Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

[Mega]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-1...very-ebbs.html

Also my nephew whom works for the Carphone warehouse (large Cell phone retailer) has spent 3 months being trained for frontline store service because the Xmas rush will mean the store will be FULL of Xmas shoppers buying the latest "Apple-underperforming-over-priced crap"........

He came to see me & he tells me that:-

1. Overpriced Apple tat is not moving
2. The great Xmas rush didn't arrive !
3. Cheap & simple stock is all that's moving.

Mike

[charliebrown]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

I work by a regional mall in Illinois with traditional department stores, Sears, Macy's etc and boutique stores that sell fancy coffee, jewelry, clothing etc. I get to view its parking lot every day. Yes there are cars, but not like other years where every spot was taken, and cars would circle waiting for a spot to open up. I did my first store shopping yesterday, stores were busy, but not packed. I don't know if the demographics have shifted and people are shopping in different places, or they are just going in and grabbing stuff without milling around, shopping online ... etc, but it is not the usual mad house at Christmas time. I need to get some more stuff today I will be hitting some big box discount stores. I will see how these are.

[DSpencer]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

Online shopping is a very reasonable explanation. Without knowing the real data I don't think this kind of anecdote is sufficient to conclude anything.

[jpatter666]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

Online shopping is a very reasonable explanation. Without knowing the real data I don't think this kind of anecdote is sufficient to conclude anything.

For many things yes, for others perhaps no.

For example, my wife and I never buy clothing online. We've tried that before and got mis-sized, not the color we thought, etc. Many people I know feel the same way. Yet, was in a mall yesterday (looking for clothing!) and was stunned by how few shoppers in those stores.

Maybe it's just me....

[DSpencer]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

For many things yes, for others perhaps no.

For example, my wife and I never buy clothing online. We've tried that before and got mis-sized, not the color we thought, etc. Many people I know feel the same way. Yet, was in a mall yesterday (looking for clothing!) and was stunned by how few shoppers in those stores.

Maybe it's just me....

What you're saying is not unique regarding dissatisfaction. Online sales do have high rates of returns (although I think clothing in general has a high rate of returns).

Nonetheless:

http://www.permuto.com/media/uploads...E-SALES-R4.png

Chart is from 2010. For Clothing:

In Store: 7.0B
E Commerce: 13.6B

[mfyahya]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

When you have more time than money, the trick is to try it out in the store, then order the exact thing online to save a few bucks.

There are also smartphone apps that do the comparison shopping for you.

[Mega]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

His Mangerment are SHOCKED by the sales crash.......

[don]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

60% Off the Entire Store tells the tale . . .

[pianodoctor]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

You literally cannot find available parking at a high-end boutiquey mall near me. But, this is top 5%er territory and redundant nearby stores went out of business the past few years. OTOH, a friend of mine has a retail home furnishings stores slightly outside 5%er territory and this may be the worst year ever for him.

[lektrode]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

well theres at least one item/place that is very IN demand this weekend:
parking stalls for private jets at OGG (maui) are all snapped up, counted at least 28 on way thru this AM
heard that KOA (kona) is all jammed up too (apparently the overage from OGG)
and eye _know_ the windward side of HNL is all jammed up, but thats only because a certain 747 is in town...
and yes, i'm quite glad i'm not there.

[lektrode]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

oh and almost fergot - TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN 'TULIP COUNTRY:

as we say out here:



and a more scenic version:


MELE KALIKIMAKA
ALOHA and best wishes to all, for a safe holiday season.

[FRED]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

oh and almost fergot - TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN 'TULIP COUNTRY:

as we say out here:



and a more scenic version:


MELE KALIKIMAKA
ALOHA and best wishes to all, for a safe holiday season.

Aloha, Lectrode. Sadly, the videos you post are blocked from iTulip. We have angered the oligarchy, of which google is part.

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

On line at the cashier waiting to purchase the only clothing I bought this year, 80% off retail prices at a Dillard's outlet, stuff I actually needed, I was chatting with the guy in front of me who seemed a reasonable fellow, sporting pens and pencils in the pocket protector of his button down shirt.

He told me he'd heard of or read recently that 62% of all the Cyber Monday online sales were purchased by people in foreclosure. I've since unsuccessfully tried to find a reliable source to confirm but it does not sound unreasonable. When I first came home and called to tell this to a cousin of mine who I also knew would be proud that I ventured into a store (I hate shopping and actually get a little scared in malls), she told me about a few people she knows who are taking vacations and even one who is purchasing a yacht, all on mortgage money that they are not sending into the banks, essentially squatting in "their" houses.

So, again, though I don't have it confirmed, how interesting that someone thought to look into this statistic. And how disturbing the possibility that more than half the cyber sales where made by those who either did not have money or who were using money that they are not paying for their housing, which, I presume, will eventually come out of my pocket. Glad I could help the economy. Meanwhile, since I'll wind up paying for this in one way or another, and since I hate shopping, would it be unreasonable of me to give to some foreclosed strangers a list of some items I need?

[jiimbergin]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

Aloha, Lectrode. Sadly, the videos you post are blocked from iTulip. We have angered the oligarchy, of which google is part.

They work for me with adds about gold, oil and stocks

[srivatsan]

Re: Xmas rush that NEVER was...............

I just heard in the CNN news that both Kmart and Sears did not do well on Holiday sales. Apparently, they are planning to decide which of the 200 stores (I believe both of them incl.) to be closed.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/27/news...mart_closings/

So even MSM is now incapable of suppressing these news ?