I went to Macy’s with my wife about a month ago, when she was shopping for a dress. She took a couple of them into a dressing room to check the fit, while I waited outside. Not having anything else to do, I started looking around, and was totally astonished and disgusted by what I saw.
The department looked like a low-tier bargain basement discount store in the midst of a ‘Dollar Daze’ sale. There were clothes off the racks, draped over any horizontal surface or fixture, or lying in a heap on the floor. Prospective buyers didn’t bother to hang them back up, and there were no clerks in the area to do this, either.
The carpeting on the floor was absolutely FILTHY, with stains from spilled liquids, loose dirt, scraps of paper & cardboard boxes, etc. I can remember being in stores, seeing employees running a carpet sweeper or vacuum, but it’s clear that this hadn’t been done in days or weeks.
There was one cashier at a station in a neighboring department, where we went to pay. Several other payment desks were un-staffed. This store is clearly in its death throes.
It struck me how bad this truly was if I - a guy of 66, wandering aimlessly in the women’s department - noticed how filthy and disgusting the place was. I’ve never looked for or run across a retail establishment in such ill-repair. For me to recognize this was remarkable.
My first thought was that the internet, in-particular sites like Amazon.com, was likely instrumental in destroying this once vital and proud, important industry. But it’s more than that. The PEOPLE who take clothing off the hanger and then just throw it on the floor are to blame, too.
The store was once one of Detroit area’s famed J.L. Hudson locations, before being acquired by another retail giant of yesteryear, Macy’s.
Leaving politics aside, it’s sad to see what is happening to this industry and the workers who stand to become unemployed as a result.
“The department looked like a low-tier bargain basement discount store.”
That started about 6 years ago. They started to look like a crappy K-mart.
That mixed with their holy than though political opinions, after I spend my 2 gift cards, I will never step foot in K-macy.
Grew up in Chicago. They are totally disgusting compared to Marshall Fields which they bought over. (Their ONLY saving grace is that they still sell Field’s Frango Mints. I’m chewin on one now. Love ‘em!)