Christmas Sales

[gnofg]

Every time I go out shopping it seems extremely slow. I talked to a Sears salesperson last night and he said it is scary slow. Sears has had some of the best sales numbers in the nation. I live in one of the most repub county in the country. Anybody else seeing this. The Bush economy rocks.

[zeemike]

1. I only know

That they haven't got much money from me, other than my normal living expense.

[Pirate Smile]

2. It has seemed slow to me too. They excuses they use to play down its

importance are - Internet purchases and gift cards. Although don't you usually go to the store to buy the gift card? I suppose it would take less time.

[jmowreader]

42. Gift cards don't go into your sales figures

At least they don't go into mine. The reason for this is twofold:

1) Sales is the exchange of money for product. A gift card is simply a deposit of money; when the card is redeemed for product, it then counts as a sale.

2) If you're a regional or national retailer, gift cards purchased at one store can easily be used at a different one. Who would get the credit for the sale? The store who sold the gift card...or the store 500 miles away who sold the customer an item that she paid for with the card?

In my forays to spy on Wal-Mart, they often have signs advertising the "Reloadable Shopping Card." Apparently you're supposed to buy a gift card from Wal-Mart then use it yourself. Also. apparently a lot of freepers actually do this. This is so entertaining because Wal-Mart's making serious coin by investing the float--which is how American Express makes money on Travelers Cheques.

[Bridget Burke]

3. I dropped by Foley's last night.

That's downtown Houston's last remaining department store. It's a shadow of its former self, with 5 floors of merchandise when there used to be 9. But that shrinkage is a result of the long-time decay of downtown Houston--it's nothing new.

However, there was plenty of merchandise--good quality & all marked down. And very few customers.

[elehhhhna]

11. I'm in Sugar Land and the Mall was pretty quiet this weekend...

compared to prior Xmases--plenty of parking (I drove by twice mid-day Sat & Sun--I never shop at the malls.)

[tech3149]

4. I don't get out much

but this will be the third year my family has had a non-commercial Christmas. The only gifts exchanged are hand made or commitment of services. I won't continue to support an economy that doesn't support me. I'm glad my family can agree with that concept.
I'm sorry if it's painful for the business world, but I think we have to get past the unconstrained consumerism that defines the American culture.

[bleedingheart]

5. Kaufmanns in Pittsburgh (Waterfront) was almost empty on Monday

and this is just two weeks before Christmas...

I was there to buy shirts for my husband for work.

[chookie]

43. Wow -- the WATERFRONT?

I can report that the Waterworks and all of North Hills is dead too. A year ago it was bumper to bumper and totally nuts. This year (crickets chirping).

I mean, it's weird. Um, was there, like, a Rapture or something?

[koopie57]

6. We went to Sears yesterday

to get a small firesafe for my daughter. We had a coupon for $5 off and one for 10 percent off and as I was trying to figure which one would be the best to use, the salesperson took both of them, plus everything was 30 percent off already.

[ScaRBama]

13. I've not been part of the Christmas hype.....

in over 25 years. I just got so sick of the whole thing.
If I want to give a gift to someone why wait until December 25 to do it? I've never liked tradition or the material world telling me I must do something on a certain day of the year.
If I find myself giving because I feel I must,then giving loses the gift of the heart.
Every year I hear so many people say the same thing and to me it's sad. They say they really don't have the money or if this person had not already bought them a gift they wouldn't give them one. This kind of giving has nothing to do with the true nature of love or giving from the heart.

[koopie57]

23. *LOL*

I think you have chosen to preach to the choir my dear. I give with my heart probably more than you can comprehend. But I'm also very smart and so I am able to mold gift giving and christmas together so all are satisfied.

Waiting to give someone a gift until the 25th of the year is sort of a game to me. I could give it to them whenever I wanted, or I could keep it a secret and give it on christmas when it will be a nice surprise. I kinda like that. It is fun to wait and think about it and then see their surprise on Christmas. Maybe just cuz I'm not into christmas doesn't mean someone important to me isn't.

I never give a gift out of obligation. So when I do give a gift, it is a great deal of fun for me. If someone decides to give me a gift, I find myself wondering why they would think of me in such a way. It makes me think, wonder. Sometimes I understand and go to visit them.

I'm sad to hear where you find yourself. Give an inch and see what happens, give when you don't want to, listen, pretend .. nothing needs to be all one way and not the other. Maybe even give a fuckin gift out of obligation. Anytime you give is good.

soft kisses
bye now

[babylonsister]

7. What's amazing to me are

all the Mercedes Benz commercials all over the tube in Houston. Like the majority of us peons could ever hope to get a MB. So who are they 'talking' to?
There are reports that X-mas will again be a bust sales-wise. Yeah, Shrubbie, thanks for improving the economy. Is there anything about this country we live in that you haven't negatively influenced?

[Butterflies]

22. I know, the commercials for the cars and diamonds as gifts

Who is buying those things? Of the thousands of people who see those commercials only a few have any chance of actually buying them.

[Lorien]

26. As Kevin Philips says; the times are VERY good

for the "Tiffany" class. The richest 1% are spending like drunken sailors. They're the only ones.

[NuttyFluffers]

31. and the funniest thing is...

there is no way they can spend enough to make up for the losses from lack of middle and low class spending. it's a sheer process of numbers -- that's why trickle down never worked, ever.

oh well, grand stupidity, round two! sure it failed in the 80s horrendously, but let's give it one more try! :crazy:

[durablend]

35. See the other article I posted

The rich (and wannabe-riche) are spending it like it's going out of style.

(well, I guess TECHNICALLY it is...)

[wildwww2]

8. Scary slow? Wow! 2 words that describe Bu$h & his followers to a T,

Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[TlalocW]

9. I finished up my Xmas shopping Saturday or Sunday

By hitting three stores. There were crowds but not that big (of course, most of my shopping is done on Ebay back in October so I may not know what a big crowd is anymore), but I waited less than 5 minutes for the cashiers, and did all 3 stores in less than an hour and a half including travel time and stopping for a quick sandwich.

TlalocW

[blindpig]

10. depends on the customers

If your customers are upper middle class or better, say doctors or lawyers, you're probably doing very well. Such was the case last year in these parts. Otherwise it's very discouraging. All of the small retailers that I speak to are singing the blues.

[LiberalEsto]

14. Big Lots is very busy

Big Lots is a source for all kinds of low-priced stuff. It's a modern-day Woolworths. Our Big Lots in Montgomery Village is always jam-packed with shoppers, including plenty of nicely-dressed suburban wome who would usuall be in the big malls.

I had to go to Hechts, one of the big DC-area mall department stores, for one item, and found lots of things marked down to half price, and then marked down even more with 15% off coupons at the register. The cashier actually offered to give me the coupon discount even though I didn't bring one.

Bye-bye, Middle Class! It was nice while it lasted.

[chaska]

28. I rarely do any shopping but I thought Big Lots was a bit crowded Saturday

[Piperay]

32. 99 cent Store was jammed

it was so crowded you couldn't hardly move. I guess people are shopping there because that merchandise is what they can afford.

[NJCher]

29. Macys in Millburn, NJ did $2 million in a single weekend

If your customers are upper middle class or better, say doctors or lawyers, you're probably doing very well.

It fits your criterion quite nicely. Last I knew, it was the wealthiest county in the U.S. I was by there and got stuck in a long traffic jam trying to get out to the western part of the county. So many monster SUVs I could barely see the light of day.

A friend who works for Macy's at that location told me the $2 million figure.


Cher

[yellowdogintexas]

12. I was in the mall last night and the parking lot was only a bit

more crowded than for any normal weeknight sales.

We weren't there to shop and cruise the mall, so I didn't check out all the stores, but it was definitely not as crowded.

But Target's lot was busy and so was Costco's

[Career Prole]

15. It's showing in the numbers too...and the media is reporting it.

Starve the Beast! :bounce:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1069916

[Lorien]

27. Here's a DU group just for you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255

[LibertyLover]

16. The local mall

I live in Annapolis and the local mall has not been particularly crowded this year. I went over last Saturday night about 6:30 to pick up some Chinese food and got a parking space not too far from the door. The mall itself was not crowded as in years past. There are some great sales being advertised but not many people actually buying - lots of looking, but few people carrying more than one or two small bags.

[jab105]

17. I have an online business...and this has been my slowest year...

surprising and disappointing since I have by largest inventory, because I was expecting it to pick up quite a bit...

[gnofg]

18. this is bad

I'm sorry to hear about your business. The real reason why the economy is bad is because of the mindset the repubs bring. With the exception of Reagan the repubs are dour people. They always focus on the negative. Liberals on the other hand accentuate the positive and believe that human nature is inherently good. This ongoing dour sentiment eventually wears down the populace and they just stop believing and start hoarding for worse times . This kills the economy which depends on a positive attitude.

[rhino47]

38. Mine also Jab Ive done 40% of what I did in 2000

Shipping costs are hurting me also.

[CornField]

19. I had been buying into the spin

That is, I thought the slow holiday shopping was just here. I went to Toys R Us yesterday and it was dead -- myself and maybe 6 other shoppers in the whole store. The parking lot for that store and 4-5 others wasn't even half full... maybe a third.

From there I went over to Big Lots and it was even slow. I didn't have to wait in line to check out... didn't have any problems running in and right back out. No crowds.

I've spent under $200 and am completely finished with holiday shopping. If it wasn't for my young children, I wouldn't have spent anything at all this year.

[hatrack]

20. Borders in suburban Kansas City Tuesday night

I was there looking for an obscure magazine (which they didn't have). Big new store, but pretty much dead at a little before 8:00 PM, with only one cashier on duty.

[The Flaming Red Head]

21. No shoes, no shirts, no food, no clothes, no jobs

No Christmas.

Merry rich person's holiday everybody.

[Bouncy Ball]

24. I've seen it.

I normally don't go NEAR a mall or a large retail area this time of year but I drove past a very large mall in my area last weekend, and while there WAS a lot of traffic, it was absolutely nothing compared to years past. They didn't even have to have any cops out directing traffic this year like they used to. And you could actually find a parking spot.

Target is a popular store on weekends before Christmas, but I've noticed they aren't nearly as crowded as last year.

The Costco parking lot is another story. Always packed. I'm telling ya, Dems got the MESSAGE about Costco, big time.

Oh and I live in a red state--Texas. Yes, retail seems to be pretty slow. My husband said there's been a rash of stories on the local news about how ghost like some retail areas have been and it really has retailers worried. They said this is going to be their worst year in several years.

On edit: the husband and I decided recently that after our child is grown, we won't be exchanging Christmas gifts. Just do nice things for each other, have a relaxing holiday season. That much is really nice. No need to engage in the materialistic greed fest the corporate zombies want us to engage in.

[Lorien]

25. The only store I saw that was slightly busy

was Michaels crafts (repug owned, unfortunately). I guess people think it will be cheaper to make their presents this year (wrong if you're shopping at Michael's)!

[Skittles]

30. well let's see......

lots of unemployed and underemployed......stagnating wages........people in fear their jobs being outsourced.........food and utilitry prices and healthcare costs skyrocketing......it's easy to see why people may say, hey, perhaps I should cut back on Christmas........yes, the Bush economy SUCKS.

[KayLaw]

33. Barnes and Noble

They were pretty busy yesterday. I'd written Costco and told them they would get all my Christmas money this year, but they didn't have Fanny Flagg's Redbird Christmas in large print, so I went to Barnes and Noble which is another blue business.

[Spike from MN]

34. The stores here have been empty too.

I'm in the Twin Cities and have never seen anything like this. I first noticed it on "Black Friday" when I had to go to Target to pick up a prescription. I was dreading this little errand because I figured I'd have to fight my way through the crowds but when I got there the store was empty. Then two weekends ago I went to a Sears store and there were maybe 20-30 cars in the parking lot. This store is located in a large mall and I usually have to drive around for 15-20 minutes to find a parking spot but this time the whole lot was empty. And last weekend I stopped off at a grocery store that shares a parking lot with another big mall. Normally between Thanksgiving and Christmas the parking lot is packed and you have to search for a parking spot on the nearby streets. Not this time. I had no trouble finding a spot close to the door. I have never seen the stores empty like this around the holidays. Not even during the Reagan era.

And it's not that the crowds are small compared to the "normal" holiday traffic. They're small compared to the regular non-holiday crowds. It's almost like someone just shut off the spigot because it seems like it happened almost overnight. Granted, I don't do much shopping -- just groceries and basic necessities -- so I'm definitely not an authority on the subject but I have just never seen anything like this before. Actually, the vacant stores were a bit eerie. It kind of gives me the feeling that a lot of people are sitting back, holding on to their money (if they have any at all), and just waiting for the crash. Nothing wrong with cutting back on expenses as I think we're all probably doing some (or a lot) of that but it's the crash part that scares me.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

36. Full-Page Ads

for pre-Christmas sales run day after the day in the _Washington Post_. 20% off, 30% off, 40% off, 50% off....

[OldLeftieLawyer]

37. Discounts before Christmas? NEVER!!!!

Wasn't it always the BIG AFTER-CHRISTMAS sale, and all that?

My, my, hasn't Fuckface done a wonderful job with our economy?

[lanlady]

39. Virginia suburbs of DC

I live near Potomac Mills, a so-called discounters' mall that usually attracts busloads of shoppers from the District and Maryland. In years past you couldn't find a parking space on Christmas weekends. This year different story, I wouldn't say it's empty but it's nowhere near the volume it should be. People are really staying away. It's not just a matter of money, I think the spirit is also lacking, things just don't seem merry.

[A Simple Game]

40. According to a talking head for * I heard on the Daily Show,

all of the messages are wrong, the economy is doing just fine.

If this is true, the only answer I can think of to the slow sales problem is that within the last four years most of the people in this country became fundamentalists. Fundamentalists don't do Santa, they do Jesus.

</sarcasm>

Stores are lacking for customers here in Northern New York also.

[Tsiyu]

41. I like to compare the economy to the circulatory system

You cut off blood flow to a limb and that limb is going to die.

How many of us have been saying for a long while that keeping wages low and outsourcing jobs would cost our economy big time?

It cracks me up to see the Service manager at a local Toyota place ( a HUGE * supporter) looking "pekid" because his mechanics have NO WORK. I want to laugh in his face, except one of my best friends is their master mechanic so I have to be cool.

He's leaving to open his own shop soon, becuase he has no base after 12 years - only labor reimbursement meaning he can make $o some weeks. For Christmas last year, they gave him a $50 gift certificate. AFTER 12 YEARS! Without him, they can't sell any Prius' or high end cars, but they are too stupid to value him. I don't feel sorry for the slave-wage paying businesses that fail.

They don't deserve to be supported when they have no interest in even supporting their workers. Screw em!