Death of the High Street

Working on a daughter’s mountain bike over last weekend.  It was daughter A’s bike that she had given to daughter B.  Needed general clean and oil and the brakes did not work.  Worn out brake blocks.  Diagnosed at about 16.00 hrs.

To get into the local town to buy new ones and get home, round trip time probably 45 minutes minimum, and it was Sunday so limited choice of shops and the proper bike shop was over the other side of town, maybe an hour plus of driving.

Onto the web.  Searched bike brake blocks. Did a bit of reading buyer comments. Ordered a set of new ones (from Amazon as it happens – Amazon fulfilled but sold by a specialist bike part retailer).  Delivery said to be next day.

Went off and got on with other things like cutting grass.

Checked emails at about 17.00 – parts had been dispatched. 

Next day – parts arrived at about lunch time. And fitted by 14.00.

Why on earth would I want to struggle through traffic and waste about an hour of my life driving to buy them myself from the High Street?

And it must be more ‘green’ to have them delivered like this as the van had lots of deliveries to make, rather than me making one run.

The High Street is doomed.  Or maybe High Street landlords are doomed?