Many Retailers See Modest Crowds, Cautious Shoppers On Black Friday

The Boston Globe:

Stores across the region opened their doors before dawn yesterday with mixed results: Deals on electronics apparently drew avid shoppers, especially at discount chains, but other retailers saw modest crowds of penny-pinching consumers.

Among shoppers, "there's less of a sense of urgency than we've seen in the last few Black Fridays," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at The NPD Group. "Last year they were pushing the cart in and coming out with a big-screen TV. This year, they're definitely not running around with their arms full."

Read the whole story: The Boston Globe

Comments

[dgscol]

We could have $20 minimum wage and health care for everyone, and a capital tax on net worth.

[dgscol]

Sport shoes should certainly not cost over $20.

[dgscol]

Another example : MP3 players - cost $1 to make and they are marketed at $50-125. Maybe you are shy to ask them to sell you the player for $10, but even then it is $9 profit. When you realize that, why not ask?

[walk0nwalls]

It clearly doesnt' cost 1 dollar to make an iPOd

[dgscol]

As an example, Kosher pickles made in China, besides not being checked for product quality, are sold for the same prices as domestically produced pickles, well maybe 5% less. If we want to protect our local people we should protect the market from incursion (as with security and self-reliance concerns),
otherwise the price should drop.

[dgscol]

The prices are high, and in fact, way higher than supply and demand would dictate. We are flooded with goods from 3 billion people abroad, and there is no competition. Because of this these countries cannot afford these goods and the only trade they have is with the US.

The Middle class is being cheated - losing jobs and paying prices that reflect our economy's prices prior to outsourcing. These windfall profits are making people rich, while people here are living off credit and foreign countries cannot establish trade. The humungous profits are cheating everyone, and destabilizing our economy. Everyone should benefit from cheap foreign goods, not just a few.

People : shop competitively. Demand prices decreases.

[TAIsabel]

Sounds great to me! Who gets (or wants??!!) these cheap ass gifts bought at WallMart, K Mart and other discount stores, anyway? Why not just agree to exchange homemade pastries, breads, knitted items, whatever, for a change?

I stopped the Christmas shopping crap at least 10 years ago. Good meals, a great time, gift cards for my daughter and stepchildren and thanking God for our blessings is the extent of our celebration.

As a child, Christmas was for religious celebration and gifts (not many) were distributed at the Feast of the Epiphany (just like IntrepidReader).

[darthdarcy]

Maybe that's because for 60-80% of America, this is a depression..!

[sunzen]

Citizens economic stimulus plan

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11120

[bluekatz]

Retail markup is 400% on many items. They can say 20%, 30% or even 50% they will still make money. All those products made in China and you are still paying full retail regardless. XMAS the time of year when people lose their phucking minds over cheap a.s.s crap.

[superrobot]

Examples of items that are marked up 400% please.

[MyTake]

Well then, let's cancel Xmas this year.

Maybe we could replace Dec. 25th with a day of "unbridled useless consumerism".

In fact, if it became a day of mass protest and if about 5 million people marched on Washington, another 5 million marching on Wallstreet and a 100,000 protesting in front of the buildings housing CFR, FOBB, Oil HQ and Corporate Media HQ, maybe we could turn the page on the last 60 years of glutenous consumerism which has imperiled the health of the planet and led to this crisis.

[Harry Scrote]

"Cautious shoppers?" "In what respect, Charlie?"

[Tinsdale]

Too funny!

[OppressThis]

that's because so many people are shopping on sites like etsy.com and buying handmade items from real people rather than buying a bunch of garbage from china thats full of lead and other poisons made by poor people who make 12 cents a month via some awful sweatshop.

[UncleJimbo]

I did my Christmas shopping for this year in January! I buy stuff at 75% and 80%off....That's The Ticket! Why doesn't everyone do this? I can't afford the "regular" or even the "sale" prices!

[Creampuff]

I do this, too...I finished X-mas shopping in March.

[BarackMan]

May work if you are not buying for children/teenagers. Enjoy your singleness/aloneness.

[LINY516]

Obviously, the guy isn't alone if he's buying gifts for people. Also, if you explain to your teenagers and children responsible money management, they should understand. If they are extremely young, explain to them that Santa forgot the best gifts at the North pole and can't return until the New Year. (or some great story like that). A little imagination goes a long, long long way. AFter all, how many times have you lied to your children about Santa in the first place.

[bluekatz]

Now that shows real parenting. Teach your children all about those high priced cheaply made material goods that if they wait they can get it for a bargain. Its called getting more for your money if you are opting to purchase those material goods..geezz.Never mind you will be one of those f00ls standing in line returning items.

[IntrepidReader]

Teenagers are already hip to the idea of waiting until after Christmas, it's why they ask for gift certificates or cash. They've known for years that taking the card or cash to the stores on the 26th saves them the trouble of returning every "lame" gift they got for store credit and then buying what they want. Giving younger kids a gift card isn't a bad idea, either, as it will teach them how to bargain shop to get the most for their money. From remembering my own childhood, the other kids in the neighborhood would be dead envious of a kid with a hundred dollar gift card (or two if that's in your budget) instead some toys that an hour's play has already shown are less cool than they looked on TV.

I used to tell my family that we ought to wait until the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan 6 to exchange cards and gifts, that we'd get two or three times as much for the same money. After all, Epiphany celebrates those gift-giving Magi, so it seems appropriate.

[Tinsdale]

WT* ! The last part of your comment was totally off-base and uncalled for, with no relevance to the author's posted comment. I am sure those around you can just feel the seasonal joy that you share with all you meet.

[InedaName]

I will. At least I won't be trampled or shot to death buying toys.

[mombabytiger]

The stores losing money is as it should be. This is an uncertain economy and no one with any sense is out buying more stuff to give to people who already have too much stuff.

Not to sound like Charlie Brown here, but Christmas is not about standing in line all night to kill a guy.

Be creative. Pretend you don't have any money...you probably don't...and now celebrate Christmas. I'll bet it's the best one you ever have.

[JoeSausage]

Yes, only one trampling death. A quite year for retail.

[FatherWolf]

But don't forget the two deaths in the shootout.