Amazon the Retail Antichrist
This isn’t about an “evil” Amazon; it’s about Americans who love to shop. Amazon merely capitalized on our culture. The billion-dollar company gives us an immediate response to our wants. For me, living 15 miles from a store makes Amazon an easy one stop shop. According to GeekWire Amazon created more jobs last year than 46 states. What’s not to like? Amazon dialed up American’s buying culture, and we answered. The dark side? For one thing, some of our local stores are fighting for their fiscal lives. The old ways and the old days of shopping are changing. Progress is like that. What will we miss in the years ahead? My first real job was in a retail store. I learned to handle the occasional rude customer. I learned how to be responsible for inventory and money, while multi-tasking as a clerk, janitor, and stocker of shelves. My $2.00 per hour was well-earned. As technology replaces people, what happens to those first-time jobs? ...