Has everyone stopped shopping?

Stopped for everything except essentials. Don't go out for dinner, cook at home. Brown bag my lunch. Treat: diner on Sunday morning for breakfast.

I have definitely slowed down on shopping. I spent time going through fall/winter clothes and realized I have enough and don't plan on clothes shopping.

Subject: Re: Has everyone stopped shopping?

Old Time Brooklyn wrote: Walking down 7th ave, stores seem dead. Restaurants too.

Was that you?

I shopped on election day, because I was giddy

GIDDY, I tell you

I work in a retail environment, and the pace has certainly slowed. For a few weeks there was virtually no traffic. Now, there's a bit more traffic, but still not much spending. People seem hesitant, waiting to see if we've really hit bottom or not, and whether there's some stability is around the corner. I don't think that there needs to be a rebound before people start opening the wallets, but they do want to know that it's not going to get any worse.

being on the other side, as someone who sells non-essential goods (unless you consider my work essential) there is a definite slowdown.

We are still shopping but as always, doing most of it online since the prices we get online are about half of the stores around here and that includes paying for shipping. We do still go out to eat about twice per week and go to a lot of local plays also.

Caaahyoko... I'm a bit of a whore myself. Now that's one industry that is insulated from a slow down.

On a less serious note: I've always felt that overconsumption is the greatest challenge facing our species. Bigger houses, the Big Gulp, faster cars, 24 oz steaks, the mere existence of Old Navy... and it trickles both ways.

Corporations are forced to show growth. More sales, more corporation t-shirts, the Swifter, plastics pieces of shit designed for obsolescence... designed to make YOU feel good as you consume them.

It's sick. It will catch up with us. As always, with everything, the lean, shrewed, cynic smart ones will survive. The rest will, thankfully, die.

Drunken - I agree. My British wife is discusted with the amount of wasteful consumption that takes place in the US. She is amazed at the amount of garbage that is being thrown out twice a week.

Old Time Brooklyn wrote: [quote=LongTimeSloper]We are still shopping but as always, doing most of it online since the prices we get online are about half of the stores around here and that includes paying for shipping.

Boo. Shop local.

boo to you too! I would be happy to shop local if it was more affordable. but, I am sorry, i am not going to pay $40.00 for something at the local housewares store that I can get on amazon.com for $20.00 for example, the exact same thing! Or, the special ice packs that were needed the other day, $18.00 per at Neergard's, $8.00 per online, again, the exact same item, brand, etc..

And, i do shop local as much as I can. I go to local book stores and card stores, some gift shopping, some toy shopping. i of course do all my liquor shopping local, LOL! And, I don't mind paying a little bit more to buy something at a local store, but, there is a limit and I have to think about our budget first. The prices around here are outrageous at a good many stores!

art.

alyssaettinger.com. that's me.

belzjm wrote: your pottery is beautiful!

I have her mini bowls and I have to say they are wonderful. I use them for dipping bread in oil, keeping my spices on hand while cooking and I get so many compliments on them.

Old Time Brooklyn wrote: Are people not shopping because they lost they're jobs? Or expect to? Or have less money coming in because they're dependent on monies that have dried up?

Cause not buying just makes things worse. If it's based on perception vs. the reality of your checking account.

....You left off a fourth option: people aren't shopping because they never had enough money to begin with.

queencallipygos wrote: [quote=Old Time Brooklyn]Are people not shopping because they lost they're jobs? Or expect to? Or have less money coming in because they're dependent on monies that have dried up?

Cause not buying just makes things worse. If it's based on perception vs. the reality of your checking account.

....You left off a fourth option: people aren't shopping because they never had enough money to begin with.

Word.

and yet bloomberg, who feels he deserves another term, wants to raise our taxes