[ExI] ring of truth

[spike at rainier66.com]

> On Behalf Of John Clark via extropy-chat
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2020 3:52 AM



 

>>… the current riots … could be virus super spreader events… John K Clark

 

>… disinfectant teargas!

… 

 

 

These riots have me thinking about the future of retail.  (I do that a lot.)

 

In California they recently decided that larceny of items of value below 950 bucks is a misdemeanor, which makes it functionally legal.  Remaining retail stores are particularly hard hit, for now they not only need to compete with steadily growing online sales from outfits with lower overheard, they now can fall victim to anyone walking out of their stores with whatever they want.  

 

The local constabulary will probably not even show up if a homeless person walks out with a new sleeping bag and tent.  In response, the local sporting goods store doesn’t carry those items anymore.  This leads to problems:

 

https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/modesto/modesto-big-5-worker-attacked-by-customer/103-11aecb0a-b275-4b0f-86f3-4c87cf7c298f

 

We have a Big 5 nearby which recently threw in the towel.  It is now to become a Chick-Fil-A, which is fine by me, for I buy all my sporting goods online, but I cannot buy a CFA value meal 1 deluxe online (oh those are good, ja?)

 

The current quarantine has demonstrated the practicality of going entirely to online sales.  This jump-started a process which has been practical for some time, and has enormous benefits, starting with the obvious: the recipient takes the risk of theft rather than the vendor, which helps reduce prices for everyone.  It reduces traffic.  It allows greater competition among vendors. It reduces some high-risk low-pay employment, but it increases lower-end employment opportunities (to contract delivery drivers.)  It frees up real estate in former retail which can be converted to homeless shelters.  By cutting out one of the middle-humans, it increases incentive to shorten supply chains, which helps localize manufacturing, which brings jobs back home from overseas.

 

Anything else?

 

spike  

 

 

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