As we head into 2010, big name companies that won't survive until 2020?

[Jennasis]

I would love to see Burger King tank. I've never left that place happy. I don't know why I keep going back, hoping the next visit will be different...like going out to the desert and shoving hot rocks up your butt and hoping each time you do it, the next one won't burn.

Anyhoo...KMart for sure, Sears maybe. Blockbuster is already on it's way out and Crocs too. I can see AOL tanking.

 

[legalsea]

I predict General Motors will be gone by 2020, as well as Chrysler.

Also, Six Flags under Texas.

Also, Ebay.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I can see AOL tanking.

Wow, I didn't know AOL still existed! They are the Atari of the internet world.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I predict General Motors will be gone by 2020, as well as Chrysler.

Also, Six Flags under Texas.

Also, Ebay.

Why ebay? Just curious on your take.

They make money and pretty much own the online auction marketplace... only thing I see taking them down is the whole feel of ebay is not as exciting / pleasant / safe as it used to be.

But generally speaking, I think they will be here.

 

[legalsea]

Why ebay? Just curious on your take.

They make money and pretty much own the online auction marketplace... only thing I see taking them down is the whole feel of ebay is not as exciting / pleasant / safe as it used to be.

But generally speaking, I think they will be here.

I think that Paypal is helping keep Ebay afloat. Ebay has lost a lot of its marketplace share due to its policies, including discouraging auctions in favor of 'stores' in which you list your wares for a fixed price.

Indeed, I used to sell a lot on ebay but quit a few years ago due to the high fees and other policy changes (such as, no way for a seller to leave negative feedback for a deadbeat buyer; when that policy was instituted I got several non-payers the first month). Another change that irked me was the limitation on what one could charge for shipping (for instance, books are limited to a $3.99 shipping fee, regardless of whether you are selling a paperback or a set of encyclopedias).

Now, I get virtually daily emails telling me about 'free listings' etc. Ebay is becoming desparate for more sellers.

 

[suzannen]

MSN.com had an article about 7 BIG NAME companies that they say will not survive until 2020. They gave their reasons. I'll list them.... and then maybe you can add some that you don't think will last until 2020....

1. Palm - getting crushed by the iPhone and Blackberry

2. Sears - too "fuddy - duddy".

3. Blockbuster - Netflix has pretty much buried them
4. Kodak - too much competition with better technology

5. Borders - because Barnes and Noble is just bigger and better

6. Magellan ( GPS ) - because they are small compared to Garmin and Tom Tom, and GPS is becoming a very inexpensive commodity.

7. McClatchy ( Owners of Knight - Ridder and other major newspapers ) - well, because they own newspapers, essentially.


So, which big name companies do you think will be non existent by 2020?

I actually think Netflix will be gone as well, since I think it will all be "Movies on Demand" on our TVs, Computers, Iphones, etc and no one will be waiting at the mailbox for movies anymore - not necessary.

 

[C.Ann]

I think that Paypal is helping keep Ebay afloat. Ebay has lost a lot of its marketplace share due to its policies, including discouraging auctions in favor of 'stores' in which you list your wares for a fixed price.

Indeed, I used to sell a lot on ebay but quit a few years ago due to the high fees and other policy changes (such as, no way for a seller to leave negative feedback for a deadbeat buyer; when that policy was instituted I got several non-payers the first month). Another change that irked me was the limitation on what one could charge for shipping (for instance, books are limited to a $3.99 shipping fee, regardless of whether you are selling a paperback or a set of encyclopedias).

Now, I get virtually daily emails telling me about 'free listings' etc. Ebay is becoming desparate for more sellers.

I agree - Ebay.
Also AOL..

 

[my3sonsagn]

I'm not too sure about Blockbuster; around here they are getting into the instant box rental ala redbox. If they continue that and work on expanding their online delivery service they may be able to make it.

I HOPE ebay tanks; after the way they started screwing their smaller sellers over they deserve to fail.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I HOPE ebay tanks; after the way they started screwing their smaller sellers over they deserve to fail.

Ebay has burned so many bridges with their sellers. I think it would take a lot for Ebay to actually fail but they are on thin ice. All they need is stiff competition and they are toast.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I actually think Netflix will be gone as well, since I think it will all be "Movies on Demand" on our TVs, Computers, Iphones, etc and no one will be waiting at the mailbox for movies anymore - not necessary.

Netflix already leads the pack in movies streaming on TV, I would bet.... you do know that Netflix offers streaming videos to all XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 owners, right? And in 2011 they plan to add it to the Wii.

"Net" Flix was called that because they always planned on delivering movies via the internet. I once read a quote from the founder of the company.. basically he said "If we weren't planning on internet delivery from the beginning, we would have called ourselves DVD's by Mail" - or something to that effect.

I doubt many folks really want to watch a movie at a computer or on an iPhone if they have an option not to. I mean I would watch them if it was the only convenient way, though.

 

[ilovepcot]

JC Penney has had trouble for quite some time. Not sure they're going to be able to hang on much longer.

Starbucks does poorly in my area.

 

[happygirl]

I can see the Post Office making major changes in the near future they are really having some major problems

I have always wonder how does Toys R Us stays open during the year. The ones here are ghost tow expect around Christmas time

 

[suzannen]

Netflix already leads the pack in movies streaming on TV, I would bet.... you do know that Netflix offers streaming videos to all XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 owners, right? And in 2011 they plan to add it to the Wii.

"Net" Flix was called that because they always planned on delivering movies via the internet. I once read a quote from the founder of the company.. basically he said "If we weren't planning on internet delivery from the beginning, we would have called ourselves DVD's by Mail" - or something to that effect.

I doubt many folks really want to watch a movie at a computer or on an iPhone if they have an option not to. I mean I would watch them if it was the only convenient way, though.

See, I did not know that. I don't know anyone who uses Netflix for anything other than ordering it by mail. Everyone I know who uses the "on-demand" system uses it through their own cable system. I absolutely agree with watching movies on small things like iPhones - it seems only kids and teens like to do that. But, I know quite a few that watch on their computer moniters - both movies and TV shows they missed the night before.

Interesting list and idea, Papa Deuce. I do hope you take print out a list of these so you can look back in 10 years and see if anyone was correct on any of these. And, who knows, maybe you can post how right or wrong we were in whatever format the DISboards exists in that time!

 

[Ephany]

I can see the Post Office making major changes in the near future they are really having some major problems

I stopped by the Post Office today with one package. To send it parcel post they quoted me $69. UPS charged me $12.75 to have it there on Friday by ground. I'm not sure why the difference was so much, but if that's the norm I can see why they're losing business.

 

[C.Ann]

Ebay has burned so many bridges with their sellers. I think it would take a lot for Ebay to actually fail but they are on thin ice. All they need is stiff competition and they are toast.

I don't think it would take all "that" much.. So many people have not only stopped selling, but buying as well.. I "used" to sell - and I "used" to do the majority of my Christmas shopping on Ebay.. Aside from used books on half.com (because combined shipping is cheaper than Amazon), I won't go near the place with a ten foot pole.. They have lost many of their loyal buyers and sellers and every time they make another change, they shoot themselves in the foot again.. I think it was within the past year or so that I was reading a news article that claimed they were very, very close to "tanking" and right after that they instituted additional changes - to try to improve their standing.. I don't think it's working..

I HOPE ebay tanks; after the way they started screwing their smaller sellers over they deserve to fail.

I wouldn't "hope" for it - but the rest of your statement is pretty accurate in terms of small sellers - if you also include "buyers".. Time will tell...

 

[merryweather20]

I think that Paypal is helping keep Ebay afloat. Ebay has lost a lot of its marketplace share due to its policies, including discouraging auctions in favor of 'stores' in which you list your wares for a fixed price.

Indeed, I used to sell a lot on ebay but quit a few years ago due to the high fees and other policy changes (such as, no way for a seller to leave negative feedback for a deadbeat buyer; when that policy was instituted I got several non-payers the first month). Another change that irked me was the limitation on what one could charge for shipping (for instance, books are limited to a $3.99 shipping fee, regardless of whether you are selling a paperback or a set of encyclopedias).

Now, I get virtually daily emails telling me about 'free listings' etc. Ebay is becoming desparate for more sellers.

I've always gotten e-mails about free listings, since they started, so I don't think thats any move of desperation. Ebay will be around.

 

[Micca]

MSN.com had an article about 7 BIG NAME companies that they say will not survive until 2020. They gave their reasons. I'll list them.... and then maybe you can add some that you don't think will last until 2020....

1. Palm - getting crushed by the iPhone and Blackberry

2. Sears - too "fuddy - duddy".

3. Blockbuster - Netflix has pretty much buried them

4. Kodak - too much competition with better technology

5. Borders - because Barnes and Noble is just bigger and better

6. Magellan ( GPS ) - because they are small compared to Garmin and Tom Tom, and GPS is becoming a very inexpensive commodity.

7. McClatchy ( Owners of Knight - Ridder and other major newspapers ) - well, because they own newspapers, essentially.


So, which big name companies do you think will be non existent by 2020?

Great topic Deuce!

I think Sears and all the mall anchor type department stores will either go away completely, or move into much smaller, less expensive brick & mortar locations. There will be so much on-line commerce that businesses just won't be able to afford high priced real estate and managing large inventories of merchandise.


As for GPS, we'll all have internet in our cars so there will be some computer manufacturer that makes the GPS units superfluous.

I have to agree that the USPS is going to undergo some major changes. As time goes by traditional snail mail will dwindle down to the point where daily delivery just won't be necessary.

 

[merryweather20]

I stopped by the Post Office today with one package. To send it parcel post they quoted me $69. UPS charged me $12.75 to have it there on Friday by ground. I'm not sure why the difference was so much, but if that's the norm I can see why they're losing business.

I just got a large box to Toronto from LA and it was $15 regular post. There was a $5 inspection fee at customs, UPS would have charged me a $50 fee. The Post Office had my package any-time after five down the street and they are open til 10pm and on the week-ends. The UPS, wouldn't have bothered to ring my buzzer even if I was home, I would have to call to get them to hold it at the station, but it wouldn't be available for several days, its an hour drive in heavy traffic and they aren't open on week-ends.

Lets hope Regular Post doesn't tank, I'd never get a package. For the convenience of regular post I'd pay tons and tons more, than what UPS was charging, which I bet was way more than $15.

 

[MusiqChic99]

See, I did not know that. I don't know anyone who uses Netflix for anything other than ordering it by mail. Everyone I know who uses the "on-demand" system uses it through their own cable system. I absolutely agree with watching movies on small things like iPhones - it seems only kids and teens like to do that. But, I know quite a few that watch on their computer moniters - both movies and TV shows they missed the night before.

Interesting list and idea, Papa Deuce. I do hope you take print out a list of these so you can look back in 10 years and see if anyone was correct on any of these. And, who knows, maybe you can post how right or wrong we were in whatever format the DISboards exists in that time!

I think Netflix will be around and movie rental places will tank.

I think a lot of people rely on them through the mail however we just received our disk to use it through our PS3. This is huge because now we can see movies right now without watching them online.

I dont see Netflix going anywhere. If anything they will just continue to change/evolve to what the masses want.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I would assume many clothing places that consider themselves more "high class" will not fair well in the years to come. Abercrombie and Fitch comes to mind as well as Macy's.

Wasn't Eddie Bauer in trouble? Whatever become of that?