Death Spiral of an American corporation (and my mood)
I used to enjoy shopping at J. C. Penney's (now rebranded as JCP). And I had heard about the company's financial woes, and have been really hoping that the local store would stay in business, as -- on the rare occasions that I buy clothes or shoes new -- they are one of the few places I can expect to find something wearable and stylish that I can afford. But times are tough and I do my clothes shopping at thrifts now. It had been over a year since I'd darkened the door of the local JCP. So when a $10 coupon arrived in the mail -- valid on purchases over $10 -- I couldn't pass it up. That's like free money!
Only I paid for it with almost two hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Naturally I kept mainly to the clearance racks, because even with a coupon I can't afford the regular-price items. And what did I find? Poorly-made shirts in shapes that I can't wear, jeans and khakis with the wrong size printed on the label, fashions and colors that might suit a high school kid but would look like a clown suit on a Woman Of A Certain Age (tm).
I finally gave up on clothes and headed for the shoe department. Another reason I like Penney's is that they carry my favorite Converse Chuck Taylor hi-tops. Only I find that even with the $10 discount I'd be paying more here than I would if I bought online, or at another shoe store in the mall.
After several more passes through the clothing racks, the PA system announced that the store would be closing for the evening in 15 minutes. I had wasted almost two hours of my time, and left feeling rotten about myself, a once-favorite store, and life in general.
I still have the $10 coupon, and it doesn't expire for about a week. Not sure whether to try again another day (maybe I can buy some socks or something) or just save myself the trouble and give the thing to someone more needy than me. It feels like the end of an era when a store I once enjoyed now can't even bribe me to buy their stuff.
Only I paid for it with almost two hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Naturally I kept mainly to the clearance racks, because even with a coupon I can't afford the regular-price items. And what did I find? Poorly-made shirts in shapes that I can't wear, jeans and khakis with the wrong size printed on the label, fashions and colors that might suit a high school kid but would look like a clown suit on a Woman Of A Certain Age (tm).
I finally gave up on clothes and headed for the shoe department. Another reason I like Penney's is that they carry my favorite Converse Chuck Taylor hi-tops. Only I find that even with the $10 discount I'd be paying more here than I would if I bought online, or at another shoe store in the mall.
After several more passes through the clothing racks, the PA system announced that the store would be closing for the evening in 15 minutes. I had wasted almost two hours of my time, and left feeling rotten about myself, a once-favorite store, and life in general.
I still have the $10 coupon, and it doesn't expire for about a week. Not sure whether to try again another day (maybe I can buy some socks or something) or just save myself the trouble and give the thing to someone more needy than me. It feels like the end of an era when a store I once enjoyed now can't even bribe me to buy their stuff.