Debates by Category: Retail

July 20, 2011

Daily Deal Sites Mean Everyone Wins

The business models used by daily deal sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial are sustainable because they offer value for all parties. Pro or con?

July 14, 2010

Trust Kids to Make Online Purchases

Tweens and minor teenagers are sophisticated consumers. They should be allowed to have credit cards of their own or use prepaid vouchers to buy e-tail merchandise. Pro or con?

July 9, 2010

Shopping as We Know It Will Disappear

Consumers no longer need to touch and feel products in a physical store. Pro or con?

October 21, 2008

The Economy Needs Retail Therapy

Consumers in the U.S. should spend money to stimulate the economy and help it recover from the financial meltdown. Pro or con?

September 5, 2008

Bottled Water Is a Big Drain

Most communities in the U.S. have safe tap water. Bottled H₂O is a waste of money and resources. Pro or con?

Update! Hear a podcast in which our debaters address your reader comments.

July 25, 2008

Starbucks: No Perking Up

The recent closing of 600 stores is just the beginning of the fall for this bloated coffee chain. Pro or con?

April 21, 2008

Warehouse Clubs Are Cold and Creepy

The savings at Costco don’t make up for its antiseptic, impersonal stores. Pro or con?

October 16, 2007

Small Christmas for Retail

Holiday spending will be anemic in the U.S. as consumers worry about overextending their credit. Pro or Con?

July 26, 2007

A Short Leash for Pet Luxuries

If the economy falters, purveyors of chichi products for animals will find themselves in the doghouse. Pro or con?

July 6, 2007

Wal-Mart: Stay Out of Banking, Period

The retailer’s recent offering of financial services—including a prepaid Visa card, international money transfers, and check-cashing—to customers via its Wal-Mart MoneyCenters is bad for banking and consumers. Pro or con?

May 12, 2007

Let’s Shop Mom and Pop

Consumers should go out of their way to shop at small independently run stores instead of big-box retailers such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart. Pro or con?

April 1, 2007

Stop the Bullying, Wal-Mart

The retailer needs a new business model. It should stop squeezing employees and suppliers, and charge customers a little more. Pro or con?

February 7, 2007

Attention Shoppers: Quit Whining

Customer-service complaints about mass retailers like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Target are pointless and silly. These are mere commodity-delivery warehouses stocked with low-cost imports, and pecuniary U.S. consumers need to realize that extras cost more.