Examples of last man standing in the business world

[kdonnel]

My recent visit to Best Buy, the best I can figure only my second visit in 5+ years, got me thinking about how Best Buy is seemingly the last major player that specializes in retail electronics. They outlived all their competitors from the 90's and early 00's.

It seems like Barnes and Noble is the last major in person book retailer, at least in my area. Again in the 90's and early 00's you still had the remnants of Walden Books and Borders but now it is just Barnes and Noble.

Travel agencies have seen a major consolidation as well and now they seem to have adapted and have risen from the ashes. In person travel agencies virtually disappeared but have had a resurgence recently, reborn as specialty travel agencies, focusing on just cruises or just Disney or just all inclusives.

At least in my area we are down to just CVS and Walgreens in the drug store space with an edge to CVS. Will there only be one left in 5-10 years?

I think EV replacing ICE will be the cause of another consolidation. I don't think all the automakers will be successful in their transition and in 15-20 years there will be a further consolidation of brands as one of more US automakers are acquired by rising foreign based EV only auto makers.

Any other examples of an industry that was once filled with competitors but is now down to just one or two?

 

[soccerdad72]

I don't think travel agencies have necessarily gone away, per se. They're just now all online instead of the old days when there were physical offices you went to in order to book trips. Now that I think about it - are there physical AAA locations anymore? I remember going there with my parents and in-laws to go get a Trip-Tik for a road trip. I loved those things!

I would think that physical bank offices would start going away with online banking being so strong, but it seems like in our area, every other new building that goes up ends up being a branch office of some bank (the other usually a Chipotle )

 

[Genie+]

Now that I think about it - are there physical AAA locations anymore?

Oh those are getting consolidated too. Last year I went to pick up an international driving license in Wayne NJ only to find out we were like 3 days late and it had closed. Now we need to go to Hackensack.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I don't think travel agencies have necessarily gone away, per se. They're just now all online instead of the old days when there were physical offices you went to in order to book trips. Now that I think about it - are there physical AAA locations anymore? I remember going there with my parents and in-laws to go get a Trip-Tik for a road trip. I loved those things!

I would think that physical bank offices would start going away with online banking being so strong, but it seems like in our area, every other new building that goes up ends up being a branch office of some bank (the other usually a Chipotle )

I was so angry that my bank is only open from 10am-4pm M-F, like, how am I supposed to do my banking? boooo

I loved the trip tiks too, when I was a kid I would be in charge of it and follow along

 

[barkley]

I would think that physical bank offices would start going away with online banking being so strong, but it seems like in our area, every other new building that goes up ends up being a branch office of some bank

in our neck of the woods the big name banks have largely closed their buildings and are all primarily on-line access only. what we are seeing is an explosion in physical locations for credit unions and private banks.

businesses I've seen vastly minimized or gone entirely online-

full service fuel stations-there's only one left in our region that I know of that has a mechanic's garage attached. everything else is fuel station with a market and sometimes a miniturized fast food location.

insurance companies with brick and mortar where you can speak to an agent/handle a claim.

butcher shops-we have a handful but they are largely for processing private hunting aquisitions. no true butcher shops you walk into to get a roast or ground beef or day to day purchases.

 

[_19disnA]

Seems your impression of what is closing and/or no longer available depends on how large of a metropolitan area you live near. Larger/expanding areas are adding new stores while perhaps small/rural areas are not. Local grocery stores near me along with specialty markets all still have butcher shops. One of the larger stores also sells dried aged beef in a large display case they cut to order, but smaller stores do not. Grocery stores all seem to have pharmacies which makes it quite convenient and less need for standalone drugstores, but many of them are still around.

Was just at a Best Buy TV shopping a few months ago. Used to mostly go there to buy printer ink cartridges but now that I have a B&W laser printer, don't need those anymore !!! Best Buy I was at had mostly empty shelves and seemed like they were struggling to find their niche of which products to sell. Probably hadn't been there in over 5 yrs. Their TV display was virtually non-existent so I left and bought it at Target instead who had a much better selection with comparable pricing.

They just opened 3 new gas stations near me so clearly they don't think gas powered cars are going away anytime soon. Things like motorhomes, lawn mowers, boats and existing gas powered cars will still need a place to fill-up. How the EV market will expand in the future is anyone's guess at this point. Full-service stations are gone since virtually everyone pumps their own gas. If you use a credit card, you don't have to go inside and much more convenient. I have seen a few places with signs indicating they will assist someone who is handicapped with their fill-up, but not sure if you count that as 'full service' or not.

Some banking transactions still work best in person and none of ours have closed. If you are looking for access to a safety deposit box for important paperwork/etc. or get documents notarized or work with a financial advisor are each examples of something you can't do online.

Haven't used a travel agent in probably 30 yrs. Back then they could print paper airline tickets but clearly those days are gone. Unless you are planning some unusually complicated vacation, not sure I would ever use a TA either in-person or online. I can just as easily book airline tickets or make hotel reservations myself using the same websites everyone now has access to.

 

[soccerdad72]

My wife has said that clothing shopping has become more difficult to do in person in recent years. While there are obviously brick and mortar stores you can go into, she said oftentimes, they have limited sizes or styles in stock and the employees at the stores will direct shoppers to go onto their online site to order what they're looking for.

 

[tvguy]

I think EV replacing ICE will be the cause of another consolidation. I don't think all the automakers will be successful in their transition and in 15-20 years there will be a further consolidation of brands as one of more US automakers are acquired by rising foreign based EV only auto makers.

Any other examples of an industry that was once filled with competitors but is now down to just one or two?

I know you have at least one EV. How is the EV market where you are? It is ALL over the place in California. Here in Northern California dealers are still asking above sticker, a Mustang Mach E running about $4,000 over sticker. My son says in Southern California, Mach E's are running about $10,000 off MSRP.
My son has had an ID4 since 2021, and just leased a Chevy Blazer EV, 3 years, $249 a month, $2,500 down. His father in law just bought a Lyriq for almost $20,000 under sticker to go with his Bolt EUV. Now, they both used a broker rather than dealing with the dealer directly. They for now have kept their old ICE VW as backup as it is worth nothing if sold, and the ID4 was down for a week waiting for new door handles (a recall). The dealer scheduled the appointment without checking if the parts were in stock, and it sat for several days until the parts came in. And last year he hit a pothole and destroyed a tire, and the special ones the ID4 use were nowhere in stock in Los Angeles, it took several days to have one come in.

 

[kdonnel]

I know you have at least one EV. How is the EV market where you are? It is ALL over the place in California. Here in Northern California dealers are still asking above sticker, a Mustang Mach E running about $4,000 over sticker. My son says in Southern California, Mach E's are running about $10,000 off MSRP.
My son has had an ID4 since 2021, and just leased a Chevy Blazer EV, 3 years, $249 a month, $2,500 down. His father in law just bought a Lyriq for almost $20,000 under sticker to go with his Bolt EUV. Now, they both used a broker rather than dealing with the dealer directly. They for now have kept their old ICE VW as backup as it is worth nothing if sold, and the ID4 was down for a week waiting for new door handles (a recall). The dealer scheduled the appointment without checking if the parts were in stock, and it sat for several days until the parts came in. And last year he hit a pothole and destroyed a tire, and the special ones the ID4 use were nowhere in stock in Los Angeles, it took several days to have one come in.

No idea, I am not shopping for a car so have no knowledge.

I do know I see more and more on the road as the transition marches forward.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Now that I think about it - are there physical AAA locations anymore? I remember going there with my parents and in-laws to go get a Trip-Tik for a road trip. I loved those things!

We have 3 AAA offices close enough for us to use. We still book our cruises through them. I really miss the triptiks AND the books that have all the towns (and what to see there) along with accommodation ratings.

 

[barkley]

Local grocery stores near me along with specialty markets all still have butcher shops. One of the larger stores also sells dried aged beef in a large display case they cut to order, but smaller stores do not.

yes, the grocery stores have butcher shops but i'm speaking of stand-alone dedicated butcher shops.

Full-service stations are gone since virtually everyone pumps their own gas.

by 'full service' I mean one with a gas station and service bay with mechanical services.

Some banking transactions still work best in person and none of ours have closed. If you are looking for access to a safety deposit box for important paperwork/etc. or get documents notarized or work with a financial advisor are each examples of something you can't do online.

several of the big banks have pulled out completly or greatly reduced their locations from both the small towns and big cities near us. for notary services the UPS store and other postal oriented stores have taken over the bulk of this market for several years (mobile notaries are still around-most often used if someone is home or hospital bound). I've wondered what happened to those that relied on the big bank's safety deposit boxes local to us b/c when we moved here there was a several years waiting list for one everyplace and thankfully we opted to wait it out at a local credit union that's still standing. financial advisors? last time we needed one at a brick and mortar location they had us go into a private room and it was conducted with us in person and the advisor on a big screen in the form of a 'virtual appointment'. not my cup of tea but it was either that or we could set up an appointment where we did the same kind of virtual appointment from our home.

 

[_19disnA]

Ok makes sense. "Full service" gas station used to mean someone would pump the gas for you at a higher price. That I believe was the origin of the term 'self serve' which clearly virtually all gas stations are now.

 

[Moliphino]

I don't think travel agencies have necessarily gone away, per se. They're just now all online instead of the old days when there were physical offices you went to in order to book trips. Now that I think about it - are there physical AAA locations anymore? I remember going there with my parents and in-laws to go get a Trip-Tik for a road trip. I loved those things!

I would think that physical bank offices would start going away with online banking being so strong, but it seems like in our area, every other new building that goes up ends up being a branch office of some bank (the other usually a Chipotle )

In MA you can do a bunch of DMV stuff at AAA offices, which is great. There's a new one on my way home from work in CT that also has a car service center.

 

[DavidDd]

My recent visit to Best Buy, the best I can figure only my second visit in 5+ years, got me thinking about how Best Buy is seemingly the last major player that specializes in retail electronics. They outlived all their competitors from the 90's and early 00's.

It seems like Barnes and Noble is the last major in person book retailer, at least in my area. Again in the 90's and early 00's you still had the remnants of Walden Books and Borders but now it is just Barnes and Noble.

Travel agencies have seen a major consolidation as well and now they seem to have adapted and have risen from the ashes. In person travel agencies virtually disappeared but have had a resurgence recently, reborn as specialty travel agencies, focusing on just cruises or just Disney or just all inclusives.

At least in my area we are down to just CVS and Walgreens in the drug store space with an edge to CVS. Will there only be one left in 5-10 years?

I think EV replacing ICE will be the cause of another consolidation. I don't think all the automakers will be successful in their transition and in 15-20 years there will be a further consolidation of brands as one of more US automakers are acquired by rising foreign based EV only auto makers.

Any other examples of an industry that was once filled with competitors but is now down to just one or two?

Many industries that had lots of competitors now have just a few big players, like airlines, smartphones, social media, and bookstores. The EV car market will likely see more mergers soon

 

[Dan Murphy]

I would think that physical bank offices would start going away with online banking being so strong, but it seems like in our area, every other new building that goes up ends up being a branch office of some bank

Same here. Little branches open all over the place. I don't understand that.

I really miss the triptiks AND the books that have all the towns (and what to see there) along with accommodation ratings.

Triptiks are still available, just now digital online, can be printed if desired. No longer in that nice compact spiral binder booklet.

https://www.acg.aaa.com/travel/maps-routes-tourbooks.html

 

[tvguy]

I would think that physical bank offices would start going away with online banking being so strong, but it seems like in our area, every other new building that goes up ends up being a branch office of some bank (the other usually a Chipotle )

Bank of America is building a brand new brand branch in the parking lot of a shopping mall here. Three existing branches will close and consolidate in the new location. The branches closing all offer safe deposit boxes. The new location does not. And there is already a years long waiting list for a safe deposit box. So a banking service that can't be done online, and is in demand, is being eliminated.

 

[barkley]

In MA you can do a bunch of DMV stuff at AAA offices, which is great. There's a new one on my way home from work in CT that also has a car service center.

I don't know if they still offer it but AAA offices also used to offer some kind of limited currency exchange at no or low fee. a neighbor that traveled to/from Canada frequently used to stop by and get some pocket money before every trip.

 

[john7994]

Seems your impression of what is closing and/or no longer available depends on how large of a metropolitan area you live near. Larger/expanding areas are adding new stores while perhaps small/rural areas are not. Local grocery stores near me along with specialty markets all still have butcher shops. One of the larger stores also sells dried aged beef in a large display case they cut to order, but smaller stores do not. Grocery stores all seem to have pharmacies which makes it quite convenient and less need for standalone drugstores, but many of them are still around.

Was just at a Best Buy TV shopping a few months ago. Used to mostly go there to buy printer ink cartridges but now that I have a B&W laser printer, don't need those anymore !!! Best Buy I was at had mostly empty shelves and seemed like they were struggling to find their niche of which products to sell. Probably hadn't been there in over 5 yrs. Their TV display was virtually non-existent so I left and bought it at Target instead who had a much better selection with comparable pricing.

They just opened 3 new gas stations near me so clearly they don't think gas powered cars are going away anytime soon. Things like motorhomes, lawn mowers, boats and existing gas powered cars will still need a place to fill-up. How the EV market will expand in the future is anyone's guess at this point. Full-service stations are gone since virtually everyone pumps their own gas. If you use a credit card, you don't have to go inside and much more convenient. I have seen a few places with signs indicating they will assist someone who is handicapped with their fill-up, but not sure if you count that as 'full service' or not.

Some banking transactions still work best in person and none of ours have closed. If you are looking for access to a safety deposit box for important paperwork/etc. or get documents notarized or work with a financial advisor are each examples of something you can't do online.

Haven't used a travel agent in probably 30 yrs. Back then they could print paper airline tickets but clearly those days are gone. Unless you are planning some unusually complicated vacation, not sure I would ever use a TA either in-person or online. I can just as easily book airline tickets or make hotel reservations myself using the same websites everyone now has access to.

I agree … and my Best Buy feels like a consignment store …

 

[focusondisney]

brand new brand branch

Say that 3 times fast.

 

[barkley]

I agree … and my Best Buy feels like a consignment store …

last time I was at one it felt like the target or walmart electronic/toy adjacent areas. yeah there were electronics but there was a ton of funkos, action figures and other movie/TV tie-in stuff along with entire displays of some kind of lego knock-off brand.