Holiday sales not so jolly CNN / Money hint: Walmart, not happy

[flygal]

Looks like people are sick of buying cheap crap!

http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/02/news/economy/holiday_retail_sales/index.htm

snip

No jolly holiday yet for retailers

Wal-Mart disappoints; clothing chains see mixed results but luxury remains a bright spot.
By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money staff writer



NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Wal-Mart's November sales woes may be a heavy burden to bear for discounters in particular, but the rest of the retail sector managed to pull out some positive surprises during the important holiday shopping month.

Wal-Mart's decision to offer lean discounts over the three-day post-Thanksgiving shopping period backfired badly. Additionally, industry watchers said consumers were also put off by Wal-Mart's limited product selection, especially in hot holiday categories such as electronics, computers, apparel and athletic footwear.

The disparity between the value merchants and the specialty and high-end stores continued last month with teen apparel sellers and the luxury group delivering stellar performances.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Thursday reported November sales at its stores open at least a year were at the low-end of its earlier guidance for the month and projected December same-store sales to be up, in the 1 to 3 percent range.

[koopie57]

1. this sounds like one of those

be careful what you wish for things. They want the republicans to run the country and get all those benefits, they don't purchase American, they don't pay their workers ... and when no one has money to buy there they are 'so sad'. Did they think the repubs would shop there?

[Cobalt Violet]

2. I think their typical shoppers have had all their extra $$ go to gas.

And don't have that extra $$ to spend.

[justa]

3. "...Luxury group delivering stellar performances."

Numbers make it obvious who is doing well under this "great" economy.

[aikido15]

4. Consumerism...

It's going to be the death of us all! Is anyone else tired of getting caught up in it? I suffer from buyers remorse!

http://www.adbusters.org/home/

[aikido15]

5. Have a buy nothing xmas..

http://www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/bnd_xmas/

That's what I'm doing.

[dethl]

6. Heh, limited product selection...

my mom was complaining about that when she did some of her holiday shopping after thanksgiving. Yeah yeah, Wal-Mart is bad and all, but they're the only place in our little town to buy what we need.

[physioex]

9. I understand your situation.....

I had limited choices also. Drive 10 mins to Wallyworld or drive 50 mins to the next nearest discount store.

[flyarm]

7. good scr$w all the "red" bushit companies!!

i stopped shopping at wall mart when they supported bush..i shop costco now!! and target!!..i will no longer suport bushit companies who screw americans!!

starve wall mart!!
realize this people..there are 56 million of us..think of our buying power..or lack there of!!

use your wallet to pu these pigs in their place..do it with media too..i put fox on child block before bush started his war of lies...shut em down!! cnn is on my list to block too!! fly

[teryang]

8. The ever downward spiral

Cause by deliberate anti-labor and anti-middle class policies.

[Bullshot]

10. What happened to all of that rosy positive spinning I heard

Thanksgiving weekend that stated that stores were the busiest they've ever been and it's looking like a start of a great holiday shopping season (at least that's what I was hearing around where I live.)?

[durablend]

12. That spin is taking a week off...

They'll be back to it next week once everyone is feeling sorry for these "poor beaten up retailers" and will rush back in and spend money hand over fist. :crazy:

[NNN0LHI]

11. All I been doing is returning the junk sold to me over the last month...

...that doesn't work.

Don

[llmart]

13. Americans spend so much time and emotional energy.......

buying crap they don't need, that takes up their precious time in maintaining, returning to the store, cleaning, etc. - time that could be better spent on more satisfying pursuits. When I first "woke up" to this fact and started consciously thinking about every single purchase I made, I realized I was adding unnecessary stress to my life. I started reading books on simple living and it was a huge transformation to me. A good book to start with is "Your Money or Your Life." Once you read one book it'll lead to another and you'll find simple living becomes an automatic way of life - just like the endless buying becomes a habit you don't question. You should see our savings accounts now. Try it for a month.

[Moderator]

14. Duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1040417