What major strategic error contributed significantly to Montgomery Ward's bankruptcy in 2001, ending its 129-year retail history?

Montgomery Ward was once a retail giant that rivaled Sears, with a fascinating 129-year history. Founded in 1872, it pioneered mail-order catalogs but failed to adapt to changing retail landscapes. This poll explores one of the critical strategic errors that contributed to this iconic retailer's downfall - a cautionary tale of missed opportunities and resistance to innovation that product managers can learn from today.

This is a live public trivia poll on AIPolls.Net. Vote and see real-time results.

Rejecting an opportunity to acquire the rights to Monopoly board game in 1935, which would have generated billions in revenue
Refusing to follow Sears into suburban shopping malls in the 1950s-60s, remaining committed to downtown locations as customers moved to suburbs
Investing heavily in telegraph communication infrastructure in the 1890s instead of telephone technology
Focusing exclusively on luxury products during the Great Depression, alienating their core middle-class customer base