Retail Is Dead

[eddiememphis]

Sportsman's Warehouse Parker. Today around noon I went in to buy a shell holder.

They had some ammo, a dozen bottles of powder and bullets in stock.

There were very few guns in the cases and six cars in the parking lot.

I'm afraid it may be closing soon.

I was at Flatiron Crossing Mall last week. The had a water issue and hired me to do some mold testing.

A lot of empty shops. Walking between the stores, I was wondering about rent, inventory and especially payroll with all it's newly added costs.

The retail model seems doomed.

[buffalobo]

Meh, too small of a sample.

If you're unarmed, you are a victim.

[flogger]

They will convert the empty stores into community housing or grow shops. Nothing to worry about!

[Joe_K]

Sportsman's Warehouse Parker. Today around noon I went in to buy a shell holder.

They had some ammo, a dozen bottles of powder and bullets in stock.

There were very few guns in the cases and six cars in the parking lot.

I'm afraid it may be closing soon.

I was at Flatiron Crossing Mall last week. The had a water issue and hired me to do some mold testing.

A lot of empty shops. Walking between the stores, I was wondering about rent, inventory and especially payroll with all it's newly added costs.

The retail model seems doomed.

The internet and small specialty shops are the Horseless Carriages of Retail.

[eddiememphis]

The internet and small specialty shops are the Horseless Carriages of Retail.

Agreed.

Giant malls are too expensive to heat and cool, keep clean and keep civil.

Especially when 1/3 of the stores are empty.

[glock74]

A lot of people buy products online now instead of in stores.

[kidicarus13]

If retail shops close, where will they get their clothes?92877

[BushMasterBoy]

So they can just turn the stores into morgues. Retail is dead.

[def90]

Sportsman's Warehouse Parker. Today around noon I went in to buy a shell holder.

They had some ammo, a dozen bottles of powder and bullets in stock.

There were very few guns in the cases and six cars in the parking lot.

I'm afraid it may be closing soon.

I was at Flatiron Crossing Mall last week. The had a water issue and hired me to do some mold testing.

A lot of empty shops. Walking between the stores, I was wondering about rent, inventory and especially payroll with all it's newly added costs.

The retail model seems doomed.

Flatiron Crossing is being torn down to be redeveloped. Should start this summer I believe.

As for retail and restaurants, February is always the slowest month of the year. No one shops or goes out to eat in February. Sportsmans warehouse for example.. hunting season is over, camping hiking fishing season has yet to start, the only reason to go there would be to maybe buy some clothes but how many people are doing that?

[thebolt]

If retail shops close, where will they get their clothes?92877

They will have to shop in our houses.

[Martinjmpr]

I know February is a slow month but I have been seeing the same things for the past decade or so and the trend is just continuing.

Here's an example: I lived in Englewood near Oxford and Santa Fe from 2007 - 2017. While we were living there, they redeveloped that area on the Southwest corner of Hampden/285 and Santa Fe that used to be filled with junkyards and turned it into the Riverpoint Development. Among other things it has a Costco, a Target, a Sportsman's Warehouse and some other retail stores.

But here's the thing: There were a bunch of small, "strip mall" style retail spaces that were created, some down by the movie theater and some across the parking lot from Target.

That redevelopment was done in 2008. There are store fronts in that shopping center that have NEVER had a tenant and remain vacant to this day.

15 years since they've been built and they have never had one paying tenant. I'm not a buisiness person but I can't help but think that somebody has lost some big money on that project.

SW Plaza (near where I live now) has been dying for years. I think the last time I went there was maybe a few months ago (before the holidays) and it was pretty dead back then, with lots of vacant store fronts with the mall trying to cover them up by putting up big splashy murals. Wife used to work in leasing at Park Meadows so she knows the mall leasing world and she says she can tell how bad it is at SW Plaza just because all the empty spaces mean so much less revenue.

However, it's not JUST the internet. It's also the various 'big box" and discount stores taking business away from smaller retailers. Go to any Home Depot or Lowe's on the weekend and you can hardly find a place to park. Ditto for Wal Mart Supercenter or even King Soopers. And Costco - good grief, don't EVER go to Costco on a Saturday unless you are a glutton for punishment.

So I think retailers are being squeezed from both sides: For small purchases, the Internet (and particularly Amazon prime) are often more viable than a brick-and-mortar store. Think about a typical M - F 9 to 5 worker: Let's say it's Monday and you need some small specialty item that you can't get at the grocery store. You say to yourself "well, maybe I can swing by the ______ store after work" but if the ____ store closes at 5:30 you might not make it before they close. So you say "well, I can go there on Saturday."

Sure you can, but you know what else you can do? Order it on Amazon from your computer on Monday morning and have it delivered to your house on Wednesday, which not only gets you the item you need, it also means one less chore on Saturday. So it's a "win" for you and for Amazon but a "lose" for the specialty store which really can't compete.

For commodity type goods - the things we all need and buy - the big box stores like Super Wal Mart and King Soopers are probably going to have it cheaper, in greater quantity, and unlike the mom-and-pop store that closes at 6:00, you can swing by at 9:30 PM or whenever its convenient to you.

I think the LGS's will be about the last small retailers to fold, though, just because having to have an FFL limits their competition. Wal Mart isn't going to start selling handguns and most of the other "big box" sporting goods stores offer a crappy selection of firearms and no real advantage in price. So LGS's will continue to be the place to go if you want to buy a firearm and take it home the same day. The logistics involved in buying via the internet also favor the LGS over the internet.

Of course "LGS" is a nebulous term. There are small shops and there are big-box "LGS" like 5280 that can buy in bulk and offer lower prices than the mom-and-pop gun shop on the corner.

[Martinjmpr]

Continuing my thought from above, this is also the reason I don't go to gun shows anymore. Between the internet and the big box stores, there's no real advantage to be found at a gun show.

[KevDen2005]

I know February is a slow month but I have been seeing the same things for the past decade or so and the trend is just continuing.

Here's an example: I lived in Englewood near Oxford and Santa Fe from 2007 - 2017. While we were living there, they redeveloped that area on the Southwest corner of Hampden/285 and Santa Fe that used to be filled with junkyards and turned it into the Riverpoint Development. Among other things it has a Costco, a Target, a Sportsman's Warehouse and some other retail stores.

But here's the thing: There were a bunch of small, "strip mall" style retail spaces that were created, some down by the movie theater and some across the parking lot from Target.

That redevelopment was done in 2008. There are store fronts in that shopping center that have NEVER had a tenant and remain vacant to this day.

15 years since they've been built and they have never had one paying tenant. I'm not a buisiness person but I can't help but think that somebody has lost some big money on that project.

SW Plaza (near where I live now) has been dying for years. I think the last time I went there was maybe a few months ago (before the holidays) and it was pretty dead back then, with lots of vacant store fronts with the mall trying to cover them up by putting up big splashy murals. Wife used to work in leasing at Park Meadows so she knows the mall leasing world and she says she can tell how bad it is at SW Plaza just because all the empty spaces mean so much less revenue.

However, it's not JUST the internet. It's also the various 'big box" and discount stores taking business away from smaller retailers. Go to any Home Depot or Lowe's on the weekend and you can hardly find a place to park. Ditto for Wal Mart Supercenter or even King Soopers. And Costco - good grief, don't EVER go to Costco on a Saturday unless you are a glutton for punishment.

So I think retailers are being squeezed from both sides: For small purchases, the Internet (and particularly Amazon prime) are often more viable than a brick-and-mortar store. Think about a typical M - F 9 to 5 worker: Let's say it's Monday and you need some small specialty item that you can't get at the grocery store. You say to yourself "well, maybe I can swing by the ______ store after work" but if the ____ store closes at 5:30 you might not make it before they close. So you say "well, I can go there on Saturday."

Sure you can, but you know what else you can do? Order it on Amazon from your computer on Monday morning and have it delivered to your house on Wednesday, which not only gets you the item you need, it also means one less chore on Saturday. So it's a "win" for you and for Amazon but a "lose" for the specialty store which really can't compete.

For commodity type goods - the things we all need and buy - the big box stores like Super Wal Mart and King Soopers are probably going to have it cheaper, in greater quantity, and unlike the mom-and-pop store that closes at 6:00, you can swing by at 9:30 PM or whenever its convenient to you.

I think the LGS's will be about the last small retailers to fold, though, just because having to have an FFL limits their competition. Wal Mart isn't going to start selling handguns and most of the other "big box" sporting goods stores offer a crappy selection of firearms and no real advantage in price. So LGS's will continue to be the place to go if you want to buy a firearm and take it home the same day. The logistics involved in buying via the internet also favor the LGS over the internet.

Of course "LGS" is a nebulous term. There are small shops and there are big-box "LGS" like 5280 that can buy in bulk and offer lower prices than the mom-and-pop gun shop on the corner.

Agreed. The one thing about retail for me in recent years is that for somethings I'd like to go hold in my hand before I buy and maybe just get out of the house.

I received a couple of gift cards to bass pro and a gift card to Amazon for Christmas. I have been in need of some new hiking boots so the wife and I went out to lunch then to Bass Pro to look. I found a pair that I really liked for $165 plus local taxes. Out of curiosity I checked Amazon before I purchased. Same exact pair $84 plus internet tax. So I used my Amazon gift card and spend $35 instead of using my Bass Pro cards and spending $65.00.

Bass Pro had a decent price on 9mm so I bought that instead.

I also like to purchase gold and silver coins now and then. There are three local shops here that I have purchased from but not one of them has heard of the internet. One shop was WAAAAYYYY over priced and I said, "This is a little high, I could get this significantly less." I realize people hate that and honestly I don't mind spending a couple extra bucks to support local, but not massive increases. The guy scoffed and said where can you find X at that price? And I pulled up several sites and he said, You'll have to pay for shipping and which I told him that wasn't the case because there is often an incentive for free shipping.

A couple years ago I was in the market for a new office chair. Found the one I like on Amazon and it would be a couple weeks. I went to the local Office Depot and found the exact chair for another $100 and I wanted instant gratification so I was willing to pay it. The guy said, all these chairs are for show, we have to order every one of them, it will take a couple weeks. I said, What's the point I can do do the same thing and save over a $100. I want instant gratification. So I saved the money.

[newracer]

Go to Scheel's on Sunday at noon, can hardly find a parking spot and the checkout lines are long. I won't even attempt to go to Costco on the weekends, massive crowds. Some places are struggling, others are thriving.

[hollohas]

I've been steering away from online more recently, especially Amazon. Amazon started with a business model of selling things cheaply. Not anymore, I can almost always buy it less expensive locally. Comparing prices from Target and Amazon for household staples, Target is going to win 95% of the time.

But here's the catch, I still buy those local things "online". I just buy them for local pickup. Even at Sportsman's or Target. The parking lots are empty because many people like me just pickup our orders in the front and are gone in 2 minutes. What an awesome way to shop.

[colorider]

I'm willing to support local businesses when they offer good service. Golden Fly Shop is a great example. I can order fly fishing gear and fly tying materials online for less money, but I go to the local shops because of service. Golden Fly Shop and Blue Quill Anglers in Evergreen are always extremely helpful and ready to answer any questions. Therefore, I spend my money there instead of online even if it costs a little bit more. SERVICE is something that has died out in the local retail scene and it people quit spending money locally because of that.

[00tec]

Good luck buying a refrigerator and getting it local. Even if ordered local, they just drop ship it from Korea or whatever. Excluding the scratch and dent places, of course.

[Great-Kazoo]

They will have to shop in our houses.

Fortunately, not in this area. They have to clear 50 yds before they're even close to the front , or back door.


Go to Scheel's on Sunday at noon, can hardly find a parking spot and the checkout lines are long. I won't even attempt to go to Costco on the weekends, massive crowds. Some places are struggling, others are thriving.

Down here, BBS are jammed on weekends AND open till about 1, except on fridays. Where most of this area is on a 4 day work week. Regarding SW, outside of panic buying primer and ammo hunters. I have yet to see the SW's parking lot ever full, if even 1/4.


I've been steering away from online more recently, especially Amazon. Amazon started with a business model of selling things cheaply. Not anymore, I can almost always buy it less expensive locally. Comparing prices from Target and Amazon for household staples, Target is going to win 95% of the time.

But here's the catch, I still buy those local things "online". I just buy them for local pickup. Even at Sportsman's or Target. The parking lots are empty because many people like me just pickup our orders in the front and are gone in 2 minutes. What an awesome way to shop.


IMO from what the spouse and i have seen in say the last 6-9 months on amz is. They've become more of a clearing house / 3rd party who acts as the middle man for business. Forget prices. Something i could order from wally world, or driveeeeee to the larger towns for say $8..

Is on amz, for $25+ , again thru some 3rd party. One also sees, when looking for a price. Click here to see what different vendors are selling for.

[theGinsue]

As others have said, I'm seeing a LOT more items I'm interested in through Amazon being sold by 3rd party vendors and often at the same price or higher than I can find elsewhere. Amazon is quickly losing my interest.

I've also noticed it's getting more difficult to find some things I want to but locally but can usually find those items online. This sucks when it's an item that I'd prefer to check out in-person before making the decision to actually purchase the item. This is definitely the case for clothing an shoes. My wife wears a ladies medium. She was wearing a ladies 2XL shirt yesterday that fit perfectly. The point is that even within the same manufacturer sizes aren't always accurate. For instance, I just bought a pair of Merrell shoes at Scheels to replace another pair of the exact same style # and size. The ones I bought are too loose but the next 1/2 size down were too tight (so much so that I knew they'd never stretch enough to be comfortable). While I still didn't find exactly what I wanted, if I'd have bought them online I likely would have returned them & requested the smaller size only to find them to tight. When I can buy the item in person at least I know what I'll be going home with for sure (or going home empty handed which is usually the case).

Right now many online retailers like Amazon have decent return policies - but what will happen when they no longer have to compete with local retailers?

This whole thing reminds me of the movie Logan's Run where you'd just order what you wanted from the TV/display in your home (even "companionship").

[Martinjmpr]

For me it's motorcycle stuff, mostly helmets and jackets. Given the wide variation between what manufacturers in different countries consider "medium" "large" and "extra large" I always buy in-person even if it means I have to wait to get it.

I bought a helmet on line ONCE. That was 22 years ago and I'll never do it again.

[hollohas]

Good luck buying a refrigerator and getting it local. Even if ordered local, they just drop ship it from Korea or whatever. Excluding the scratch and dent places, of course.Last refrigerator I got was brand new delivered next day from Best Buy. I could have picked it up if I didn't have a topper on my truck.

[hollohas]

I bought a helmet on line ONCE. That was 22 years ago and I'll never do it again.

Finding a wide selection of helmets locally is impossible. I went to 4 stores looking recently and ended up buying one from Rezilla online. I got lucky and it fit. Even the Denver Revzilla showroom didn't have the helmet I wanted. They did however have a great selection of other gear.

[Grant H.]

Finding a wide selection of helmets locally is impossible. I went to 4 stores looking recently and ended up buying one from Rezilla online. I got lucky and it fit. Even the Denver Revzilla showroom didn't have the helmet I wanted. They did however have a great selection of other gear.

Performance Cycle has by far the best selection on hand.

[Doc45]

Southglenn is another example. Regency Theaters is in Chapter 11, closing the movie theater there. Macy's has closed, lots of empty stores. It was originally supposed to have condos-couldn't sell so turned them into apartments. Rumor is the Macy's building will be turned in to apartments-hmm, probably will be priced high so will sit vacant.

I too prefer to shop and help out the locally owned small businesses whenever I can. For years Performance Cycle was my "go to" for stuff. Honestly the majority of my firearm purchases have been through forums or online businesses though I still look at the local non-big box stores first. Different times for sure.

[hollohas]

Performance Cycle has by far the best selection on hand.I hadn't heard of this place before. I just looked at Google photos...they have a shit ton of helmets. Thanks for the info!

[colorider]

The Denver Revzilla store is a complete joke. For selection, Performance has a great inventory. Pricing is very good too. Have experienced great customer service as well.

[def90]

Our resident bike guy TFOGGER may not have a ton of on hand inventory but if you know what you want/need he does a pretty good job of getting it for you. ;)

[mpatch]

I hadn't heard of this place before. I just looked at Google photos...they have a shit ton of helmets. Thanks for the info!

Be careful with that place or next thing you know you’ll have spent way too much money.
It’s like a super Walmart for motorcycle stuff and their prices are super competitive with anywhere else.
Seems like every time I step foot in there it costs me at least $1000.

[Martinjmpr]

I hadn't heard of this place before. I just looked at Google photos...they have a shit ton of helmets. Thanks for the info!

If you ride any kind of motorcyccle or power sports vehicle you have to check out Performance. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it before. It used to be on South Broadway near Evans. Now it's out in Centennial or Lone Tree near I-25 and Dry Creek.

There are also two Cyclegear stores in the metro area, one in Lakewood off of West Colfax (right next to the old Freedom Harley Davidson) and one in Thornton. Cyclegear is owned by the same company as Revzilla which just opened a store in RINO next to Erico Motorsports.

[00tec]

Last refrigerator I got was brand new delivered next day from Best Buy. I could have picked it up if I didn't have a topper on my truck.

I ordered mine 2 months in advance, was drop shipped from an appliance delivery company, which kept changing the dates unexpectedly. They also forgot to ship my front panels (fancy fridge). I've been on the phone for several hours at this point straightening that out.

[Mtneer]

Just heard on the radio that AMC Theaters are going to start charging "tiered pricing" where the best seats cost more. Fuck that.

[clodhopper]

Just heard on the radio that AMC Theaters are going to start charging "tiered pricing" where the best seats cost more. Fuck that.


I cant imagine heading a theater corporation watching home technology and streaming continue to grow and knowing you are making buggy whips when Ford is selling model Ts faster than can be produced. Kinda like a owning a blockbuster franchise. Just a ticking clock, almost completely out of your control.

[Joe_K]

If retail shops close, where will they get their clothes?92877

Your house, neighbors house, and/or your tax dollars.

[colorider]

Just heard on the radio that AMC Theaters are going to start charging "tiered pricing" where the best seats cost more. Fuck that.

No shit!. The price of movies is absurd as it is. Can't imagine having to pay more. On the other hand. I haven't been to a movie theater in probably 15yrs. Mainly because I don't get the entertainment for the dollar out of seeing a movie in the theaters. I much prefer watching at home on a big screen with sound that is not blowing my eardrums out. Much more comfy seats as well. The food and beverages are better too. And not to mention the bathrooms.

[ray1970]

With more and more new release movies being available to watch in my own home the allure of sticky floors and overpriced popcorn has really lost its appeal.

[BushMasterBoy]

95% of all movie theater seats tested positive for fecal matter. Tru dat

[Eric P]

Just pay for the cheap seats and sit where you want.

[KevDen2005]

95% of all movie theater seats tested positive for fecal matter. Tru dat

You're welcome

[eddiememphis]

Kinda like a owning a blockbuster franchise.

I keep it next to my library card.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-SjTKTLW/0/S/i-SjTKTLW-S.jpg

[Hummer]

I keep it next to my library card.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-SjTKTLW/0/S/i-SjTKTLW-S.jpg



Funny, and true that Blockbuster is dead, but libraries certainly aren't. Most have done well to keep up with advancing tech including streaming movies and music, often of titles not otherwise available. Nearly all services can be accessed online. We regularly order books on CD, downloaded titles, and old fashioned paper books. A 5 minute stop at the library and the items are already on a pick up shelf with your name code on it. A quick scan at a check out kiosk and you're out the door.

I always have a book to listen to while driving. I can download one on my phone off of the library's Hoopla portal in a couple minutes and listen to it whenever I want, usually while driving. It makes long drives a pleasure rather than a tiring stress.

I'm currently listening to Tom Clancy's "Target Acquired", a Jack Ryan novel. Excellent. Also reading a new book by Robert Crais, "Racing the Light", an Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel. Great reading!

[colorider]

Today I had some spare time and was thinking of this thread, so I did a little retail shopping test. I need a few simple welding supplies for hobby welding. Nothing serious, just goofing around. I already have a stick welder to play with. What I needed is a auto darkening helmet, a chipper, wire brush, and some welding rod and gloves. The rod I would like is one of the most popular ones. E6013 in 3/32 or 1/8 inch.
First stop is Harbor Freight for the helmet. They get great reviews and are priced right for me as its only for goofing around melting metal. Figured would get other supplies there too. They had the helmet I wanted and it was on sale. Sweet. The less expensive gloves came in a pack of 10 or something like that for 20 bucks. I passed. Didn't want to buy rods there as I would like a name brand for those, however they did have a good selection of the popular sizes and types, and had the ones I was looking for. Now all I need is the rods and gloves. I head to Murdochs as it's on the way back home. One pair of cheap gloves for $23 bucks and the no rods in my flavor. Shit. Home Depot is just down the street. Home depot has expensive gloves and no rods in my flavor. Actually, their welding section was horrid. They have more candy bars stocked than welding supplies. Now I'm really pissed off and figured I'd torture myself by trying Lowes. They had expensive gloves (3x the price of amazon for the exact same gloves) and they had the rods I wanted. Problem with the rods you may ask? They are half the length of the standard size and they were the same price of the standard length ones that the in fact, do not carry the standard lenght ones unless you want to buy a gigantic box of them for $100+. Came home hit the laptop and looked at Amazon. Name brand rods in the size I want at a great price. Gloves, same brand as the ones at Lowes and $9:00, instead of $26. Best part, I hit the buy button and they will be delivered today.
This is why retail is dead.

[ray1970]

Lol. Sounds like if you factor in your time and gas you probably could have just saved all of the hassle and ordered everything from Amazon and been money ahead.

[ray1970]

Before I head out to buy anything I always look online first. If I can get everything I need in a reasonable amount of time and for a reasonable price I don?t bother going anywhere or burning gas and putting miles on my vehicle.

[colorider]

Well, the gas wasn’t an issue. I had to pass Home Depot, Lowe’s , and Murdochs to get to Harbour freight. So it was just a matter of parking and trekking through the stores, only to be disappointed. What was funny is Harbor Freight has 20x more welding supplies than Home Depot and Lowe’s combined. The offerings at Lowe’s was almost as if they are discontinuing all welding related products. I actually walked the section 2x due to it being so little.

[Little Dutch]

If retail shops close, where will they get their clothes?92877


They will have to shop in our houses.


Your house, neighbors house, and/or your tax dollars.
Those internet purchased items have to ship. It turns out those shipping containers, trucks, and trains, are easy targets for modern shoppers.

Same basic videos, but here's two links:

https://youtu.be/hhGrHlPGmng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM2UzqO33AY&ab_channel=News19WLTX


Funny, and true that Blockbuster is dead, but libraries certainly aren't. Most have done well to keep up with advancing tech including streaming movies and music, often of titles not otherwise available. Nearly all services can be accessed online. We regularly order books on CD, downloaded titles, and old fashioned paper books. A 5 minute stop at the library and the items are already on a pick up shelf with your name code on it. A quick scan at a check out kiosk and you're out the door.

I always have a book to listen to while driving. I can download one on my phone off of the library's Hoopla portal in a couple minutes and listen to it whenever I want, usually while driving. It makes long drives a pleasure rather than a tiring stress.

I'm currently listening to Tom Clancy's "Target Acquired", a Jack Ryan novel. Excellent. Also reading a new book by Robert Crais, "Racing the Light", an Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel. Great reading!

I use the "Libby" app to checkout and listen to audio books. It's super convenient. It does text-books too, but I rarely check those out as I prefer paper over e-readers.

I just started the Eric Flint 1632 series. I recently finished Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and recommend it.

[hollohas]

Came home hit the laptop and looked at Amazon. Name brand rods in the size I want at a great price. Gloves, same brand as the ones at Lowes and $9:00, instead of $26. Best part, I hit the buy button and they will be delivered today.
This is why retail is dead.

Hopefully you get what you want. But Amazon sells a shit ton of counterfeit stuff now. At that big of a price difference, makes you wonder. Were they sold by Amazon or fulfilled by Amazon sold by 3rd party called something like 'Best Gift Supply LLC'?

It's surprising the stuff they counterfeit these days. I bought some pomade on Amazon not long ago and even that was counterfeit. I could tell because the color was different and the scent wasn't anything close to the real stuff. The container was spot on identical.

[hatidua]

I'm willing to support local businesses when they offer good service. Golden Fly Shop is a great example. I can order fly fishing gear and fly tying materials online for less money, but I go to the local shops because of service. Golden Fly Shop and Blue Quill Anglers in Evergreen are always extremely helpful and ready to answer any questions.

slight thread drift: The rest of the country does not grasp the quantity of quality fly shops that Colorado has. I've had friends visit from other parts of the U.S. and they are blown away at how many truly great shops are all within a relatively small area. I can visit a dozen good fly shops in a 30 mile radius and that just doesn't happen in the other parts of the country I've lived.

[colorider]

Hopefully you get what you want. But Amazon sells a shit ton of counterfeit stuff now. At that big of a price difference, makes you wonder. Were they sold by Amazon or fulfilled by Amazon sold by 3rd party called something like 'Best Gift Supply LLC'?

It's surprising the stuff they counterfeit these days. I bought some pomade on Amazon not long ago and even that was counterfeit. I could tell because the color was different and the scent wasn't anything close to the real stuff. The container was spot on identical.

They are genuine items.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I just started the Eric Flint 1632 series. I recently finished Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and recommend it.

The 1632 or "Ring of Fire" series is a great one. Sadly, Flint dies last summer but his work lives on and so will the 1632 series as he had made arrangements to pass stewardship on.

I also recommend John Ringo's "Black Tide Rising" series. I generally hate zombie apocalypse stuff but 1) Ringo did the research to make a fairly believable premise for the "zombie" apocalypse and 2) his series is more about survival and recovery and rebuilding civilization from the apocalypse.

[Little Dutch]

The 1632 or "Ring of Fire" series is a great one. Sadly, Flint dies last summer but his work lives on and so will the 1632 series as he had made arrangements to pass stewardship on.

I also recommend John Ringo's "Black Tide Rising" series. I generally hate zombie apocalypse stuff but 1) Ringo did the research to make a fairly believable premise for the "zombie" apocalypse and 2) his series is more about survival and recovery and rebuilding civilization from the apocalypse.

I've read minimal Ringo, but liked what I did read. Added to the reading list, thanks.