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Comment by andrewmcwatters | Hacker News Reader

Anecdotally, the last time I went to Bed Bath and Beyond, it was an absolute ghost town.

No one was there, the prices were absolutely garbage, and the inventory was no better than anything you'd find literally anywhere else.

I looked around and thought to myself, "Wow, I bet their corporate rent costs a fortune to just be here, and they're probably burning cash hand over fist."

I'm not surprised in the slightest. Constantly amazed by businesses who seem to "still be in business," but the writing is on the wall and they're clearly zombie companies[1] or two feet in the grave.

[1]: https://www.google.com/search?q=is+bed+bath+and+beyond+a+zom...

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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.

> 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?

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.

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.

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

>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.

>The prices are garbage

I get the feeling that BBB, like Kohl's and Joann's, are places you just don't shop unless you have a coupon, because there's always a 30% coupon.

Kohl's doesn't have great coupons unless you have a credit card with them anymore. I used to shop there alot for the sales + coupon at the end of each season, and now its only worth it if you have a credit card with them

Add Michaels, same story with always 20% off. They even have those coupons to scan at the registers, you just have to mention it.

Great for those nice cutting mat desk pads!

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