I was out shopping today and overheard some interesting conversation

[Bouncy Ball]

between two assistant managers. I was in a Costco. One manager was griping to the other about how slow it had been so far. The other manager (I am assuming they were management level people) told him, "It's really good here, you should see the other stores and the mall, they're REALLY hurting!"

The other guy agreed, that it's been ghost-like in the other retail stores he had been in.

Then the one said "Let's hope everyone's just putting off their shopping until the last minute."

I was glad to hear and see that Costco was doing fine (it was pretty crowded for early on a weekday) but I said to my husband as we were leaving, "Nope, I don't think people are putting it off until the last minute. Too many people are out of jobs, short of money, worried about the economy and not shopping."

We drove past the mall on the way home and were amazed at how roomy the parking areas were. This mall is so big and normally so packed at Christmas they have to use police officers all over to direct traffic and you have to part at restaurants and retail areas not even CLOSE to the mall and walk.

Not the case this year. It's so wild. This is Texas, which means even bush voters must be worried enough not to be spending. Us Kerry voters wouldn't account for ALL those empty parking spots. Anyone living here knows exactly what I'm talking about.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I am in NYC, and every store that I have been in has been empty! n/t

[goclark]

2. But CNN says all is well with the $$'s

[BrklynLiberal]

4. CNN lying? No way!! heh heh n/t

[blm]

3. Glad to hear Costco is ok. Mr blm and I are signing up soon.

I will not give one more dollar to ANY Republican company.

[wicket]

8. I signed up a few weeks ago

It's awesome!!!! :)

[Mend]

5. We joined Costco two weeks ago

We haven't been to any other stores except Barnes and Noble, resale shops (both not busy) and local food shopping. The mall parking lot looks less than half full...heard they were discounting clothes there up to 70%....ho-hum, I'd rather wear rags.

[Warpy]

6. I live in NM in a poor area

and the store of choice, WalMart, had a half empty parking lot on Wednesday afternoon, usually a peak weekday.

This is wild! Usually that lot is packed from Thanksgiving through Xmas and people have to park on all the side streets around it to get in.

People aren't spending, that's the whole story. Retailers tell me that Black Friday was decent, but the stores have been deserted since then.

Expect a lot of stores to go under in January.

[NV Whino]

7. I commented to my local postal guy yesterday

that it seemed really slow. I mean it was December 15th and I walked right up to a window. He agreed that things were much slower than normal for December.

[Bouncy Ball]

10. I forgot about the post office. I went there the other day

at lunchtime and was expecting to stand in an enormous line (BIG post office that serves a large suburban area) and there were only two people ahead of me. Out of curiosity I asked if I just lucked out coming in when there wasn't much of a line and she said "Oh no, it's been super slow this year."

[Nay]

14. The same happened to me at our local post office. After work,

I went to mail an overseas pkg and the line was not long at all -- just a couple of people ahead of me.

The malls here were empty when I went to get batteries on a Tuesday night. I don't know how it has been on the weekends, since I don't go and have not shopped this year. But when I go by, there are empty parking spaces, which is unheard of 10 days before Christmas.

Dare we hope that economic pressure will in turn force corporations to take a closer look at their poster boy Bush, and start squawking??

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bouncy Ball]

13. You voted for bush?

You are on the wrong site.

Buh-bye.

[latteromden]

11. The Mall of America was pretty damn empty last night

And I wonder how many people were there just to look and say "I'd like to get this for Christmas," or "My sister would love that," but "There's not enough money." That's why we were there, at least.

[bloom]

12. I wonder if more people are shopping online.

But then we're spending less this year....

[KitchenWitch]

15. I have also heard that giftcards are big this year

May account for less traffic to the post office, since one can mail giftcards themselves.

[idiosyncratic]

16. I did all my shopping online this year, but I did it at discount sites.

[AllegroRondo]

17. Saturday before X-Mas is normally the biggest day of the year

I cant wait to see what it looks like tomorrow.

[jackster]

18. seems that I read this week...

... that the walmarts and other retailers are reporting disappointing sales

WHILE the high end retailers ("Needless Markup" to name one!) were experiencing GREAT sales!

perfect example of the state of our union

the have mores have plenty, the rest of us can go suck eggs!

[parkenyc]

21. I read the same.

I don't hear anyone I know talk about going Christmas shopping. I think this will be a frugal year for most.

[oneold1-4u]

27. Many are just nest-egging

To try to make sure the family has medicine, food and clothing next year!

[Yavin4]

19. I Also Live In NYC and 8th Street Between Sixth Avenue & Broadway

is usually so crowded around this time of the year that you can hardly walk on the sidewalk. Not this year, plenty of walking space.

[TexasSissy]

20. Huh? Here in my area of Texas the stores and malls are packed.

(during peak hours - after hours, they are not). Looks like it's going to be a great retail season here for J C Penney, Dillards, some higher end stores, maybe Target. Don't know about Wal-Mart, since I haven't been (of course!).

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. There's usually a traffic jam at the mall near my office

not this year...

[mattclearing]

23. I'd like to think everyone's shopping at Amazon, but not likely.

A rising tide lifts all boats. Clintonomics worked.

The corporate donors that supported Dubya are getting what they deserve in the end.

Idiots.

[NuttyFluffers]

24. y'know, i'm beginning to like the elbow room and leisurely pace.

it feels a lot better than the madness of christmases before. still feel all 'bah humbug,' but it's nice to let all the tension and struggling drop away. it's like a weight has been lifted.

i'm looking forward to having hot cider with a cinnamon stick and make some chrstmas snacks and just enjoy a nice yule log on TV. nice and cheap and cozy, mmmmmm. hanging out with family on the cheap, no status contests, no guilt trips, no debt looming, ahh, i think i might keep this as a tradition for all holidays. ahhhhh.

[Old Mouse]

25. Read enough news and you get the same trend

Stores that cater to high end, or RICH customers are doing better than ever. Sales are worse than last year everywhere else.

You'd think the majority of Americans who aren't rich don't think Bush is going to do a good job handling the economy.

This is going to hit the economy way hard in March. If people sense how bad this Christmas is, they'll panic, and make matters even worse than they actually are.

[durablend]

28. Au contraire!

These guys claim this is going to be the best Christmas in over 5 years, since job growth and incomes are WAY UP, and things are going just SUPER

Economists see lots of presents under Xmas tree

And let's not forget our friend Jack Yeaton (link has PHOTOS!)

Retailers Feeling Divide Between Haves, Have-Nots

[Old Mouse]

26. Duplicate post bug strikes again

sorry

[TexasChick]

29. No, unfortunately, I wouldn't. Been unemployed for two years now and

counting. I haven't been able to go anywhere shopping. But, just reading the articles and reading the posts here on DU, I can tell that it will be very dismal Christmas sales projections this season. But, with Chimp at the helm, it's going to get even worse.

[qanda]

30. My husband and I have not purchased even one gift

Not even for our kids. And we just found out that our rent is going up 5% at the beginning of next year-- we don't know how we will survive. He's trying to run a business, and it's hard to do that without a cell phone and the internet these days. The cell phone is already gone (for now) and the internet may be next. I'm praying that things will turn around and soon.

[Bouncy Ball]

32. Wow I hope things turn around for you, too.

That's rough. :hug:

[Javaman]

31. Today at the Post office at lunch time...

Usually the last friday before the holiday, it's packed with people doing the last minute mailing thing. Not a soul. empty in fact. This was at lunch time!!
I asked the guy at the desk about it. He replied, "it's been so dead, no OT for us this year, I was depending on it, not anymore".