Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by mar3o

I didn't say that.

But if you're in the store to buy supplies, I see no intelligent reason or any way it would do much to curb the virus to not let you buy a book or a pair of socks while you're there.

I was in Wal-Mart today and it was pure chaos. And most of it was due to people buying food and health supplies. The rest of the store was open, and one guy was in line with a 32" TV, but most were there for food. I doubt there would have been any reduction in everyone's risk of getting the virus if the guy buying the TV wasn't allowed to. It still would have been chaos.

Fair competition between businesses is an intelligent reason. If Walmart can sell clothes, then so should a shuttered clothing store. And even worse, this is big getting bigger and small get smaller or eliminated altogether. Either they stop selling these items that other stores can't sell, other they open the other stores. There is already huge pressure on local governments to do this. Stores like Walmart and Costco has already caused countless small businesses to close down over the years. Downtowns are becoming a thing of the past in many communities and it's hard to find tenants for vacancies.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Level The Playing Field. THAT'S what matters. To make sure that EVERYONE is treated equally. Try to go to your local Best Buy to walk in a buy a TV. You can't. Their stores are closed to instore traffic. So why should Walmart or Target be treated differently? Because they sell food or have a pharmacy?

Yes, that's exactly why. It makes little sense to not allow people to buy things in a store that they are already allowed to shop in. People are stuck at home for weeks or maybe longer and the one place they have to buy a DVD or book or pair of underwear since they're in the store for food already and now they are not allowed to? How does that make sense?

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Internal investigation hopefully leads to the police officer being fired if he did indeed overstep.

In a case like that what will probably happen is a good tongue lashing from his superior and a note filed in his jacket which will affect his future career.

[IndyMLVC]

Probably the best thing explanation I've seen for how the re-opening should go:

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by bruceames

Fair competition between businesses is an intelligent reason. If Walmart can sell clothes, then so should a shuttered clothing store. And even worse, this is big getting bigger and small get smaller or eliminated altogether. Either they stop selling these items that other stores can't sell, other they open the other stores. There is already huge pressure on local governments to do this. Stores like Walmart and Costco has already caused countless small businesses to close down over the years. Downtowns are becoming a thing of the past in many communities and it's hard to find tenants for vacancies.

A clothing store doesn't sell food. Wal-Mart and Target does. And not just a token box of bananas up front - they are a legitimate source for food. They should remain open because of that. Clothing stores don't. Clothing stores are not equal to Wal-Marts and Targets.

[Batman1980]

I am guessing my employer La Posta will re-open to 20% capacity with social distancing between tables. Means everyone who's not a server will probably do okay until we're allowed to open up all the way. Who knows when that will be, though. I imagine as long as they can seat 20%(we're actually a MASSIVE restaurant) and re-open the bar, profits should be okay but not great.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Yes, that's exactly why. It makes little sense to not allow people to buy things in a store that they are already allowed to shop in. People are stuck at home for weeks or maybe longer and the one place they have to buy a DVD or book or pair of underwear since they're in the store for food already and now they are not allowed to? How does that make sense?

It doesn't make sense to do what you are suggesting. That gives Big Box stores a tremendous advantage over other retailers who have built their business based on specialty sales, like Best Buy, or Barnes and Noble or Game Stop, etc. who have been deemed non-essential by the governor of the state they are located in and forced to close.

You want to buy a book or a DVD or some underwear, go online and see if they have curbside pickup. If not then order them online. Is this a hassle for you? Sure it is - you are right there in the store. But they should follow the same rules being applied to all business'

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

It doesn't make sense to do what you are suggesting. That gives Big Box stores a tremendous advantage over other retailers who have built their business based on specialty sales, like Best Buy, or Barnes and Noble or Game Stop, etc. who have been deemed non-essential by the governor of the state they are located in and forced to close.

You want to buy a book or a DVD or some underwear, go online and see if they have curbside pickup. If not then order them online. Is this a hassle for you? Sure it is - you are right there in the store. But they should follow the same rules being applied to all business'

So you're saying it's okay to buy a book from Amazon online but not from Wal-Mart in the store I'm already in? How does that make any sense? Against Amazon, Wal-Mart is the little guy. And you can still buy anything you want from Amazon. So why is it okay that they have the advantage?

[Batman1980]

Yup, how many billions in sales are being lost right now and crushing the global economy because so many businesses are shuttered in fear of the virus? May 1st is probably too soon for most places but I can't see it being past June for at least some restrictions being lifted. Wait too long and this depression will be much longer than it needs to be. Not to mention the damage this is doing worldwide to the education of our youth and some of our college students.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by mar3o

A clothing store doesn't sell food. Wal-Mart and Target does. And not just a token box of bananas up front - they are a legitimate source for food. They should remain open because of that. Clothing stores don't. Clothing stores are not equal to Wal-Marts and Targets.

Right. They should remain open . . . as a seller of groceries, not as a seller of TVs or books or clothing or DVDs etc. They should close those sections of their stores to walk in traffic.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by mar3o

A clothing store doesn't sell food. Wal-Mart and Target does. And not just a token box of bananas up front - they are a legitimate source for food. They should remain open because of that. Clothing stores don't. Clothing stores are not equal to Wal-Marts and Targets.

So you're good with them monopolizing non-essential walk-in sales. They certainly don't mind it either. They would love it if some of their shuttered competition goes under.

[Batman1980]

Yeah honestly, I think stores need to minimize the time people are in the building. If that means being a bit too stingy about what people are allowed to grab on the way in and out, too bad. That would reduce the risk of idiots who think social distancing means do whatever I want infecting others.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by bruceames

So you're good with them monopolizing non-essential walk-in sales. They certainly don't mind it either. They would love it if some of their shuttered competition goes under.

Where do you draw the line? Should Rite Aid/Walgreens cut off their toy/greeting card/make-up sections?

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by mar3o

So you're saying it's okay to buy a book from Amazon online but not from Wal-Mart in the store I'm already in? How does that make any sense? Against Amazon, Wal-Mart is the little guy. And you can still buy anything you want from Amazon. So why is it okay that they have the advantage?

You are either not listening or you refuse to be inconvenienced. Walmart competing against Amazon via online is a level playing field. Walmart accepting walk in traffic to all it's departments is not. Think about it. Your local WM is what 5 miles away? Jump in your car, drive to WM, go to the DVD section and buy the latest movie than back in your car and drive home. What? 30 minutes total? Versus using Amazon's online system ordering the same movie and waiting for it to show up at your home 3 to 5 days later.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

Where do you draw the line? Should Rite Aid/Walgreens cut off their toy/greeting card/make-up sections?

Are they essential? If they want to stay open, then clear all that shit off the floor and sell only essential items. Would make social distancing a lot easier and get people out of the store a lot faster.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

You are either not listening or you refuse to be inconvenienced. Walmart competing against Amazon via online is a level playing field. Walmart accepting walk in traffic to all it's departments is not. Think about it. Your local WM is what 5 miles away? Jump in your car, drive to WM, go to the DVD section and buy the latest movie than back in your car and drive home. What? 30 minutes total? Versus using Amazon's online system ordering the same movie and waiting for it to show up at your home 3 to 5 days later.

Your Wal-mart has the latest movies?

Lucky.

Hell, at least you HAVE a Wal-mart. Not everyone does.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

Where do you draw the line? Should Rite Aid/Walgreens cut off their toy/greeting card/make-up sections?

Absolutely. They can sell food, both do, and they have their pharmacies which are considered essential business'. Other than that - no sales.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by bruceames

So you're good with them monopolizing non-essential walk-in sales. They certainly don't mind it either. They would love it if some of their shuttered competition goes under.

Just the opposite. I don't want Amazon to be the only one selling non-food items. You're okay with Amazon having the monopoly on everything right now that isn't food?

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

Your Wal-mart has the latest movies?

Lucky.

Hell, at least you HAVE a Wal-mart. Not everyone does.

I have no idea what WM sells when it comes to movies - that was just an example. I never buy new discs only used for a fraction of the price. Unfortunately my store(s) are closed.

I would venture a guess that at least 90% of the population has access to either a Walmart or a Target. The other 10% doesn't probably because they live in very rural areas. So they have been accustomed to online purchases for quite some time.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

I have no idea what WM sells when it comes to movies - that was just an example. I never buy new discs only used for a fraction of the price. Unfortunately my store(s) are closed.

I would venture a guess that at least 90% of the population has access to either a Walmart or a Target. The other 10% doesn't probably because they live in very rural areas. So they have been accustomed to online purchases for quite some time.

NYC has no Wal-Mart. And we didn't have Target until the last couple of years. And they're not that big.