Community Chat

[Oznell]

i'm thankful for an economy that keeps bubbling along, "brick" or cyber....

[OnlyShopsOnline]

@Snowpuppy  I totally agree.  I’m not one to “shop” anymore. I don’t window shop either.  Wild horses couldn’t get me into a mall anytime of the year, much less during the holidays. 

If I want or need something, with the exception of some furniture, I go online and order it at the best price I can find.  In the old days, I went shopping for the sake of shopping. 

[stevieb]

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@BirkiLady wrote:

Why would anyone in their right mind want to be in a retail store in cold weather, fighting crowds, for a "bargain"? I've never understood the thought process of that. There isn't any sale that is worth enough money to get me into a store after Halloween. By then, all my shopping is done (I shop throughout the year as I see the appropriate gifts for each individual). Everything is paid in full and the holidays are mine to enjoy with family and friends. I'm all for stores closing and providing their employees time with their families! I do shop locally as my first choice; then will shop Dillard's or Target. Seldom will I enter a big box store. Never have been in a membership-type store or a discount store. Doubtful that I ever will. Prefer customer service of local retailers and keeping my money locally. Also, I do support my community . . . which means paying sales tax. Yes, I don't mind paying Lincoln's 7.25% sales tax on everything I purchase. Keeping our community lovely, lots of parks, hiking and bike trails, public artworks, and a safe clean place to live is worth it to me.

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People do as they do for all sorts of reasons. It's sounds as though you're rather fortunate, but not everyone is, nor does everyone choose to approach holiday shopping in the same way...

I too usually shop year-around for holiday gifts to avoid the whole 'Christmas shopping' experience. This year, I didn't do many shopping trips throughout the year, so did have to purchase gifts more recently. Fortunately, I don't have many gifts to purchase and am now largely done, though I will go out a time or two more to see if there's anything wonderful to add to the gifts I've chosen for a few folks... 

For me, 'local' retailers are largely national chain stores, as I have little patience with driving either into the city or to local municipalities, hassling with parking and so on in order to shop at boutiques or specialty shops, which is the case when one lives in or near a larger urban area... 

I have no problem with stores being open on Thanksgiving, if that's what they choose to do. I, and others, then have the option of shopping or not... 

It's good that you're able not to mind paying a relatively high sales tax... Personally, even though my local tax isn't quite so high, I resent it... I don't often avail myself of parks, trails or public artworks and would prefer to 'keep the change'...

Different strokes...

[ValuSkr]

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@sidsmom wrote:

One news report had a couple saying they are comparison shopping

at the mall, then purchasing the item online while at the mall.

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B & M stores being used as showrooms ...  they should charge admission and refund the price when something is purchased.      (yes, I know it'll never happen)

[Mominohio]

Our nearest town has a pretty big shopping district for the size of the town (and what is left of the jobs). 

We were driving through that area on Thanksgiving day on our way to some friends, and the lots were packed, the roads jammed, and by the looks of it, the registers ringing. 

It looked like the Black Fridays of decades past, but on Thanksgiving afternoon. 

So while Brick and Mortar is indeed having it's problems, the stores open here on Thanksgiving were packed and booming. 

I will continue to support stores that close on Thanksgiving because those around here indeed could be making money, but are choosing to give back to their employees instead. 

Not everyone shops online. 

There is so much that is too much of a hassle to buy online for many people (clothing, shoes...not messing with guessing how the fit will be, then having to return), the inability to see the quality of a product, or how it operates, what all features it has etc. 

Most people still do both online and in person shopping, and I don't think that will change anytime soon. There are always going to be people who want to see and experience the product, enjoy shopping, and need things immediately, and not wait for shipping. 

Brick and Mortar (and retail in general) is changing but there is still the need/desire from customers for actual stores. I think one thing that happened is over saturation of stores. Some cities have too many of the same store in close proximity, others continue to add shopping complexes to draw businesses that just move down the road a bit. not really bring in new, and many retailers have a lot of nothing in their stores. 

For instance I went to the mall last weekend, looking for extended sizes in men's socks. Most of the stores had racks and walls full of socks, but especially is the sport socks, NOTHING in extended sizes (for guys with feet bigger than a size 12). I went to store after store after store, as there were some great sales, but not one pack of socks in those sizes. 

I find this over and over. The stores are full, but the variety isn't anything like it was a few decades ago, just a lot of the same stuff. 

I ended up finding what I needed at TJ Maxx (finally, as I'd been checking there since September, and had always found what I needed in socks there before). 

[suzyQ3]

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@BirkiLady wrote:

Why would anyone in their right mind want to be in a retail store in cold weather, fighting crowds, for a "bargain"? I've never understood the thought process of that. There isn't any sale that is worth enough money to get me into a store after Halloween. By then, all my shopping is done (I shop throughout the year as I see the appropriate gifts for each individual). Everything is paid in full and the holidays are mine to enjoy with family and friends. I'm all for stores closing and providing their employees time with their families! I do shop locally as my first choice; then will shop Dillard's or Target. Seldom will I enter a big box store. Never have been in a membership-type store or a discount store. Doubtful that I ever will. Prefer customer service of local retailers and keeping my money locally. Also, I do support my community . . . which means paying sales tax. Yes, I don't mind paying Lincoln's 7.25% sales tax on everything I purchase. Keeping our community lovely, lots of parks, hiking and bike trails, public artworks, and a safe clean place to live is worth it to me.

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@BirkiLady, such a refreshing change from all the anti-tax folks. Even if I don't hike, I want others to be able to enjoy it. We don't have a child in public school anymore, but we will always support the system.

[stevieb]

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@Mominohio wrote:

Our nearest town has a pretty big shopping district for the size of the town (and what is left of the jobs). 

We were driving through that area on Thanksgiving day on our way to some friends, and the lots were packed, the roads jammed, and by the looks of it, the registers ringing. 

It looked like the Black Fridays of decades past, but on Thanksgiving afternoon. 

So while Brick and Mortar is indeed having it's problems, the stores open here on Thanksgiving were packed and booming. 

I will continue to support stores that close on Thanksgiving because those around here indeed could be making money, but are choosing to give back to their employees instead. 

Not everyone shops online. 

There is so much that is too much of a hassle to buy online for many people (clothing, shoes...not messing with guessing how the fit will be, then having to return), the inability to see the quality of a product, or how it operates, what all features it has etc. 

Most people still do both online and in person shopping, and I don't think that will change anytime soon. There are always going to be people who want to see and experience the product, enjoy shopping, and need things immediately, and not wait for shipping. 

Brick and Mortar (and retail in general) is changing but there is still the need/desire from customers for actual stores. I think one thing that happened is over saturation of stores. Some cities have too many of the same store in close proximity, others continue to add shopping complexes to draw businesses that just move down the road a bit. not really bring in new, and many retailers have a lot of nothing in their stores. 

For instance I went to the mall last weekend, looking for extended sizes in men's socks. Most of the stores had racks and walls full of socks, but especially is the sport socks, NOTHING in extended sizes (for guys with feet bigger than a size 12). I went to store after store after store, as there were some great sales, but not one pack of socks in those sizes. 

I find this over and over. The stores are full, but the variety isn't anything like it was a few decades ago, just a lot of the same stuff. 

I ended up finding what I needed at TJ Maxx (finally, as I'd been checking there since September, and had always found what I needed in socks there before). 

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Precisely @Mominohio... They call it progress, but really, it isn't, not when choices consistently grow more limited...

[stevieb]

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@BirkiLady wrote:

Why would anyone in their right mind want to be in a retail store in cold weather, fighting crowds, for a "bargain"? I've never understood the thought process of that. There isn't any sale that is worth enough money to get me into a store after Halloween. By then, all my shopping is done (I shop throughout the year as I see the appropriate gifts for each individual). Everything is paid in full and the holidays are mine to enjoy with family and friends. I'm all for stores closing and providing their employees time with their families! I do shop locally as my first choice; then will shop Dillard's or Target. Seldom will I enter a big box store. Never have been in a membership-type store or a discount store. Doubtful that I ever will. Prefer customer service of local retailers and keeping my money locally. Also, I do support my community . . . which means paying sales tax. Yes, I don't mind paying Lincoln's 7.25% sales tax on everything I purchase. Keeping our community lovely, lots of parks, hiking and bike trails, public artworks, and a safe clean place to live is worth it to me.

---

@BirkiLady, such a refreshing change from all the anti-tax folks. Even if I don't hike, I want others to be able to enjoy it. We don't have a child in public school anymore, but we will always support the system.

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I think the extent to which many support taxes depends on how much 'extra' they have to give and, of course, whether or not they feel they see at least some return on their 'investment'... I believe most people believe in 'the public good' but perhaps not everyone to the same extent... 

[suzyQ3]

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@stevieb wrote:

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@BirkiLady wrote:

Why would anyone in their right mind want to be in a retail store in cold weather, fighting crowds, for a "bargain"? I've never understood the thought process of that. There isn't any sale that is worth enough money to get me into a store after Halloween. By then, all my shopping is done (I shop throughout the year as I see the appropriate gifts for each individual). Everything is paid in full and the holidays are mine to enjoy with family and friends. I'm all for stores closing and providing their employees time with their families! I do shop locally as my first choice; then will shop Dillard's or Target. Seldom will I enter a big box store. Never have been in a membership-type store or a discount store. Doubtful that I ever will. Prefer customer service of local retailers and keeping my money locally. Also, I do support my community . . . which means paying sales tax. Yes, I don't mind paying Lincoln's 7.25% sales tax on everything I purchase. Keeping our community lovely, lots of parks, hiking and bike trails, public artworks, and a safe clean place to live is worth it to me.

---

@BirkiLady, such a refreshing change from all the anti-tax folks. Even if I don't hike, I want others to be able to enjoy it. We don't have a child in public school anymore, but we will always support the system.

---

I think the extent to which many support taxes depends on how much 'extra' they have to give and, of course, whether or not they feel they see at least some return on their 'investment'... I believe most people believe in 'the public good' but perhaps not everyone to the same extent... 

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Can't argue with your conclusion, @stevieb. I'm sure it runs the gamut.

I have found that those who are very vocal about taxes will readily jump on the "I see no return on my "investment" or the popular "I'll gladly fork it over once they stop wasting my money, " etc. etc.

When the Arnold became governor of California, he did so on a platform of cut, cut, cut.  Literally, that's how he won, harping on one unpopular fee that brought down Gray Davis and put Arnold in office -- the recall and the vote for a new governor both on the same special election ballot. Thankfully, he also had an open mind and willingness to actually learn about how government works.

He had the grace then to admit that it wasn't quite so simplistic and that much of what he thought could be easily reduced or dismantled was essential and necessary. He didn't find this mythical mass of waste and so traded in his ax for more rational weapons -- knowledge and compromise.

[stevieb]

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@stevieb wrote:

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@BirkiLady wrote:

Why would anyone in their right mind want to be in a retail store in cold weather, fighting crowds, for a "bargain"? I've never understood the thought process of that. There isn't any sale that is worth enough money to get me into a store after Halloween. By then, all my shopping is done (I shop throughout the year as I see the appropriate gifts for each individual). Everything is paid in full and the holidays are mine to enjoy with family and friends. I'm all for stores closing and providing their employees time with their families! I do shop locally as my first choice; then will shop Dillard's or Target. Seldom will I enter a big box store. Never have been in a membership-type store or a discount store. Doubtful that I ever will. Prefer customer service of local retailers and keeping my money locally. Also, I do support my community . . . which means paying sales tax. Yes, I don't mind paying Lincoln's 7.25% sales tax on everything I purchase. Keeping our community lovely, lots of parks, hiking and bike trails, public artworks, and a safe clean place to live is worth it to me.

---

@BirkiLady, such a refreshing change from all the anti-tax folks. Even if I don't hike, I want others to be able to enjoy it. We don't have a child in public school anymore, but we will always support the system.

---

I think the extent to which many support taxes depends on how much 'extra' they have to give and, of course, whether or not they feel they see at least some return on their 'investment'... I believe most people believe in 'the public good' but perhaps not everyone to the same extent... 

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Can't argue with your conclusion, @stevieb. I'm sure it runs the gamut.

I have found that those who are very vocal about taxes will readily jump on the "I see no return on my "investment" or the popular "I'll gladly fork it over once they stop wasting my money, " etc. etc.

When the Arnold became governor of California, he did so on a platform of cut, cut, cut.  Literally, that's how he won, harping on one unpopular fee that brought down Gray Davis and put Arnold in office -- the recall and the vote for a new governor both on the same special election ballot. Thankfully, he also had an open mind and willingness to actually learn about how government works.

He had the grace then to admit that it wasn't quite so simplistic and that much of what he thought could be easily reduced or dismantled was essential and necessary. He didn't find this mythical mass of waste and so traded in his ax for more rational weapons -- knowledge and compromise.

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I completley agree @suzyQ3... It pays neither to be short-sighted nor to make blind promises without a deep understanding of the realities... And I think we're seeing that play itself out... you know... the hard way... Obviously, I can't say more...