First item on that list:
That’s for lighter appetites? Fried steak with creamy gravy and (no doubt butter laden) potatoes?
When Netflix first came on the scene however long ago, I didn’t think anybody wanted to wait around to get movies through the mail. An acquaintance of mine has a business relationship with Reed Hastings and was offered to get in on the ground floor of Netflix back in '97 or so. I don’t remember what the exact terms were, but he turned it down, thinking as I did. He’s really kicking himself now.
Batteries Plus has been mentioned, that’s another one I don’t get.
I thought Hyundai and Kia would never be able to break into the US auto market. I thought they’d be Daewoo revisited . They really stepped up their game, though.
I’ve wondered about the small computer shops, too. I can only assume that they’re big with small businesses that would rather pay for the (relatively) fast fix to get back up and running, versus ordering a new machine and moving all the data over.
I mean, you look at all the independent small stores, they all have computers that will need servicing at some point.
There are literally thousands of empty retail buildings, strip malls, etc in Columbus OH. I bet overhead is as cheap as ever for a business.
I went into one last February after my coat was stolen. Every other store I went to had their Spring clothes out, and no one had a coat in my size. I walked in there and had 11 or 12 choices each under $100. The coat I bought is not the most fashionable or beautiful I’ve ever owned, but it is absolutely the warmest. In fact, it’s a bit disconcerting, because I walked outside during a blizzard and the only indication I had of the outside temperature was the wind on my face. Every other part of my body was completely without any sensation that we’d left the house at all. Weird, and wonderful.
While I was there I saw some deals so amazing I was really wishing I had more money. A lovely thick cotton terrycloth bathrobe - extra long, with a hood - for only $26.
I keep trying to remember to shop there, but it just doesn’t spring to mind when I think of shopping. Thanks for the reminder!
Second post. 
The mattress store near us is also the supplier for a number of hotels and motels in the area. We have an Oreck vacuum storefront that supplies the housekeeping equipement. I think there are more small stores you see who survive on business accounts with other small and medium businesses in the area more than they do on walk-in consumer traffic.
I still have to second AOL, though. I would have sworn they were dead a long time ago.
Smaller portion than the normal CFS. It doesn’t overlap the plate.
Even Juno is still around.
Here’s a really interesting article from Wired about the current (2010) state of Radio Shack. Thought you guys might dig it.
The reason for their commerical viability is located within your statement. The brick-like fruit cakes are “gifts” to people that other people do not want to give to. They are nice “up yours” gifts to distant relatives, co-workers, spouses’ friends, etc.
I guess their main competition is Geek Squad, and geeky relatives. I agree, I totally don’t understand the desire to spend money to revive older computers (excluding data recovery). But based on threads on this board, and plenty of in person interactions (I’m the geeky relative, friend, employee…) lots of people would rather struggle along with their 5 year old computer than change to something new. I guess the inverse of that are my encounters with people who throw away perfectly good hardware because of software problems, or because the still under warranty hardware has a problem.
That being said, I can see the place for a competent, well run computer repair company. They probably also do custom builds, and stuff like that.
As others have said, the number of places that sell mobile phones boggles me. Walking through a regular mall or strip mall brings up independent stores, carrier stores, electronic stores, department stores, wholesale warehouses, etc. who all sell mobile phones. Can the industry really support that many sales outlets?
I would never buy one myself but I did inherit my grandmas’ Kirby about a year ago. She bought it in '76 and it still works. Like someone else mentioned they are mostly metal inside so things don’t break or wear out. She said the only thing she’s ever had to replace was a rubber belt because it got old. I don’t know how current Kirbys hold up but those old ones were definitely worth the money.
The only Sew & Vac I know is busy as hell. My mom took her sewing machine there and she had to wait several weeks before the guy, who is the son of the original owner, even looked at it because they were backed up. He said since there is no other Sew & Vac around in a reasonable distance he’s the only game in town so that’s where everyone goes.
This.
I have a friend who owns a small business and he has all of five employees. He don’t know no nothing and don’t wanna know no nothing about those damned devil boxes just as long as they work. The mom and pop computer store even set up his network and printers and stuff so my friend goes to them for everything. He’s been going to them for years. I go to them too for small purchases and computer upgrades. Their prices are almost always cheaper than Best Buy.
Although since the economy tanked they turned about 1/3 of their store into an internet cafe for extra income. He said that it’s mostly teens playing World of Warcraft so they got a couple of vending machines put in selling energy drinks and snacks. I asked him if it was making profit and he said, “Surprisingly yes.” And that from listening to them as they play it seems to be kids whose parents bitch at them for playing too much on the computer at home so they tell them they are going to the mall to hang out and then go there to play more WoW.
This may shed some light on it. There’s a nice graph too.
“In the second quarter of 2011 (January to March 2011) 18.65 million iPhones were sold worldwide.”
http://www.statista.com/statistics/12743/worldwide-apple-iphone-sales-since-3rd-quarter-2007/
And that’s just iPhones.
I know, really. It’s shocking no one said anything. Weird.
Must be a whoosh.
I read somewhere (possibly on the SDMB) that what sustains all of those mobile phone stores is people (teenagers, mostly) who come in to add money to the accounts for their pay-as-you-go phones.