Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[nytimez]

It is hardly a myth. Throughout the year retail will draw enough to restock and cover expenses, but the holiday season will determine whether or not the year was good or was cause for concern.

Not arguing that a holiday season can determine "whether or not the year was good or was cause for concern." But it is absolutely untrue that retailers are "in the red" as you said earlier or breaking even, as you seem to be saying now, until Thanksgiving.

But, there's no need to argue. Pick healthy retailers and check their quarterlies. They show profit all year long or they will not be healthy retailers... they will be liquidated retailers. That's a fact.

 

[Goofyernmost]

There are actually some retailers who open on major holidays (or what some feel are major) yet do not offer any deals beyond the typical 10% to 15% offered any other day of the year. The internet has changed the way of thinking when it comes to buyers.

And there you have the answer. It is competition driven as a way to entice people from in front of their computer to a physical visit to a store to 1) save money on specific items & 2) while in the store they will see other things, not on sale and purchase them at that time as well.

Well, we are not talking about Disney. Disney has always had that policy and that was always a condition to working here. The "mob mentality" still does not show how people forced the hands of corporations to start opening on major holidays.

Why are we not talking about Disney? Does Disney has some unique right to deprive CM's of family time. Or is it because the parks are full of people that couldn't care less about that and are anxious to be entertained? Remember Black Friday is not a new idea. It has been highly active for probably more then 30 years. For many of the employees of retail stores that is almost twice their personal life times.

Are you saying that companies are offering a public service to keep people safe by opening on major holidays?

Don't know how to answer that because it is certainly not something that I said. That is your contribution to the discussion.

You cannot say that greedy people was the cause then change it to companies needing to make most of their annual revenue during that small window to justifying opening due to deaths by stampede. If I had to pick one I would say greed by the corporation. Once again...please post a link or video showing people rioting because the mall was not open on Thanksgiving morning.

I can say that you are lumping two different reasons and motivations to the same argument. Of course, companies and people have two different reasons for their participation, but, that doesn't mean that there isn't enough "greed" to go around. As long as there are enough greedy people willing to be part of it for their personal gain, then you will find companies that are greedy enough to give them what they want. At this point, let people stop going to these selling marathons and you will see the brakes come on really quickly on the retail side as well.

 

[Funmeister]

And there you have the answer. It is competition driven as a way to entice people from in front of their computer to a physical visit to a store to 1) save money on specific items & 2) while in the store they will see other things, not on sale and purchase them at that time as well.


Why are we not talking about Disney? Does Disney has some unique right to deprive CM's of family time. Or is it because the parks are full of people that couldn't care less about that and are anxious to be entertained? Remember Black Friday is not a new idea. It has been highly active for probably more then 30 years. For many of the employees of retail stores that is almost twice their personal life times.


Don't know how to answer that because it is certainly not something that I said. That is your contribution to the discussion.


I can say that you are lumping two different reasons and motivations to the same argument. Of course, companies and people have two different reasons for their participation, but, that doesn't mean that there isn't enough "greed" to go around. As long as there are enough greedy people willing to be part of it for their personal gain, then you will find companies that are greedy enough to give them what they want. At this point, let people stop going to these selling marathons and you will see the brakes come on really quickly on the retail side as well.

You keep changing what you said so a lengthy reply is not worth it. You are denying saying things that you did. YOU brought up people getting injured. Anyway...when you are ready for a discussion where you do not keep changing what you said and contradict yourself literally in the same paragraph let me know.

OH...still waiting for that proof of people rioting forcing companies to open on Thanksgiving. Remember? That was your first original argument before your second first semi-original argument. Ah....why bother...

 

[Goofyernmost]

You keep changing what you said so a lengthy reply is not worth it. You are denying saying things that you did. YOU brought up people getting injured. Anyway...when you are ready for a discussion where you do not keep changing what you said and contradict yourself literally in the same paragraph let me know.

OH...still waiting for that proof of people rioting forcing companies to open on Thanksgiving. Remember? That was your first original argument before your second first semi-original argument. Ah....why bother...

On that I agree...from my view point...why bother!

 

[ford91exploder]

I respect you sticking to your guns (on this and the Independence Day thing too). But you didn't bring it up until I did ... and no one else seems to be jumping on the bandwagon.

I deliberately left out the 4'th as it's a bit politically charged, I love a good political debate but @The Mom does not allow them here...

I can still remember and it was not that long ago when EVERYTHING closed on the 4'th and we all went to the fairgrounds for picnics, speechifying by the local pols and fireworks (and GIANT MOSQUITOES) after dark.

 

[ford91exploder]

And there you have the answer. It is competition driven as a way to entice people from in front of their computer to a physical visit to a store to 1) save money on specific items & 2) while in the store they will see other things, not on sale and purchase them at that time as well.


Why are we not talking about Disney? Does Disney has some unique right to deprive CM's of family time. Or is it because the parks are full of people that couldn't care less about that and are anxious to be entertained? Remember Black Friday is not a new idea. It has been highly active for probably more then 30 years. For many of the employees of retail stores that is almost twice their personal life times.


Don't know how to answer that because it is certainly not something that I said. That is your contribution to the discussion.


I can say that you are lumping two different reasons and motivations to the same argument. Of course, companies and people have two different reasons for their participation, but, that doesn't mean that there isn't enough "greed" to go around. As long as there are enough greedy people willing to be part of it for their personal gain, then you will find companies that are greedy enough to give them what they want. At this point, let people stop going to these selling marathons and you will see the brakes come on really quickly on the retail side as well.

Distilled down - there IS a reason why Greed is one of the 7 deadly sins, In my books Greed and it's counterpart Envy are tied for first as so much evil is done in their name.

 

[ford91exploder]

It is a BS excuse. So really is the entire Christmas Gorging Season. You can buy X-mas gifts on 12/26 or 12/27 and give them a bit late or save them for next year like many savvy shoppers do.

Or you can check out of the gift giving madness (Yes we do give gifts to the kidlet's) but the adults give to charity instead of giving gifts to each other. - This makes me sad on a few levels because our family always gave utilitarian gifts like tools/clothes/books/handcrafts and I really enjoy giving and receiving gifts during the holidays but participating in the greed driven madness infecting american business today is just WRONG on so many levels so as WOPR in 'War Games' noted 'The only way to win is not to play'.

 

[alissafalco]

I absolutely refuse to go to ANY store from Thursday-Sunday Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[Funmeister]

On that I agree...from my view point...why bother!

LOL the question is WHICH one of all of your many viewpoints??!!??!!?? LOL

 

[ford91exploder]

I will be working at 3am on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am a news photographer and I work the Morning Show. Between the Domestic Violence killings and exploding Turkey Deep Fryers, the Holidays are busy news days.

It is actually pretty shocking how much Domestic Violence happens during the Holidays. It is a REALLY stressful period for a lot of people.

For the way to deep fry a turkey safely I bring you FryGuy and the Alton Brown Turkey Frying Videos

http://www.fryguy.net/2011/11/14/turkey-frying-public-safety-alton-brown-on-good-eats/

 

[GoofGoof]

I absolutely refuse to go to ANY store from Thursday-Sunday Thanksgiving weekend.

I do tons of shopping that weekend...right from my sofa. Gotta love Amazon.

 

[Funmeister]

I do tons of shopping that weekend...right from my sofa. Gotta love Amazon.

Wait until they get same day delivery up and running. Finally someone who can put a dent in Wal Mart!

 

[Sans Souci]

I absolutely refuse to go to ANY store from Thursday-Sunday Thanksgiving weekend.

Black Friday is the worst. I used to work at a SBUX with a drive thru. I had to open on Black Friday one year. I got to work at 4:30 AM to open at 5 AM. The drive thru drive way was already packed when I pulled up. The people in the cars were all, "WOOO HOOO! SHOPPING!" and "I need extra caffeine today!!111!!!" I was stewing in a quiet rage that I had cooked & hosted Thanksgiving dinner less than 12 hours earlier and here I was, getting ready to sling lattes. Then at quarter to 5, someone started honking their horn in the drive thru. Mentally, I wanted to smack them upside the head. In reality, I had to plaster a fake smile on face and provide the "Starbucks five star legendary service."

 

[EpcoTim]

Black Friday is the worst. I used to work at a SBUX with a drive thru. I had to open on Black Friday one year. I got to work at 4:30 AM to open at 5 AM. The drive thru drive way was already packed when I pulled up. The people in the cars were all, "WOOO HOOO! SHOPPING!" and "I need extra caffeine today!!111!!!" I was stewing in a quiet rage that I had cooked & hosted Thanksgiving dinner less than 12 hours earlier and here I was, getting ready to sling lattes. Then at quarter to 5, someone started honking their horn in the drive thru. Mentally, I wanted to smack them upside the head. In reality, I had to plaster a fake smile on face and provide the "Starbucks five star legendary service."

I think were from the same city (Go Cubs) and I can only imagine that the drive-thru of an SBUX would be even worse than the morning angry hipster crowd of Intelligentsia and the old place off Southport just south of Irving Park. If that was the case, than man, I feel for you.

 

[TarzanRocked99-]

So I spent every major holiday in the Walt Disney World resort.

I remember Thanksgiving evening 2004, watching "Mickey's twas the night before Christmas"in the freezing cold with my mother and having snow flurries fall on us. It was fantastic and strangely not horribly busy.

Later that year, Christmas day was 47° and raining. My family was in town, they insisted on going to the Magic Kingdom in the rain until I could convince them that they wanted to be nowhere near this Crald when the crowd was informed that the Christmas parade would not be running due to the weather. There are many cast members they can verify that guest relations was inundated on Christmas Day 2004 with less than Christ like people.

FlashForward a year, it was 85° on Christmas and me and my best friend hung out at the Magic Kingdom. It was packed and I don't think we left Main Street all day. Saw about braids, just really checking all the shows and the ambience.

July 4, Veterans Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, and my birthday which always seems to fall on Presidents' Day… All of these have one thing in common other then I went.

The crowds on holiday simply follow self-righteous people who are beyond demanding. The cast is treated very poorly by the guests who come here on holidays. the parks are packed, and there is no way in hell Walt Disney World would turn away that kind of money.

Then I went on to a career in journalism where I promptly worked every damn holiday. The attitudes of people I would run into while working seem to go hand-in-hand with the attitudes of how the crowds treat the guests.

Should Walt Disney World be open or anyplace be opening really on Thanksgiving or Christmas? Probably not.

Alas It's a moot issue and I'm just waiting for the day we get 6 inches of snow here in Orlando. The parks we closed for that

I haven't heard talk of the run on City Hall during Christmas 2004 in a long long time. One of the craziest days of my life and as far as I know the only time the doors to MKGR had to be closed and locked to the masses.

 

[The Mom]

I deliberately left out the 4'th as it's a bit politically charged, I love a good political debate but @The Mom does not allow them here...

.

@wdwmagic does not allow them on his website.

 

[Goofyernmost]

@wdwmagic does not allow them on his website.

The debate or the Giant MOSQUITOES?

 

[janoimagine]

I am sickened by it all ...I took a friend from out of state to my town center last weekend and was shocked that all the holiday lighting was up. I think the only thing missing was what Disney would call the holiday tree.

How about Home Depot having their Christmas Display up 2 weeks before Halloween? I mean WTH? Why is everyone in such a hurry? Life moves fast enough, slow it down a little.

 

[GoofGoof]

How about Home Depot having their Christmas Display up 2 weeks before Halloween? I mean WTH? Why is everyone in such a hurry? Life moves fast enough, slow it down a little.

I blame the people buying the stuff. If they put the display up and nobody bought anything until after Thanksgiving in a year or 2 they would get the hint and not put the stuff out until after Thanksgiving. I was in the checkout line at my local Home Depot the other day and I heard a lady say to her husband/boyfriend "Its crazy that they have the Christmas stuff out already." They had one of those light up reindeers and a bunch of boxes of lights in their cart.

 

[Wikkler]

just my 2 cents