# Companies that don't have much time left **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354 "2015-10-11T20:07:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/61 "2015-10-13T06:23:11Z")
Family Video. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/62 "2015-10-13T09:53:48Z")
7-elevens have had an interesting evolution. They used to be THE convenience store all over the 'burbs here in the East, back in the days before gas stations turned their service bays into convenience store space. But when that happened, it really undermined 7-Eleven in the 'burbs, because (a) a shitload of competition, and (b) you needed to stop for gas anyway, which gave the gas station convenience stores a big edge. 7-Elevens started putting gas pumps in their parking lots, but (a) they didn’t always have enough room for that, and (b) enough people preferred name-brand gasoline that that only helped but so much. I’m amazed that they’ve survived, and have managed to reinvent themselves in ways that seem to work. But the idea of running the gas stations’ convenience stores seems like a brilliant fit, and their other obvious niche would be in urban spaces that are too densely built for gas stations to be viable. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/63 "2015-10-13T10:03:03Z")
Hardees. Really nasty food the last couple of times I tried them. As for Starbucks, isnt the fact that McDonalds sells about the same latte for half the price hurting them? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/64 "2015-10-13T14:36:01Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Our local Long John Silver’s shares a building with A&W. I think they’re owned by the same company. We had a LJS/Taco Bell combo restaurant. I actually like the LJS chicken planks, so I was sad to see when they went full on Taco Bell. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/65 "2015-10-13T16:48:18Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Being Amazon’s showroom isn’t going to help them stay in business, though. “Yeah, OK, I think the Samsung looks good here. And hey, I can get it for $50 less from Amazon with free Prime shipping.” If they were smart, they’d formalize that Amazon showroom deal somehow and get back a bit of that cash that all goes to Amazon right now. That would take them looking at Amazon as a partner, and not as the evil, implacable enemy though. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/66 "2015-10-13T17:04:52Z")
I was surprised when I saw an ad for Staples at my parents’ house recently. I forgot that it was Office Max & Office Depot that merged. I thought Staples had closed though. But no, just the one in a plaza near me. I think Office Max & Staples have their place in society but there’s not enough demand for both. Office Max does have a great printing service and self-print but so does FedEx/Kinkos and they fit in tiny strip malls. Office Max still insists on being a huge store. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/67 "2015-10-13T18:10:12Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Apparently, they don’t realize that “I only read it for the articles” is actually a joke… In fairness, I don’t know how it has been the last several years or so but in the 70s, 80s and 90s they had some great Journalism and Interviews. They were also one of the highest paying magazines for Fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/68 "2015-10-13T18:39:21Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Apparently, they don’t realize that “I only read it for the articles” is actually a joke… At this point, I think it’s more of a desperate, panicky hope that somebody out there really does read the articles. But kudos for finally admitting that no, they can’t compete with an ocean of free porn on the net. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/69 "2015-10-13T19:15:33Z")
> [@](#): > > In fairness, they had some great Journalism and Interviews. They were also one of the highest paying magazines for Fiction. > [@Diceman](#): > > At this point, I think it’s more of a desperate, panicky hope that somebody out there really does read the articles. People really do read the articles…afterwards. But first you have to convince them to buy the magazine. And when they reach into their wallet to pay, they aren’t thinking about which article to read first. That bunny logo is well known…but for a reason: it implies that you’re gonna get more for your money when you buy Esquire or Maxim. Playboy had a great run…but the end is nigh. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/70 "2015-10-13T19:27:26Z")
What’s happened to Playboy is kind of a shame. If they had properly managed the brand, it could be worth so much more. I could see the magazine as a cross between Cigar Aficionado, Wine Spectator and GQ, in that it could have been a guide for modern men in how to dress, eat and so forth. And perhaps they could have revived the Playboy Club, as a chain of more upscale places than the Hustler Club or Hooters. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/71 "2015-10-13T20:29:23Z")
Does Mad magazine have any brighter a future than Playboy? Do young people care about Mad anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/72 "2015-10-13T20:36:00Z")
It’s local to the west coast, but grocery chain Haggen is having the most spectacular death spiral I’ve ever seen. > **[Haggen plans broad retreat from costly expansion](https://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/haggen-plans-broad-retreat-from-costly-expansion-filing-shows/)** > > The Bellingham grocer expects to shed most of the sites acquired in its ambitious 146-store deal, bankruptcy documents show. The stores they bought were sold to prevent a monopoly by Albertsons/Safeway. I’ve just learned that our local Haggen would be closing (after being open for less than five months). Now instead of having our beloved Albertsons that was in a completely different area than the Safeway, we’ll have NOTHING. Thank you, fucking FTC. > **[Haggen Struggles After Trying to Digest Albertsons Stores](https://www.wsj.com/articles/haggen-struggles-after-trying-to-digest-albertsons-stores-1444410394)** > > Ill-fated expansion of supermarket chain Haggen illustrates the difficulty antitrust enforcers face in orchestrating divestiture deals to replace competition that would otherwise disappear after a merger. Haggen sucks. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/73 "2015-10-13T20:51:08Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Family Video. I was really surprised that, even as the Blockbuster and Hollywood stores were going out of business, a Family Video was going into a vacant retail space up the block from me. They seem to be doing fine in my town, at least. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/74 "2015-10-13T21:01:30Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > True, but that’ll just be a whole different business with the same name. As was their original business, shipping DVDs by mail. Netflix has already changed businesses, so once more won’t be too hard. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I now feel five years may have been too generous. I think Playboy has the _exact same_ life expectancy as Hugh Hefner. > [@Urbanredneck](#): > > As for Starbucks, isnt the fact that McDonalds sells about the same latte for half the price hurting them? As for Harley-Davidson, isn’t the fact that Honda sells the same bike for half the price hurting them? As for Apple, isn’t the fact that Lenovo sells the same laptop for a quarter of the price hurting them? 😉 Starbucks is a premium suburban yuppie brand. Might as well ask why “white girls” don’t buy knock-off Uggs and Coach bags. They aren’t buying it for the taste and quality, but for the logo. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/75 "2015-10-13T22:43:34Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Family Video. The ones around here are branching out into delivery pizza. It’s called Marco’s and is good. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/76 "2015-10-13T22:54:06Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > What’s happened to Playboy is kind of a shame. If they had properly managed the brand, it could be worth so much more. I could see the magazine as a cross between Cigar Aficionado, Wine Spectator and GQ, in that it could have been a guide for modern men in how to dress, eat and so forth. And perhaps they could have revived the Playboy Club, as a chain of more upscale places than the Hustler Club or Hooters. Just a few minutes ago, I heard on NBC News that traffic to their website quadrupled when they took the nudity off. I guess there are plenty of other places where you can get racy stuff. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/77 "2015-10-13T23:20:53Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I was surprised when I saw an ad for Staples at my parents’ house recently. I forgot that it was Office Max & Office Depot that merged. I thought Staples had closed though. But no, just the one in a plaza near me. > > I think Office Max & Staples have their place in society but there’s not enough demand for both. Office Max does have a great printing service and self-print but so does FedEx/Kinkos and they fit in tiny strip malls. Office Max still insists on being a huge store. Staples and Office Max/Depot have a pending merger, waiting on FTC antitrust review. Similarly, I believe PetSmart is buying PetCo. Hopefully PetLand will go away, since I believe it’s the only one left that still sells puppies from puppy mills. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/78 "2015-10-14T00:43:54Z")
[QUOTE=nearwildheaven] Just a few minutes ago, I heard on NBC News that traffic to their website quadrupled when they took the nudity off. [/QUOTE] Just a WAG, but probably because they’re no longer NSFW, guys can log in during the day. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/79 "2015-10-14T01:21:33Z")
> [@dr\_zippermeyer](#): > > Western Union will be decimated by “Internet of value” if it doesn’t change fast. Western Union is doing a booming business in this part of the world, kept alive by people using them to wire money to family members (or to bargirl sweethearts ;)). An Aussie friend once said you give Western Union a bunch of money and they’ll send a little of it on. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354/80 "2015-10-14T02:02:59Z")
I know people are thinking that the diesel scandal is what puts VW on this list of dying companies, but it ain’t happening. Even though they have not succeeded in the US to the degree they would like, VW is still a HUGE company. With all of their sub-brands, they have the highest revenues, profits and assets of any automaker in the world. > **[VW Is Already The World's Leading Automaker](https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2013/04/18/vw-is-already-the-worlds-leading-automaker/)** > > CEO Martin Winterkorn wants VW to lead the auto industry by 2018. In Forbes' Global 2000 rankings, it already does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companies-that-dont-have-much-time-left/734354.md?page=5)