I went to Costco, Target, and several other stores on Black friday, saturday and sunday just to see what was going on. It was truly dead after the initial rush. And my wife and I talked to clerks at each location. Those that have been in retail long enough to have at least a full year under their belt ALL said it was dead. All three days.
We saw surprising numbers of people on saturday and sunday returning stuff, and we saw clerks at their registers waiting for customers. At best buy there was a five minute wait to be checked out, but they had five of 11 registers open.
And here is the clincher. Normally I am not “allowed” in Southcenter mall traffic during christmas shopping season because my wife is afraid I’ll ram someone’s car. ;) This year the traffic was no problem, even on Black friday weekend. Neither was parking. :)
No one has any money. I know people who are unemployed and they have never been in their life.
Atlas is shrugging. People on the “rich” side of my street used to have trucks lined up every morning at their homes that average about 5,000 sq feet when Bush was President. Lawn people, painters, decorators, yacht mechanics, ac guys, plumbers, mega aquarium people, and on and on.
Some of these people would spend $50,000 + just to maintain their homes. Well Atlas shrugged and they stopped spending. Every morning you can drive down the street now. In the past it was hard.
“Normally I am not “allowed” in Southcenter mall traffic during christmas shopping season because my wife is afraid I’ll ram someone’s car. ;) “
Snort, LOL!!
Traffic at stores was awful here. But, the economy is largely dependent upon location.
And by awful I mean massive lines at the mall, can’t find a parking space etc.
Not awful as in slow. Quite the opposite.
WOW! I'm very familiar with Southcenter and that's just amazing! I almost hated going there on "regular" weekends. Our little mall here in Ogden UT was jammed packed, parking lot and stores - and this was later in the afternoon.