Comments on: The Cautious Consumer

By: Ra King

Ra King — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:07:51 +0000

“The cautious Consumer” you say, I say,” Maxed out credit cards, low cash left over from essential needs.” To bad when all the money was given to the large banks, Henry Paulson should have placed a limit on max credit card interest, like max 5% over prime. Of course I am assuming the bail out was to help the consumer, I am thinking I was wrong. Wish the financials were scolded like the big 3 auto’s are being raked over the fire pit. Congress if you are reading this, be advised that there are 4,200 airports that airlines do not serve, should one wish to do business other than the major cities, using a corporation aircraft has been the norm for years now.

By: chuck

chuck — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:42:54 +0000

Thought I file my news report.
Yesterday evening I went to Barns and Noble in Madison. I happen to be a long time member of the Barns and Noble. So I went Christmas shopping. I can tell you the bookstore was hopping with constumers. Mostly students doing thier homework and such. As for me I scouted dvd bargains and books I might add. For a Thursday night it wasn’t to crowded at all. Since Barnes is located at the new lifestyle mall the Rennanise Center in Madison. New stores are schelduled to open sometime next year. Now the biggest Barnes and Noble I’ve been in was a two story in Dallas over four years ago. I heard about the one in manhattan. Love to explore it. But in a store like Barnes and Noble I can tell u can find bargains all over the place.

By: mike frick

mike frick — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:23:13 +0000

If they truly wanted consumers to spend more, they would cut taxes on the companies that produce desirable consumer products thus allowing for lowering of product prices.
They would cut taxes on the income of consumers so consumers would have more of their own money to spend. They would cut real estate taxes so that consumers would have lower monthly house payments thus having more money to spend. Getting the idea here?
It’s so sickeningly simple, just downsize that brick on the economy that resides in Washington D.C..

Mike Frick
Yorkville. IL

By: Scott Jordan

Scott Jordan — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:02:53 +0000

The traffic was light in Park Meadows mall south of Denver . I work with small business owners everyday and they are telling me traffic and sales are down 20- 35 % . Things are very difficult for many and I think everyone is concerned about their situation and most are saying it is pretty bad and there is a lot off ear in the air .
I hope the new administration will help small business owners create jobs and help the economy stabilize and grow

Scott J

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:43:18 +0000

I parked my butt at home, played videogames, and bought a book on handgun accuracy online. I feel that is going to do me the most good in the coming times.

By: Robert Kroeger

Robert Kroeger — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:27:43 +0000

Our dishwasher here at home died, last Saturaday we went to Lowes and Sears around 2 in the afternoon to look at new ones. Lowes had customers but no more than during a weekday, however, we both commented on how few customers there were at Sears. In the past it has been near impossible to get a salesperson to help you, on Saturaday no problem. As we left we noticed that most of the checkouts had one or no customers.

It’s going to be a long winter, I don’t see how all these retail outlets stay in business.

By: chuck

chuck — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:18:34 +0000

Around here CC the shoppers were out in force. I was at home with cold but I did watch the black friday coverage. Interesting that the crowds are less. Every reporter on thier beats must’ve noticed too. But this afternoon I will be Madison,christmas shopping at the Barnes and Noble. So I’m looking forward to it.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:20:32 +0000

I shopped on Saturday afternoon. I was reluctant to go at all because I expected the lines to be long and the stores crowded.

I was absolutely shocked to find myself one of just a few shoppers in the store. I think there were more salespeople in the stores than there were customers. I attributed part of that to the fact that the biggest “deal” hours were over, but I did notice that there were still several super saver deals to be had.

I admit I am definitely one of the “cautious consumers.” I bought what we needed; hats, gloves, mittens, and some warm clothing items for the kids. Yes, there will be a Santa, but he will be bringing more clothes and less toys, items that might not otherwise have found themselves under the tree, but rather put right into the drawers.

Why? My retirement fund (although I’m not ready to retire) has been depleted by 40%, my company’s business is down, and I want to build some savings in case things get worse. Obviously, I’m not alone.

By: s.r.b.

s.r.b. — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:14:08 +0000

I own a small retail clothing store. Traffic was good, but our sales on black friday were off 40% from last year.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:54:20 +0000

The stores seemed to be just as full.
What I do not understand is how sales can be up when the discounts are so large. Would a retailer not have to infact sell a vastly larger number of widgets than last year for revenue to be higher? I think that the numbers are fudged in order to give the consumer a fake confidence to spend more because everybody else did.