Toys R Us

[hup_d_dup]

They used to be one of my clients when I was shooting catalog photography in the '80s. This was at a time when they were expanding rapidly and putting small stores all over the US out of business. I went to a local Toys R Us store in northern NJ to see what they were all about. Really nothing like I thought it would be; cavernous space, steel shelves 15 feet high, florescent lights 30 feet up, cold, dark, depressing . . . this was my first time in a big box store and I had never seen a store like this before. I thought, who would bring a kid here? But there were kids there and they were interested in the toys, not the environment. People, especially kids, normalize.

Made me realize I don't see the world the same as some other people.

No regrets about Toys R Us, a giant that crushed its smaller competitors and got crushed by bigger giants.

Hup

[Three Valves]

Guitar Center and West Marine did the same to mom and pop music stores and marine chandleries that failed to adapt.

Now Bigger Box stores have turned the table. Every Brick and Mortar box store catches grief, but Amazon circumvents taxes and sells counterfeit merchandise and not a peep or protest is to be found.

Why do suppose that is??

[hup_d_dup]

Why do suppose that is??

The US is a capitalist county that produces great wealth, but not necessarily great happiness. Our focus is getting lots of stuff, either by making more money or getting things cheaply.

Of course, people everywhere do this, but in the US we have a tendency to follow this path at the expense of some other things that are important in life.

Hup


https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-repo ... HR_web.pdf" target="_blank
see pages 20-23

[Three Valves]

https://s3" target="_blank.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2018/WHR_web.pdf" target="_blank
see pages 20-23

Haha!! Nice touch.

But where was the part about Amazon circumventing taxes and selling counterfeit merchandise but the Usual Suspects found outside Walmart protesting development, working conditions and wages remain silent and leave Amazon alone??

It must be something.

[hup_d_dup]

This was not an Amazon document. The document happened to be at an Amazon website. It can be found elsewhere, for instance http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2018" target="_blank

I'm not disagreeing with you about Amazon business practices.

Hup

[Three Valves]

I'm not disagreeing with you about Amazon business practices.

Hup

Those sneaky bastards are everywhere!!

[Three Valves]

Most unhappy people I know throughout Western Civilization, including the good ol' USA, are unhappy because they are miserable SOBs!!

[Three Valves]

Amazon gets its share of protestors. The main difference is that it's easier to find Walmart sites than it is to find Amazon sites.

It appears to be easier to find editorial space in the media as well.

Curious...