list.

    The reduction of deliveries to 5 days a week seems imminent. What was once one of the few gov't enterprises to actually return a profit is now raising rates more frequently and looking to slash costs.

    With email and online bill paying, First Class mail volume has plummeted, leaving bulk and direct marketing (junk) mail as the revenue source the P.O. is most likely to try to expand.

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    Featured Member minnow's Avatar
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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Internet age is as much about changing the face of businesses as resultant putting certain stores out of business:

    1) Post Office- All around, I'm seeing fewer mail drop boxes.
    2) Banks/Credit Union- Seeing more individual service kiosks vs the 2 sided long counter.
    3) Hotels- It is very rare to see a hotel with pay phones anymore. More hotels offering free business centers with complimentary access to guests. To include computer, and printer (for printing tickets).
    4) Car Dealer Waiting Areas- Have computer plug in booth/cubicles.

    Also, internet age means more automation/self service. I've managed to get a couple of rental cars with nav system (no extra charge) whose displays can tell you almost anything under the sun. Then, of course, the dreaded voicemail maze. Even when you hit "0", a prompter asks what you're calling about, your password, and the name of your 1st pet dog.

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    The internet has hit services more than products.

    If you want to buy a holiday, insurance, knowledge, etc, it's more efficient to buy it over the internet.

    If you want to buy a fairly personal product (clothing, furniture, etc) you're more likely to go to a store where you can physically examine the merchandise.

    Phil's prediction for the future: when we finally perfect 'holographic' television, and we can see genuine 3D images in the comfort of our living room, even more shipping will be done over the internet.

    One scenario I could envisage is hooking a computer with 3D data on shape stored in it into the hologram . A woman could then try on a 'virtual reality' dress and she how she would look in it IRL. Similarly, someone buying furniture could see how it actually looks in their living room.

    Phil.

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Quote Originally Posted by Phil-W View Post

    One scenario I could envisage is hooking a computer with 3D data on shape stored in it into the hologram . A woman could then try on a 'virtual reality' dress and she how she would look in it IRL. Similarly, someone buying furniture could see how it actually looks in their living room.

    Phil.
    I don't know about buying clothes via 3D hologram, sounds like too much room for error, like a photoshopped perfect look, when the reality of the fit doesn't quite match up.

    But the idea of buying furniture via 3D hologram sounds awesome! As it is, we use digital representations in teh construction industry to give homeowners an idea what their final remodel choices may look like at completion by using a photos of the existing space and editing it digitally to represent the space with the new items installed. We do this frequently to help the customer to make decisions on colors and styles indoors and on the house exterior.


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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Cell phone stores. When I bought my first cell phone, you had to go to a store and go through lots of sales hassle. Now, go online, compare features, get reviews, price shop and do the deal. Phone comes a day or two later fully activated and ready to go.

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Kind of sucks about travel agencies,I was a travel agent for a while.Used to be a great job with good money and travel discounts.Then they started to put caps on agents' fees from sales,then just paid hourly,then that hourly was getting even smaller.Sigh.

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Video/DVD sales and rentals. Eventually movie downloads will be widely available the same way songs are today.

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    Newspapers,
    magazines, including porn, glamor etc
    video rental stores
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

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    Senior Member patchouli's Avatar
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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    I don't think these businesses have "disappeared.." I mean, I live in a pretty small town but I can name these stores/businesses within 30 minutes of me... Or do we mean just less profitable or not as abundant?

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    Default Re: What businesses have dissappeared

    I remember when I had dozens of choices to go buy music (tapes, lps, cds). Up until 1 1/2 years ago, I had 2. Today, only one, and I have to drive to a different section of town. I am old fashioned, I like to buy cd's (even if buying for one song, you never know if you'll like the others). Ohhh, I left out the chain stores (Walmart, etc.) who sell cds because they don't carry a full assortment as a music store. When I lived in the Philly Metro a few years ago, I had even more choices then here.

    Photos. I never used the photo stands, but it was chain stores that put them under (Eckerds, Rite Aid, CVS, Walmart, etc.). I still like the photo quality of having photos done the old way then printing it up.

    Photo studios are still around (my friends family owns a large one here, but they focus on business and weddings).

    Phone books. I only used to get Bell South's Yellow Pages, now I get it from 3 companies.I prefer the phone book to the internet while at home, I can find stuff quicker.

    Movie rental. Yes, I have seen the independents go under (who rented adult material) and the chain stores (Hollywood Video).

    Cell phone stores. We have a bunch of cell phone stores. I use ATT/ Cingular, they have multiple locations here. We also have other name brand stores, as well as independent sellers. Also, chain stores are getting in on selling phones.

    Adult store boutiques. We've had a growth in this in the last few years.

    Arcades. Yes, ours shut down (and several took away miniature golf with them). However, Dave & Busters has a location here (they are even better then the old ones).

    Collectables: Commic book, stamp, coin, model building, etc.. Some have shut down, but we still have a full assortment of this stuff here.
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