Black Friday is slipping....
So, time was when BF was a major assault for Mary and I. We'd plan ahead, have our lists (with photos) and attack plans ready. I'd have to clean out my car to make room for all the things we'd come home with. Normally, it was on BF that I would buy the majority of gifts for the under-16 set in the family, and any spiff electronics. It was always exhausting, but well worth the effort.
Well, not so much any more.
The grandeur that is Black Friday has been slipping for a couple of years, but I think this year it started picking up speed on the downhill track. There was so little in the ads that tempted us that we almost decided to skip this year. Instead, we decided that we would wait until the mob had gone inside, and then we'd shop. For the first time, I only had one thing on my list, because it was all I could find that I wanted. And that one thing was $5. Pretty dang sad. I think I spent less this year than in any previous year, even when I had no money to speak of. Not because I didn't want to spend it, but because there was nothing to buy. Believe me, we TRIED. It seemed that all the best discounts were in the higher-end electronics...there were no deep discounts on toys that I saw, not a single thing under $5. While I did finally use my Barnes & Noble giftcards, the most I spent at any one store on actual merchandise was $55, and that was buying for 15 kids and none of it on sale. Sad. I left more than one store empty handed, or buying only a soda. I actually spent time sitting on a bench waiting for Mary. I have never done that before.
So, Mr. Retailer, the next time you wah wah wahh about how slow the economy is, and how no one is spending, keep in mind that you have to have stuff for us to buy. If items are barely less than normal price, that isn't really a temptation. You want my money? Make it worth my while.
Oh, and Mervyn's? Quit with the "discount", "Sale" facade. We all know that you raised your prices way up before you started "discounting". We're not stupid. If the discounted price is the same as what it used to be regularly, that's not a sale. You're not fooling anyone. Either really put it at discount or shut up about it. Thanks.
Well, not so much any more.
The grandeur that is Black Friday has been slipping for a couple of years, but I think this year it started picking up speed on the downhill track. There was so little in the ads that tempted us that we almost decided to skip this year. Instead, we decided that we would wait until the mob had gone inside, and then we'd shop. For the first time, I only had one thing on my list, because it was all I could find that I wanted. And that one thing was $5. Pretty dang sad. I think I spent less this year than in any previous year, even when I had no money to speak of. Not because I didn't want to spend it, but because there was nothing to buy. Believe me, we TRIED. It seemed that all the best discounts were in the higher-end electronics...there were no deep discounts on toys that I saw, not a single thing under $5. While I did finally use my Barnes & Noble giftcards, the most I spent at any one store on actual merchandise was $55, and that was buying for 15 kids and none of it on sale. Sad. I left more than one store empty handed, or buying only a soda. I actually spent time sitting on a bench waiting for Mary. I have never done that before.
So, Mr. Retailer, the next time you wah wah wahh about how slow the economy is, and how no one is spending, keep in mind that you have to have stuff for us to buy. If items are barely less than normal price, that isn't really a temptation. You want my money? Make it worth my while.
Oh, and Mervyn's? Quit with the "discount", "Sale" facade. We all know that you raised your prices way up before you started "discounting". We're not stupid. If the discounted price is the same as what it used to be regularly, that's not a sale. You're not fooling anyone. Either really put it at discount or shut up about it. Thanks.