[darkhelmet]

It's not just BBB. This description could apply to a good number of chain stores these days. There are exceptions but this seems to be an increasing trend. There are ghost town stores everywhere you look.

If I make a trip to (for example) Target, it feels nothing like Target of 20 years ago. The chances are good that they don't have what I hoped to find there. I'm getting used to being regularly disappointed and am learning to plan around waiting for an Amazon delivery.

This seems to be a vicious circle. The thing stores had which Amazon didn't was that they used to have a decent selection of things you could get "right now" and they're giving up on that niche to try and compete on price. I don't see this ending well.

[MH15]

I agree with this assessment but not on the Target conclusion. I'm sure it's quite dependent on the neighborhood but both the Targets by me are always busy and often packed.

[coffeebeqn]

If you’re near lots of families with kids then the target is likely quite packed

[KoftaBob]

>If I make a trip to (for example) Target, it feels nothing like Target of 20 years ago. The chances are good that they don't have what I hoped to find there.

What are some examples of products you've had this issue with at Target? This sounds like the exception rather than the rule based on the positive way most people talk about Target both around me and on social media.

[wobbly_bush]

> If I make a trip to (for example) Target, it feels nothing like Target of 20 years ago.

I'm curious how did Target feel like 20 years ago?

[bombcar]

They didn’t have groceries and they weren’t quite as “upscale” and were busier, if I remember correctly. But I don’t mind them much. Except for pricing stupidity.

Also toys are much bigger now because Toys R Us died.