It's deadsville in retail land.....

[Coventina]

I just finished my Xmas shopping.
I spent $150 at the most. I cut back this year, since I'm not working.

Anyway, I went to Target, which was nearly deserted. Then Best Buy which was a little busier, but I didn't buy anything because they didn't have what I needed.

I went to Incredible Fry's last which is usally PACKED no matter what time of year it is. The parking lot wasn't even half-full, and there was hardly ANY LINE AT ALL to check out!! It is not uncommon to wait in line 15 or 20 minutes no matter what the season.

I can't believe it is this dead on Dec. 21st.

[Beaverhausen]

1. I too found very empty stores last night- Target included

I spent less than past years.

[crispini]

2. Target's red, peeps!

Try Costco instead. ;)

Edit: It was busy as hell in World Market (No known red connections) last night. :shrug: but that's the only place I've been so far.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Costco needs to expand. I don't have a Costco but I want one really bad.

Walmart, K-Mart, Target - I'm going to Target. I practically have to have a gun to my head to go to Walmart.

[crispini]

9. Yeah, you have to make the most of your bad choices.

Wal-Mart is truly evil.

[warrens]

6. Target is not red

It was started by the Dayton family, as in Sen. Mark Dayton. They've contributed enormous amounts of money to Habitat for Humanity, local schools and a string of other causes.

[crispini]

8. Target gives 73% of their political contributions to Republicans.

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php?backlevel=002..001Choose%20The%20Blue.002Retail%20Shopping%20and%20Fashion&prodcat=Retail+Stores

If you want to support them for other reasons, that's fine, but their political donations go mostly to Republicans. I love Target deeply, partly for their many good contributions, but I have chosen to start shopping elsewhere and I will write a note telling them why in hopes that they will equalize out their political contributions and then I can go back.

[Beaverhausen]

17. Target also has a reputation for treating their employees fairly

I am surprised that they are on that list as a RED company. I wonder about that.

[crispini]

18. Look it up yourself, it's on OpenSecrets.org

2000 election cycle:

To Democrats: $10,000 (6%)
To Republicans: $152,350 (94%)
Total: $162,350

http://www.opensecrets.org/softmoney/softcomp2.asp?txtName=Target+Corp&txtUltOrg=y&txtSort=name&txtCycle=2002

On edit: Hey, I love Target too, but I ain't given any company that contributes that much dough to Repubs my money.

[Beaverhausen]

20. Who at the company contributed? I think we need to look at the companies

overall picture.

The fact that they also make big contributions to progressive causes and don't put up with the Salvation Army's homophobia I think might outweight their top exec's contributions.

[crispini]

21. Those are Target Inc corporate contributions,

made by the company itself, not employee or executive contributions. Check the link.

[SW FL Dem]

13. And they banned the Salvation Army bellringers this year

which is making the fundies here go nuts :).

[Coventina]

10. I plan on getting a Costco membership next year

after I move.

Right now I don't live where I can really utilize a warehouse membership.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

15. I wish we has Costco here

So, I'm stuck with Target. :-(However. I have never spent one single cent in WalHell.

[yardwork]

3. I deliberately bought everything I could at small local retailers

and online from private companies that don't donate to pukes.

Some things are unavoidable for now - our grocery stores are all puke supporters and I can't switch to the coop right now - but our family has taken some major steps and we will continue to progress at a steady rate. I am committed to Starving the Beast and, in the process, transforming to a healthier lifestyle that is based on intangible things rather than material crap.

[jdots]

4. several reasons and you know them

everybody is broke #2 there isn't even any new product in electronic land only junk they try to sell for less. #3 bush sucks # 4 bush sucks # 5 all the bushys suck.
#6 maybe people don't have the confidence thay thought they would have with this strong man of simple solutions and stupid lies.

[Bluzmann57]

7. Kind of sad in a way

Apparently people are not able to give a lot of gifts this year because of the failing economy. How will bushco spin this? I imagine it's all Clinton's fault. People who work retail will suffer, people who work in American manufacturing places, what few there are, will suffer, people who work in the technical sector will suffer. Thanks bush and all who voted for him. Thank you for ruining a once great land and a formerly pleasant time of year, especially for children. And thanks for ruining a religious holiday, fundies.

[madrchsod]

11. my daughter just called from the mall-

two girls punching it out in front of the "chinese place"..several people were standing around watching them go at it. the chinese dude had to call the mall cops cause no one could get out of his store...1:30 on tuesday???

[blindpig]

12. tell me about it

I'm sitting here in my EMPTY shop waiting for that last minute rush. HA! People can't eat jewelry and I can't beat walmart. Those fucking liars in the media don't have a clue about working class life. Oh well, just have to wait until tax time, when working folks got some change in their pockets for about 5 minutes.

[IStriker]

14. The parking lot at the mall is full, but nobody is buying.

My best friend works at a major department store in a mall in a wealthy neighborhood here. She says the best day they had was the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Says there are plenty of people, just nobody buying much. Also, they are having a lot of people return stuff they do buy.

[Guaranteed]

16. Good. Fuck them. nt

[Cuban_Liberal]

19. Our business is up over last year.

We're an independent retailer, and other independent retailers here that we've spoken too have said the same. However, Wally World says it's sales are below last years'. 1.... 2.... 3....

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

:evilgrin:

[flamingyouth]

22. My little store has been very busy this year

A lot of people are coming in saying they want to support small businesses like ours. Plus we offer great customer service (or at least try to - and when we fuck up, we at least try to make up for it). Our sales are up about 35% over last year's, which isn't saying that much, considering how lousy last year's holiday season was for us.

[Cuban_Liberal]

23. Same here, Lisa!

I'm hearing a lot of 'We want to support independent/hometown businesses, this year'. Music to my ears!

:D