Reply #22: I stopped by the mall at lunch today

[spinbaby]

It was definitely busier but not yet approaching Christmas-season busy. I picked up something in an almost deserted Sears store and then had to wait a long time at the register because they only had one register open on the whole floor. One of the two cashiers manning this register had on a "trainee" tag and didn't seem to function yet at all, needing a lot of attention from the other cashier. A lot of stores seem to have inadequate staffing this year. I guess that saves on labor costs and makes the store look busy because people are backed up at the register.