Christmas sales experiences

[techweenie]

I'm just curious if anyone has the same reactions I do to the 'pre dawn specials" at the big retail chains...

At some big chain in Florida (BrandSmart?) a 73-year old early bird shopper was trampled in the rush to get in for the specials. Lots of reports of line-jumping and mob mentality... and for good reason.

Apparently WalMart had an HP laptop for $378, that were all sold out within an hour after their 5AM opening.

The local Fry's Electronics had a 32-inch LCD TV for $697 which was gone by 5:15AM (they opened at 5!).

I know once I hear a low price like the Fry's TV deal, I'm not going to consider the remaining stock at $1499.

And reports are that shoppers bypass all the other items -- if they don't get the early bird specials, they leave empty handed.

My question is, do limited super discount deals work to build overall store business, or do they build resentment?

[techweenie]

BTW, here's a site that has compiled the "Cyber Monday" deals:

http://gottadeal.com/

[VINMAN]

It seems that most people go to these sales with a specific item in mind. once its gone, they leave all pissed off. Its just a marketing ploy by the retailers to get people in the stores. which I think ends up backfiring half the time. Personally i try to do my shopping in the middle of the week when the stores are generally empty. I have no tolerence for crowds anymore. I never wait for sales either . If i want something i buy it when I find it.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by VINMAN
It seems that most people go to these sales with a specific item in mind. once its gone, they leave all pissed off. Its just a marketing ploy by the retailers to get people in the stores. which I think ends up backfiring half the time. Personally i try to do my shopping in the middle of the week when the stores are generally empty. I have no tolerence for crowds anymore. I never wait for sales either . If i want something i buy it when I find it.

Same here... if anything, I avoid going to the stores when there's one of these sales going on. I accidently ended up at one on Friday, and it was a monkey zoo. I was there to buy a bathroom fan and some hardware. I ended up leaving without making my full-price purchase, because the place was so packed and the lines were so long.

Lots of folks but large quantities and resell them at flea markets... I saw people leaving with 6 tap & die sets, tool sets etc... There's no way someone is giving out 6 tap & dies sets for Christmas.

[Z-man]

While many folks leave pissed off because they didn't get the 'super special' deal, all it takes is a few people to buy a high-end item, and it's worth the cost. It's all about getting traffic into their stores - increases the chance of sales. If the people are not in the store, they aren't going to buy anything.

Just my opinion.
-Z.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by notfarnow
Lots of folks but large quantities and resell them at flea markets... I saw people leaving with 6 tap & die sets, tool sets etc... There's no way someone is giving out 6 tap & dies sets for Christmas.

The same thing ended up happening here with the XBox 360. People stood in line, snatched them up and had them on CraigsList the next day for twice what they paid.

[VINMAN]

Friday, I did everything possible to avoid going near a store or out on the road. unfortunately I broke something and had to go to Lowes. The store was fairly empty, but getting near it was a nitemare.
People seem brainwashed that the world will come to an end if they dont go shopping on the Friday after T-day.
I just dont get it.

[Z-man]

I hit the local K-Mart on Friday - needed some Turtle Wax for the car.

While there were a lot of folks in the store, the cashier lines weren't long at all - they had enough folks working the registers to get people through - that was a good thing.

-Z-man.

[Jims5543]

My Mom works the fine Jewerly Counter at JC Penney. She has tons of stories. She had to report to work at 4:30 a.m. Friday. It was a mob scene there too. She told me about 1 couple that came to her counter. The husband just wanted to go home. He kept badgering her to make a pick. They were shopping $700 pairs of diamond earings. She finally decided he whipped out his credit card and said merry christmas to her as he signed his name, now lets go home.

I overheard some wal-mart associates in line in South Georgia Saturday night discussing the riots that broke out in the Jacksonville store. Not sure what happened but the police and ambulance were called in.

I am with techweenie, once an item has been deeply discounted there is no way I am buying it at 3X the price in the future. That was that products death blow in my book. Either continue to offer it at that discounted price or discontinue it.

[kqw]

I think the mentality is revelant to the families shopping for XMAS.

When my children were young munchkins, we had them write their letters to Santa. It then became our job to find these items and actually, it was fun but, I didn't run ito any mob scenes back then.

[dhoward]

Originally posted by kqw
I think the mentality is revelant to the families shopping for XMAS.

When my children were young munchkins, we had them write their letters to Santa. It then became our job to find these items and actually, it was fun but, I didn't run ito any mob scenes back then.

Now that's what Christmas is about!
The excitement of the hunt, and the cocktails and assembly instructions on Christmas eve..!

[kqw]

Originally posted by dhoward
Now that's what Christmas is about!
The excitement of the hunt, and the cocktails and assembly instructions on Christmas eve..!

And....the pay back was the look on their faces as they unwrapped the presents from Santa.

My advice to those parents with children small enough to believe in Santa is to enjoy the fun created around the Xmas Holiday.

The Elves delivering pajamas to children on Xmas eve, The egg nog that eventually gets spiked with rum, the smell of evergreen throughout the home, the food in the oven, the fridge is stuffed, the pies, cakes, cookies, candy and the fireplace going and friends and family visiting....

Families create the Xmas holiday, not stores....