Re: Has internet shopping gone too far?
The days of "conmen" high street shops charging punters ridiculous prices and ripping them off are over and very rightly so.
Most offer absolutely no added value over and above the product itself being sold so there was never any reason whatsoever for them to charge the ridiculous prices they did.
What we are seeing is actually the end of that fraudulent monopoly. For years we were effectively forced to buy TVs and electrical equipment from the likes of Comet and Currys and whilst it was a luxury to walk around the shops to touch and feel the goods, that privilege never justified the vastly inflated price tags.
Same for many clothes shops. Crazy prices in shops vs far cheaper prices on the internet and yet the shops added very little extra value. The ability to try stuff on in fitting rooms perhaps, but then when ordering online you can try the clothes on in the comfort of your own home !!
I think it's right that the internet has removed baggage and unwanted/unnecessary costs of con man retail outlets. As humans we have to learn to stop ripping each other off as we have done in the past. There is no good future for us if we persist in this.
My exception to this situation concerns the many local food tracdes that we used to have. Proper butchers, greengrocers, artisan bakeries and so on. Those ARE important and we should see to it that they are brought back imo.
Food provenance is important and we should support such vital local trades.