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

[N.Bailey]

I love JC Penney's, but I see it and Macy's going under before Sears. Sears has the automotive/tools dept. and the appliance section that I think would keep it afloat. There just isn't much competition in the "tool" dept. Yeah, you can go out and buy the complete Snap On line for a total of $65,000 (and that's at half off), at the school my son will be attending next year (University of Northwestern Ohio). Of course that's the extreme, but Snap On is easily 3 to 4 times more expensive than Craftsman. And, Craftsman comes with a lifetime warranty (I don't think they do if used professionally though).

Personally, I can't stand Macy's, so I hope it goes out and let's JC Penney standing.

Burger King CANNOT go under either. Shame on whoever said that.

Starbucks isn't even in our area. We were going to get a store, but they decided against it 2 years ago. They then pulled the one out of our mall. I don't drink that stuff anyway, so it wouldn't matter to me. My daughter was devastated though.

I could see Gap going under, but not the more inexpensive Old Navy. I don't shop in either, but no one goes to Gap anymore in our area.

Hollister, Abercrombie, PacSun, Buckle, Victoria's Secret, American Eagle, etc... I see them ALL sticking around for a LONG time. They certainly aren't the cheapest stores on the block, but they prove, it's not always about the almighty dollar. People are willing to pay for things they want.

 

[MaumeeMom]

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.

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.

I agree, Netflix has established itself in the on-demand market and I don't see it going anywhere. I use my ROKU box to watch Netflix movies or tv shows pretty much daily. They have kept up with technology & the customer service is really good.

As a photographer, I would be saddened to see Kodak fold but they didn't move fast enough into the digital realm so I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Pugsley]

Zales is going to disappear I believe. They have left a ton of small suppliers high and dry = owing millions.

Well shoot! My wedding set is from there and I have a lifetime warranty.

 

[legalsea]

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.

Well, I started selling on Ebay ten years ago (I was even a power seller for a while) and I do not recall them offering free listings like they have in the past six months.

Yes, during the slow times of the year (week after Christmas for example) they would have specials. Now, however, it has become a weekly event to send me emails saying "first five items listed - no listing fee!", etc. It is simply a fact that ebay has dwindled.

 

[TriMom]

And i wouldn't be surprised to see 7 - 11 bought out and merged with another company.

I will disagree with you on 7-11, but only because I heard a radio program about them a few weeks ago.

7-11 has been one of the few companies to successfully navigate a chapter 11 bankruptcy. They now operate as a cash only business. Many store are remodeling to be come a more "upscale" convenience store - offering gourmet coffees and fresh baked goodies. Also they are buying new properties at bargain prices, and have several new policies in place to keep and reward managers.

It was a pretty interesting report. They (as in the people who wrote the radio piece) seem to think that the new 7-11 will do very well.

 

[chisnpeke]

Well, they have already closed hundreds of locations in the last 2 years....

Those were locations that had also just opened in the last couple of years. There are still many, many locations around here. Too many locations but they always seem to be busy.

 

[suzannen]

I love JC Penney's, but I see it and Macy's going under before Sears. Sears has the automotive/tools dept. and the appliance section that I think would keep it afloat. There just isn't much competition in the "tool" dept. Yeah, you can go out and buy the complete Snap On line for a total of $65,000 (and that's at half off), at the school my son will be attending next year (University of Northwestern Ohio). Of course that's the extreme, but Snap On is easily 3 to 4 times more expensive than Craftsman. And, Craftsman comes with a lifetime warranty (I don't think they do if used professionally though).

Personally, I can't stand Macy's, so I hope it goes out and let's JC Penney standing.

Burger King CANNOT go under either. Shame on whoever said that.

Starbucks isn't even in our area. We were going to get a store, but they decided against it 2 years ago. They then pulled the one out of our mall. I don't drink that stuff anyway, so it wouldn't matter to me. My daughter was devastated though.

I could see Gap going under, but not the more inexpensive Old Navy. I don't shop in either, but no one goes to Gap anymore in our area.

Hollister, Abercrombie, PacSun, Buckle, Victoria's Secret, American Eagle, etc... I see them ALL sticking around for a LONG time. They certainly aren't the cheapest stores on the block, but they prove, it's not always about the almighty dollar. People are willing to pay for things they want.

As a New Yorker, I really hope Macy's doesn't go under. I can't imagine Thanksgiving morning without the Macy's parade or Christmas without the Santa at Macy's Herald Square flagship store. Friends were there yesterday morning and said the lines were huge.

 

[Imzadi]

I would not be surprised to see Starbucks gone, but I wouldn't bet money on it.

Well, they have already closed hundreds of locations in the last 2 years....

according to wikipedia, they have closed 900 stores since 2008.

Yes, Starbucks closed many stores. They expanded into too many areas and then went outside their product line and tried to offer ridiculous stuff that was not coffee, like music cds.

Over four months ago, Starbucks developed and launched the first new instant coffee in like twenty years. No other instant coffee had been developed since those nasty instant coffees: Nescafe & Taster's Choice.

Starbucks had free instant coffee taste tests during their instant coffee launch. I tried it twice during this time. I could definitely tell it was instant because it is a much weaker body coffee.

The second tasting, I asked the barista to purposely make the coffee much stronger as that's how I usually like my coffee and I wanted to know how it would hold up.

Again, as a real coffee connaisseur, I could tell the difference in the body of the coffee. It was slightly weaker, lacked the oils & body of a fresh brewed coffee. BUT, the taste was very close to the Starbuck's brewed coffee. It did NOT taste like the horrible Nescafe & Taster's Choice.

There is a definite market for this new Starbucks instant coffee. I asked the barista if they still receive Starbucks stocks as part of working for Starbucks. He said yes. I told him to hang onto his stocks as they will go back up. I was right.

If you click on the chart below and see the sharp rise in stocks mid July, Starbucks stocks is definitely on the rise again. It they stick to coffee products, which is their expertise, they should be fine.

Starbucks stock chart

 

[chisnpeke]

As a New Yorker, I really hope Macy's doesn't go under. I can't imagine Thanksgiving morning without the Macy's parade or Christmas without the Santa at Macy's Herald Square flagship store. Friends were there yesterday morning and said the lines were huge.

Macy's (at least the Herald Square location) is an important piece of "history" (not history but it is an important store!). It is a classic department store and I loved going there.

My mom works at JCPenney and the store where she works is always busy. It used to be the Walmart before they moved and made a Super Walmart so they bought the building and remodeled. That's better than having to pay a mall lease.

I hope all the retail stores survive, personally.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

No, I wouldn't. Starbucks???

I personally spend $5 a day - as does every other patron in there, every single morning.

I don't see this happening, IMO.

As a long time stockholder, I appreciate your business!

 

[N.Bailey]

As a New Yorker, I really hope Macy's doesn't go under. I can't imagine Thanksgiving morning without the Macy's parade or Christmas without the Santa at Macy's Herald Square flagship store. Friends were there yesterday morning and said the lines were huge.

Well, you do have me on the parade issue. It would indeed be a sad day all across America if we lost them.

As for the store, I still can't stand them. We used to have Kaufmann's where Macy's is now, and I miss them SO much. It had always been my favorite store when my kids were growing up (and the Disney Store of course). We didn't have a Gymboree at that time, no Children's Place, even The Limited Too didn't come in till my daughter was heading into the woman's sizes. Kaufmann's always had the best brands that I wanted, and their sales were 2nd to none. Now Macy brings in their own brand of clothing? Don't get me wrong, I've made purchases there, but nothing like I used to buy at Kaufmann's. Thank God we also got a Boscov's (my favorite dept. store now). The kids are more interested in the other stores I mentioned (Abercrombie, Hollister, PacSun, etc...).

 

[MusiqChic99]

Macy's (at least the Herald Square location) is an important piece of "history" (not history but it is an important store!). It is a classic department store and I loved going there.

My mom works at JCPenney and the store where she works is always busy. It used to be the Walmart before they moved and made a Super Walmart so they bought the building and remodeled. That's better than having to pay a mall lease.

I hope all the retail stores survive, personally.

I think the quality of JcPenney has went down. I used to buy a lot of my work clothes there but now I tend to spend a bit more elsewhere.

HOWEVER...the JcPenney near us is still very busy. It usually always is. I do like there home stores.

 

[DMRick]

From eBay under the fees section: "Your first five single-quantity auction-style listings to be listed on the site in a 30-day period have an insertion fee of $0.00 for eligible categories.". This excludes real estate and a few other categories.

I can't remember when it started, but it was mentioned as a way to get people to try eBay, several months ago, I'd guess. It's a bonus!

I certainly hope it doesn't go under, as it's a big part of our income..the part that we use to vacation, do extra stuff for our grands, etc. Our store, fixed price items and our regular auctions are still doing well. I love having the free listings..those are the items I put up that I have no idea if they will get sold..so it's always a surprise when they do. Oh, it's not like it was when it started and it was new, and I don't suggest it for auction items that are only a few dollar in value like many used it for way back when we had the ongoing eBay thread. Since then many more people have tried eBay and so there was a mass amount of the same type of itmes, with everyone hoping to make a killing.

Compared to what I could get for this stuff in garage sales and on Craig's list (not even counting the safety issues with Craig's list, I would never give out my address to someone on Craig's list, or let someone know when it's a good time to come, since they can easily guess when no one would be home), eBay is still a great way to sell IMO.

I was in one of our local Office Max the other day and was suprised to see how empty of items to buy it was. The entire wall of furniture was empty, printer sellection poor, and just looked like it had too much space. I wonder how they are doing.

Our local Starbucks was supposed to close (shortly after they opened) and it was nice to get the news that it was going to remain open.

Well, I started selling on Ebay ten years ago (I was even a power seller for a while) and I do not recall them offering free listings like they have in the past six months.

Yes, during the slow times of the year (week after Christmas for example) they would have specials. Now, however, it has become a weekly event to send me emails saying "first five items listed - no listing fee!", etc. It is simply a fact that ebay has dwindled.

 

[N.Bailey]

From eBay under the fees section: "Your first five single-quantity auction-style listings to be listed on the site in a 30-day period have an insertion fee of $0.00 for eligible categories.". This excludes real estate and a few other categories.

I can't remember when it started, but it was mentioned as a way to get people to try eBay, several months ago, I'd guess. It's a bonus!

I certainly hope it doesn't go under, as it's a big part of our income..the part that we use to vacation, do extra stuff for our grands, etc. Our store, fixed price items and our regular auctions are still doing well. I love having the free listings..those are the items I put up that I have no idea if they will get sold..so it's always a surprise when they do. Oh, it's not like it was when it started and it was new, and I don't suggest it for auction items that are only a few dollar in value like many used it for way back when we had the ongoing eBay thread. Since then many more people have tried eBay and so there was a mass amount of the same type of itmes, with everyone hoping to make a killing.

Compared to what I could get for this stuff in garage sales and on Craig's list (not even counting the safety issues with Craig's list, I would never give out my address to someone on Craig's list, or let someone know when it's a good time to come, since they can easily guess when no one would be home), eBay is still a great way to sell IMO.

I was in one of our local Office Max the other day and was suprised to see how empty of items to buy it was. The entire wall of furniture was empty, printer sellection poor, and just looked like it had too much space. I wonder how they are doing.

Our local Starbucks was supposed to close (shortly after they opened) and it was nice to get the news that it was going to remain open.

I think if Ebay ever did go under, it will have only been because something better came along. I'd imagine if that would be the case, that competition would come in at reduced fees, and better services to both the buyer and the seller. So, if it goes under, I think it's a safe bet that it won't be the end of online auctions. Just the end of Ebay (and they are greedy little buggers).

 

[lillygator]

maybe not big name, but I see Dillards going under, they have closed several stores here...Kmart as well. Toys R us, we don't even have one in town we have a babies are us, I don't think they will make it.

 

[N.Bailey]

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.

I don't either. Combine Netflix with Redbox and what more does one really need?

 

[Feralpeg]

Well, if K-Mart goes under, I think it is likely Sear will as well.

Perhaps, they will just dump K-Mart and stay open as just Sears. The Sears stores near me do very well.

 

[legalsea]

I think if Ebay ever did go under, it will have only been because something better came along. I'd imagine if that would be the case, that competition would come in at reduced fees, and better services to both the buyer and the seller. So, if it goes under, I think it's a safe bet that it won't be the end of online auctions. Just the end of Ebay (and they are greedy little buggers).

Let us recall: I am not predicting Ebay's demise TODAY. The thread is what companies do you think will be gone by 2020. I believe that Ebay's trajectory is downward, while other online sellers (including Amazon) is upwards.

 

[N.Bailey]

Let us recall: I am not predicting Ebay's demise TODAY. The thread is what companies do you think will be gone by 2020. I believe that Ebay's trajectory is downward, while other online sellers (including Amazon) is upwards.

I guess we'll see in the end, but I have no disputes at all about Amazon. My God, have you ever heard of how many orders they have filled on particular days (Black Friday for example). It's staggering really. I really am in awe that a company can move that much inventory in such a small time frame, and they do it day in and day out.

As for online auctions, I just don't know. I think most people go there for the best deals they can get on some items, those hard to find items such as antiques, no longer manufactured items, such as DVDs, Books, etc.. I just don't see any store filling that type of void and in all honesty, for the most part, we'd probably all call it a junk store in our town and never shop there. As a matter of fact, we probably all already have these types of stores in our towns and don't shop at them. Online auctions also allow the average Joe to get rid of items he no longer wants (as long as someone else does want it).

I guess time will tell, but I think it's possible that Ebay may go the route of the dinosaur, but I believe there will be another company waiting in the wing.

 

[DMRick]

ah...2020..my eyes thought it was the end of 2010.
That said, now that the guessing is until 2020, I haven't a clue.