If economy is so bad why are stores so full?

[lefthandedlefty]

I went to finish my christnas shopping yesterday and couldn`t hardly walk it was so crowded and it has been that way for the past month.As for working I am self employed with my son and this has been the best year I have had in at least the past 10.My liability insurance is almost back to pre Bush levels and fuel prices have stabilized.

[Brickbat]

1. Frankly, I've never understood that myself. When I was employed, once in awhile I'd take my

lunchtime off and run down to JCPennys to pick something up. The store would be packed with people buying crap. It blew me away.

[provis99]

2. the key is: which stores?

I'll bet Wal-Mart is doing great, because we're all poor. I'll bet Toys-R-Us are not doing well, nor are the other specialty stores. My local Dollar stores and Salvation Army and Goodwill stores are booming, however.

[Warpy]

5. I noticed the mall filling up here about 6 months ago

and not by bored teenagers, by suburban matrons with kids and shopping bags.

It had been completely dead for a full two years before then.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. I was in Toys-R-Us yesterday.

It wasn't wall to wall people, but pretty close.

:shrug:

[Pithlet]

31. Our Toys R Us has been packed

The lines at the register have been crazy.

[Statistical]

34. Any store. I did 99% of my shopping online but had to go out last weekend.

Went to a little bird feeder store in a major strip mall.
Old Navy, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, B&N etc.
Hell the parking lot was packed curb to curb with cars and people and a solid stream of shoppers going in and out of the stores.

I figured with the economy bad I could slip in and out.

My friend at work went to the mall (sucker) and commented he needed to park in a section of mall parking lot so far away he didn't know it existed.

Walmart well when I went grocery shopping it was a mad house too.

[The Straight Story]

3. Because we have less stores due to recession but same # people

Less competition.

[xchrom]

4. ? Anecdotal evidence is generally pretty weak evidence. Nt

[Dappleganger]

11. We went shopping on Saturday

to St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville. It was jam-packed with cars and people, most of them carrying multiple packages. The stores were packed as well (Apple, Target, Old Navy, Gamestop, Ashley Furniture, Ulta, etc.). IMO it seemed busier this season than compared to this time last year.

[begin_within]

7. Because Americans are addicted to shopping?

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. While they might be addicted to "shopping", I've seen no evidence that they're addicted to "buying".

I went to two large malls over the weekend, and saw beaucoup people, most of them empty handed.

[MidwestRick]

17. That isn't a great indicator

since many people go to the mall to see the merchandise they are purchasing online.

[PDJane]

8. Look at the shopping bags.

They're not so full. They're not so full even here, and we haven't been hit as badly as the US has with the job situation.

I would also point out that a great many people are giving and receiving necessities for Christmas, not luxury items.

Sweaters instead of cell phones, sheets and blankets instead of television...a disabled friend is getting maid services, and is quite grateful for it. This is not a luxury for this woman, but a necessity. Her balance is shot at the moment.

It's just different.

[aquart]

24. I'm getting a goat. My mom is giving goats.

Fortunately, the goat goes somewhere else. We have ordinances about goats in Manhattan.

[Broke In Jersey]

30. I've always wanted a pony....

[mix]

9. zombie attack nt

[SOCALS]

10. it's like Reagan saying

that he sees a lot of job ads in New York Times and thus unemployment is not that high

[dysfunctional press]

12. how many are actually buying stuff?

and how much are they spending?

those numbers are more iimportant than the number of people in any given mall or store.

[GodlessBiker]

13. Because stores are heated.

[MidwestRick]

15. As I mentioned...

in an earlier thread. The malls I oversee (14 around the country primarily in the SE). The majority of our retailers have been reporting nice profits this year.

[timeforpeace]

16. Certainly couldn't have anything to with it being Dec 22, could it?

[live love laugh]

18. I don't know where you live or shop but in my metro area it's not crowded. nt

[girl gone mad]

19. This reminds me of that old Freeperism..

"If poor people can't afford to buy food, why are they so fat? No one goes hungry in America."

[depakid]

20. Even at 15% unemployment- 85% of folks have jobs

As to fuel prices... tic tock...

[BR_Parkway]

21. A lot were holding off waiting for better sales prices - now they're down

to the wire.

[Strelnikov_]

22. Overshoot n/t

[Thickasabrick]

23. That's kinda like asking if there is global warming, why is it snowing nt

[timeforpeace]

39. Or, if the crime rate is down, why are the prisons so full?

[laughingliberal]

41. That was my thought nt

[juno jones]

25. I see lots of Canadians down here shopping.

Locals signifigantly less so.

[aquart]

26. Manhattan stores have NOT been full.

It's absolutely terrifying how empty they are in comparison to what is usual for this season. September thru December is crucial for retailers. Without a good Christmas, it can be very hard to make it to the next Christmas. Too many stores and restaurants (dining out is always the first luxury to go) are already closed.

[Octafish]

27. It's like global warming.

It snowed in Washington DC, so that shows the scientists must be all wrong.

[ArcticFox]

28. Because it's free

You can walk around and look at things and people for free. Almost everywhere else you go, you've got to shell out money.

[cutlassmama]

29. and the stores are all heated. The homeless can walk around the stores and get warm.

[fascisthunter]

32. well, your experience has been much different from mine

and those I have spoken too.

[Odin2005]

33. Because it's CHRISTMAS!!!

DUH! :eyes:

[Kievan Rus]

35. Because Americans are ADDICTED to stuff

[goldcanyonaz]

36. This is the time of year where many get into debt.

[Ignis]

37. Well shucks, Bootstraps McGee, I guess you win!

:eyes:

[gleaner]

38. People go to shop ....

It is the season for it. They look for bargains try to find stuff they can afford, but they don't always buy. Retail sales figures showed that buying was down in November. You would have to wait until they compiled the statistics to see how sales are going now.

For myself, food prices are rising, medication is still out of this world and gas will go up every time the oil companies think that people will be driving for leisure and there is a dollar more to squeeze out of them. I'm glad you're having a good year and I hope it continues, but most of us aren't. Housing is also taking a big hit. The value of homes have dropped and it is getting harder and harder for people to maintain decent terms on their credit cards. I closed mine out during the Bush years and seeing what the banks are doing now, I'm glad I did. I also switched from a bank to a credit union. They want middle class depositors and actually treat you like a human being.

[mdmc]

40. we have two economies

the privileged class, and the (working) poor.

The working poor are not at the malls..

[PassingFair]

42. You're a real peach, aren't you? Here's a picture for you.

Unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcies,
but all looks well out YOUR living room
window!! Congrats!!

[oedura]

43. Could it be...

...that it's because it's almost Christmas and that even the people who can't afford it would rather go a little more into debt than tell their family and friends that they're not getting any presents?

Nah, couldn't be...

[ArcticFox]

46. ding ding ding

we have a winner

[walldude]

44. If there's global warming why is it snowing?

Gimme a break. You judge the economy by how many people you see Christmas shopping?

Check out the pictures attached to this article.http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/46738,news-comment,news-politics,empty-malls-tell-the-real-story-of-americas-great-disaster

[liberal_at_heart]

45. All of the stores are packed in our area including the malls

I just finished my shopping today. I've been out shopping about 4 or 5 times in the past two weeks and every time I have gone out it has been busy.

[Lugnut]

47. They really aren't around here.

The busiest place I've seen is Dollar Tree.