The Collapse Of American Businesses

[teeceetx]

I've noticed a remarkable collapse of businesses in this country.

I'm not talking about businesses that are closing or closed, although it's directly related.

I've not had a single interface with a business in the past 4 years could be construed as positive. From retail stores to grocery stores to banking to internet purchasing to contractors. In every case, the experience was lacking.

Retail stores lack inventory, lack sales people, lack adequate management.
Grocery stores lack inventory/choice, and are woefully understaffed, particularly with having VERY few cashiers during even the busiest of times.
Banking is one of the worst. Lack of tellers and bankers in the branches, and those that are there are dumber than a bag of rocks.
Ordering online has become headache producing. From difficult site navigation to delivering the wrong item to deliveries not arriving on time.
Contractors are undoubtedly the very worst. Ridiculous prices the the most simple tasks, and workers who speak no English. Work is almost always substandard, which requires constant supervision of their every task.

There is a stunning lack of professionalism, lack of expertise, and a complete lack of conscientiousness.

I predict there will be waves of failed businesses in the next several years as a result.

 

[angie_nrs]

We are progressing into a socialist society so it is not unexpected. The big corps get all the tax breaks while the Dems shout that they "need to pay their fair share!". Yeah, every time they shout that, more small businesses get nailed with more regulations that never seem to affect the big corps. Small businesses get saddled with more taxes and fees while the big guys can afford the lawyers and accountants to circumvent the red tape. They are left to either sell out or go out of business. It seems there is always some big shark waiting patiently to gobble up the small guys when they can no longer make ends meet.

There's a reason the small farming communities are going under. It has been planned. It will ultimately be the death of us if it is not turned around soon. We NEED those farmers and small businesses.

 

[Sourdough]

I simply & sadly don't care. I did care long-long ago. Now I sometimes try to care, but it always fails.

 

[Jen]

I see that happening too. My experiences with it haven't been bad. I guess I am lucky or something. But the personal relationships with vendors that I grew up with are gone. Everything now is impersonal. The world has become a colder place. The warmth of personal friendships has either drifted away or it has been taken away.

 

[SLADE]

I don't buy local much as I find over priced products, rude service and no service.
We havn't been out to eat in ten years as the food and service are poor and over priced.
I do not care if they all go out of business.

 

[Amish Heart]

Just read an MSM article that popped up about Albuquerque...I lived near there 4 yrs ago. A whiney article about Walmart, Dollar General, and Walgreens leaving that area of town. That area was called, "The Warzone", renamed, "The International Zone". Ha. It was a scary place to live. Not surprised stores closed down.

 

[Supervisor42]

I've noticed a remarkable collapse of businesses in this country.

I'm not talking about businesses that are closing or closed, although it's directly related.

I've not had a single interface with a business in the past 4 years could be construed as positive. From retail stores to grocery stores to banking to internet purchasing to contractors. In every case, the experience was lacking.

Retail stores lack inventory, lack sales people, lack adequate management.
Grocery stores lack inventory/choice, and are woefully understaffed, particularly with having VERY few cashiers during even the busiest of times.
Banking is one of the worst. Lack of tellers and bankers in the branches, and those that are there are dumber than a bag of rocks.

I predict there will be waves of failed businesses in the next several years as a result.

I keep my finger on the pulse of American businesses by watching the stock market news.
If a company gets in trouble, we see it full-screen.
Mostly the ones that drank the "Green EV" kool-aid.
Fisker, and lately Hertz.
If you lose tons of money, yes it does make a sound .

 

[Weedygarden]

I've noticed a remarkable collapse of businesses in this country.

I'm not talking about businesses that are closing or closed, although it's directly related.

I've not had a single interface with a business in the past 4 years could be construed as positive. From retail stores to grocery stores to banking to internet purchasing to contractors. In every case, the experience was lacking.

Retail stores lack inventory, lack sales people, lack adequate management.
Grocery stores lack inventory/choice, and are woefully understaffed, particularly with having VERY few cashiers during even the busiest of times.
Banking is one of the worst. Lack of tellers and bankers in the branches, and those that are there are dumber than a bag of rocks.
Ordering online has become headache producing. From difficult site navigation to delivering the wrong item to deliveries not arriving on time.
Contractors are undoubtedly the very worst. Ridiculous prices the the most simple tasks, and workers who speak no English. Work is almost always substandard, which requires constant supervision of their every task.

There is a stunning lack of professionalism, lack of expertise, and a complete lack of conscientiousness.

I predict there will be waves of failed businesses in the next several years as a result.

I just posted that Dollar Tree is closing around 1000 stores in the next couple years. Places like that have had a negative impact on Mom and Pop stores. This conversation about them having an impact is not new, but many want good prices, ignored these comments and these stores were allowed. I have certain items that I have gotten there because it was the only place I could get them, or because the price was the best I could find for these items for prepping. Many of their products are just garbage and I just feel sick when I consider most of their foods, but not their long term storage milk and dry beans and rice. It is probably Chinese crap.

We have raised up and trained many people to have zero integrity when it comes to doing anything. So many people are self serving and do not care. People will steal, cheat, and do anything thing they think they can get away with.

https://apnews.com/article/dollar-tree-discount-inflation-16f0d9b7e2d41d95ee6e6402d96169d0

 

[Tirediron]

Our local small grocery store is even better than it used to be, and it has always been great. some of the rest not so much, the larger store try to hide the less busy by not having tills open etc, but things are thinner for sure.

 

[Supervisor42]

Our local small grocery store is even better than it used to be, and it has always been great. some of the rest not so much, the larger store try to hide the less busy by not having tills open etc, but things are thinner for sure.

I agree with this. The local place I go to is doing great also.
There is a big benefit for not depending on/supporting, the "Low Price Leader".

 

[bkt]

I remember talking with my father in law about how professionalism and taking pride in doing a job well had died 20+ years ago.

Around here, younger people know how to game the system. Retail stores and restaurants won't give workers 40 hours/week, so they get no benefits and their weekly income isn't necessarily the same week to week. So kids get a job, show up a few times, then "lose" their job when they don't show up after that. Then they can collect more in benefits and pay than they could get working.

Stores near me are well-stocked. Wegmans in particular is excellent, but we've also had very good experiences at Aldi and Trader Joe's. The people working there are helpful and courteous, but some have the IQ of a turnip.

I have noticed some small local businesses go under, but new businesses pop up just as often.

Restaurant prices are through the roof and the food isn't necessarily all that good. That's why we rarely go out to eat anymore.

 

[Cascadian]

The businesses here are are pretty good. Some are hit and miss. Mostly it varies by the human not the business. You just can't make people care if they choose not to.

 

[Pearl]

People just don't care anymore! Many younger folks don't want to work, don't have to work! The government is making, and we are allowing younger generations to be lazy, useless, and not know the great feeling of earning!

 

[sonya123]

We are progressing into a socialist society so it is not unexpected. The big corps get all the tax breaks while the Dems shout that they "need to pay their fair share!". Yeah, every time they shout that, more small businesses get nailed with more regulations that never seem to affect the big corps. Small businesses get saddled with more taxes and fees while the big guys can afford the lawyers and accountants to circumvent the red tape. They are left to either sell out or go out of business. It seems there is always some big shark waiting patiently to gobble up the small guys when they can no longer make ends meet.

There's a reason the small farming communities are going under. It has been planned. It will ultimately be the death of us if it is not turned around soon. We NEED those farmers and small businesses.

that is all true!
But the sad thing some of you probably don't know is that it's not "socialism" that is doing it, but the American style capitalism
small business is more encouraged and protected in Europe and other countries that are MORE socialist than the US
( but that is now changing there also )

We sell things at the farmers market here, and it was doing fairly well last year but there are SO many restrictions even on that
In most other countries there are weekly markets in all cities, and monthly markets for more different stuff , this doesn't exist here at all. They have flea markets here but that isn't really the same thing ( our flea market in this area is twice a year)
Walmart and co has paid off all the politicians to put everyone else out of business
if you mass produce something , it is generally lower quality but cheaper, and there is more profit to be made by the larger companies, but they are the ones getting the tax breaks and using cheap third world slave labor to make it happen
But ultimately it is us the consumers that buy the crap ( self included) since there are few other options
Now you can order online but that is a fairly recent thing , and guess what, Walmart is for sure having to deal with that. Their quality of things is going down a lot lately. I used to be able to buy things like underwear and jeans at Walmart but no more, everything now is such low quality , I am ordering things online only, and now we only buy what Aldi doesn't have, and what I can't order online there and you can tell they are shrinking their stores, and filling up isles with useless crap even more like really cheap candy in front ( does anyone really buy that stuff??)
oh wait, I was looking for a simple metal cooking spatula at Walmart the other day and all the had was cheap crappy plastic ones, not kidding. I ordered one on Temu we will see what I get. So far all the stuff from there is much cheaper than walmart and the quality is definitely no worse, maybe even better. Just got a very nice large cake holder ( old one broke) from there for around $10 , not even available at Walmart at any cost

 

[forcast]

I just posted that Dollar Tree is closing around 1000 stores in the next couple years. Places like that have had a negative impact on Mom and Pop stores. This conversation about them having an impact is not new, but many want good prices, ignored these comments and these stores were allowed. I have certain items that I have gotten there because it was the only place I could get them, or because the price was the best I could find for these items for prepping. Many of their products are just garbage and I just feel sick when I consider most of their foods, but not their long term storage milk and dry beans and rice. It is probably Chinese crap.

We have raised up and trained many people to have zero integrity when it comes to doing anything. So many people are self serving and do not care. People will steal, cheat, and do anything thing they think they can get away with.

https://apnews.com/article/dollar-tree-discount-inflation-16f0d9b7e2d41d95ee6e6402d96169d0

In my town Mom and Pop shops have moved toward tourists wants .their prices are just not affordable for locals . large numbers of homes sold during covid to make air b&bs. Of Course they fixed them up real nice. Causing our property tax to go up a lot. Farmers market is totally overrun with the out of towners. DC Va Md snobs with money to afford a 2 hr drive. Thats fine since locals cant afford $1.25 an ear corn.

 

[Amish Heart]

Our farmer's market so far is free to sell, and no restrictions. But I know the neighboring town is not, and they want tax ID numbers over there, too. Prices on the baked goods did go up last season, but it's because the raw product to make those goods went up. Egg prices around here fluctuate depending on what the market will handle, I noticed.

 

[user 2656]

We too have had some lackluster experiences with businesses we have dealt with for years.
But, here is a shout out to the good ones:

CHASE BANK both in person, online and most often the credit card area as people try to scam you.
They are religiously polite, were fabulous when my DFIL died last year with some things not quite set up for that contingency - "no worries" was truly their motto (and the amounts were no doubt tiny to them - under $50,000 total.

The credit card dept. is professional and just takes over your problem.

Marriott Hotel chains (many varieties) in WI, GA, FL, AZ, D.C. IL (Chicago in the downtown), and on Housekeeping is unfailingly polite and since I seem to have developed a "forget my toothbrush" habit recently, they have bailed me out. DH steals all covers always. We sleep with 2 quilts so I no longer am awakened freezing at home but many single rooms do not have extra anything. Marriotts always give you another blanket.

Simple things and saying "Yes we can do that" make a company the one I want to deal with.

University of Wisconsin giant Healthcare groups known as UW Healthcare oh my stars I cannot say enough good things about the 6 clinics and the ER at the hospital. Thorough, thoughtful ("did I need a blanket while sitting next to his ER bed") and clear.

Kohl's - is there ever a time you cannot return something and get your Kohl's cash back? They staff their phones; you can talk to someone most hours of the day.

We have had our share of idiots, rudeness and just sheer nastiness. But not from any of the above.

 

[LadyLocust]

Joann Fabrics just filed ch.11 - but they are not closing, just restructuring
Our farmer's market costs $$$ and have to have both a business license and $1M insurance policy. Most of those at farmer's markets are just the big farms hoping to get advertising kudos by being at the mkt. The old fella with a well producing garden can't take his extra produce to it without the above said.

ETA: Over the past few weeks customer service from our vendors who are usually pretty nice anyways, seem to be going above and beyond. Many of the larger places still have work but only 2-3 month when normal is 6-7 months out. We have been 1-1.5 years out and now have about 6-7 months which is low for us but our vendors must be chasing work also.

 

[Sourdough]

Joann Fabrics just filed ch.11 - but they are not closing, just restructuring

The motivation for this (generally) is to renegotiate leases with landlords. We will see a lot of renegotiating lease space. The Commercial Real Estate industry is in deep trouble.