On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 18:11:28 -0000, ":::Jerry::::"
wrote:



The point is, the use of on-line shopping is killing the retail trade,

Why does this matter?

Because not everyone has either computer or credit card, what do you suggest
they do if and when all but the 50p and charity shops have gone over to an
on-line store only ?..

snip the "Sod you, I'm alrigh attitued" remarks

It isn't an "I'm all right, sod you" attitude, it's economic reality.

The proportion of people with computers is rising astronomically, now
well over half of households in the UK and continuing to rise.
Computers are cheap.
For some people, such as the elderly, online shopping to have their
groceries delivered is a godsend.

There are plenty of methods of payment other than credit card
available, including debit cards and even COD from some online
suppliers. The UK has the second largest number of credit cards per
capita outside the U.S.

You can't spend gold sovereigns in Tescos either. People will
inevitably move with the times.



If the retail trade can't see that and react to it, then I'm sorry but
it deserves to die.


It's not a case of 'If the retail trade can't see', they can see but they
can't possibly compete - unless there is a change in the taxation system to
level the playing field.

That's a total nonsense. Why on earth should taxation be used to
distort an economic reality? It's bad enough that there are
distortions with income tax, CGT and IHT as it is.

If the retail bricks and mortar trade wants to compete, it will have
to do so in the real market, not an artificial one.


I can see that your wallet is far more important than the 'health' of
society.

Both are important. Retail shops attempting to compete with a far
cheaper method of connecting supplier with purchaser are not
indicative of the health of society.



Is Mrs Thatcher a relation of yours, she didn't care much for society
either?....


It has nothing to do with caring for society. That is brought about
by minimising government involvement in people's lives, not imposing
distorted economics to bolster the untenable.

I'm reminded of one of her most famous quotes though:

"If you try to buck the market, the market will buck you."



--

..andy

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