BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'

Subject: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 10:35 AM

I cannot believe there is HALLOWEEN stuff out in the stores already!!!!! and has been for well over a week. This is ridiculous!

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: artbrooks
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 10:46 AM

You obviously haven't noticed the Thanksgiving stuff yet.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 10:54 AM

here in Oz we have Father's day stuff - & I guess after next week the Chrissy stuff will start clogging the shelves.

We have a bit of Halloween (apparently Oz will be the next American state!) so I suppose there must be some spooky stuff in the shops sometime soon. Tho Thanksgiving has not come our way (yet).

What gets me is clothing - midsummer the woolly stuff arrives in the shops, midwinter the skimpy stuff fills the windows & aisles.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 10:55 AM

Innit a bit early for Secret Santa's, too?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 11:00 AM

depends - SS needs lead time when you are shipping all over the world. also - if any of the shellbacks are SS they may want to bring over in October and havee someone else mail it for them.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 11:29 AM

Since Labor Day has past, it will now be possible to go down to the local Foley's department store and visit their still-small Christmas display tucked in between the furniture and kitchen shops. They always put out a few gorgeous glass ornaments and gew-gaws for those who have to shop early to mail stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 11:42 AM

Yep, it's a bit silly. Two full months of merchandising does seem a bit excessive for Halloween. One would think a month would be plenty.

But, I think it's an inevitable consequence of the way a lot of stores' retail space is allocated nowadays. Most stores have a specific area set aside for "seasonal merchandise". The summer vacation-swimming-camping season is played out. There's nothing in September worth pitching. And the last thing that a store wants is a bunch of empty shelves. So, they fill 'em up with Halloween stuff way earlier than is strictly logical. Most of it's just going to decorate the shelves until it starts selling around October 1st.

What I don't understand is how Halloween got to be such a big merchandising event in the first place. A few bags of candy for the kids and a pumpkin is all I ever remember buying... and haven't even done that since moving to the country where there are no trick-or-treaters. (Not a one in ten years.)

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,catsphiddle sans biscuit
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 11:48 AM

WYSIWYG...as I have stated in the secret santa thread.....I had to start the thread early as I have a very demanding job and I wanted to leave enough time so I could organise everything. Some people didn't recieve their parcels until mid January and someone even got theirs in February. It takes 6-8 weeks to post to OZ if you send standard post and 2-4 weeks when posting to USA.....sorcha posted me something and it took nearly 2 months to get to me in the UK from the States.

In the Uk the shops are full of Back to School stuff but toys are starting to appear and it wont be long until the xmas stuff will be in the shops......they know how to market don't they!!!...bombardng technique!!!

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,Penny S. (elsewhere)
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 11:53 AM

The shops are full of back to school stuff before the previous term finishes - I hated it as a child and I hate it as a teacher. The time for back to school stuff is the middle of the afternoon the day before term starts.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 11:56 AM

And, the package I sent cats was shipped air! 2 didn't make it at all and took 4 months to be returned to me and I had to pay for the privilge of getting them back!

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 02:33 PM

Fact is, adults now "celebrate" Hallowe'en more than the kids do, at least in the US. And no matter what the demographics say, adults still control more money than kids (and adults always bought for Hallowe'en anyway). So, if you've got the folks who have the money willing to celebrate, why not make it a selling season?

Of course, I do think they might hold off until at least the 20th of September....

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 04:40 PM

The candy manufacturers are fully aware that many people eat a heckuva lot of that candy weeks before Halloween. I don't buy candy ahead. I used to see if I could get it cheaper in bulk (we had a lot of kids come by the house) but I always gained several pounds and decided it wasn't worth it--the nibbling gets you. Now I wait until a day before and I buy a few bags of the good stuff and make sure I give away all of it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 04:54 PM

What bothers me about "shopping seasons" is that they are askew from what I'll call "use seasons". Well, I guess that's not much if any different from the Halloween-stuff-in-early September phenomenon.

But if you need (in the US) a swimming suit in early August, when it's about to be really hot, you can't find one; the swimming-suit-sale season has passed. Perish forbid that you should look for a short-sleeved dress shirt at or after the middle of July.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 08:06 PM

Dave, you're not shopping in the right stores. Find the deep discount places--your choice may be limited, but the prices are much better. And the big department stores are getting wise and putting their clearance stuff on deep discount on their own before handing it off to Ross or TJ Max. So you should find the end of the summer stuff around until fall, if you find the right rack.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 11:10 PM

Buy online from Land's End or LL Bean. Good quality stuff and they usually have what you want year 'round.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 12:01 AM

And for online shops, you can sometimes find some really great stuff at the REI Outlet.com (REI=Recreational Equipment Incorporated).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: NicoleC
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 12:02 AM

Halloween? All the stores here are packing in Christmas.

Besides, I don't do Halloween. I think it's pretty dumb to teach children begging and/or threatening their neighbors is acceptable behavior. It's yet another season to fatten up kids (and adults) on over-consumption of garbage while milking people for money on something completely useless. You might as well hand out cigarettes to the kids.

Maybe if they would take asparagus spears or carrots I'd shell stuff out at the door. :)

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 04:51 AM

How about handing out foil wrapped sprouts or peas?

I've had reason to complain about the shopping seasons before... so far this last 12 months I've been offered Valentines chocolates on sale on Boxing day, Easter chocolates available just after Epiphany, but could I get lemon juice for Shrove Tuesday? No, they'd sold out the week before. In April, I couldn't get a warm shirt or a sweatshirt, only swimsuits and thin summer stuff, even though we were snapping dogs off lampposts. THEN: In May I had trouble finding sunblock, they weren't stocking it yet. Christmas stuff (admittedly, the nasty 'for heaven's sake how can we get rid of this cheap crap' stuff) was on sale in June, back to school stuff on sale 2 weeks before the term ended in July. Halloween stuff in mid August, more Christmas stuff appearing last week, and so many 'book now for your Christmas meal' notices that I've lost count, but the first one was in June!

It's just a case of will power, otherwise my house would resemble a cash and carry store....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 10:52 AM

My favourite bit of the morning paper is Column 8 - used to be on the front page & the 8th column, now well inside but still full of interesting snippets.

"Is this a question of 'Only in America" or 'Insanely Optimistic Wal-Mart executives'? asks expat Jocelyn Lindlay, now of Charlotte, North Carolina. "We sighted Christmas decorations for sale, 3 aisles worth, at the local Wal-Mart today. Somehow we were able to resist the tempataion to get a head start."

Counting down for chrissy sales ...

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: gnu
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 12:20 PM

Didn't read the whole thread. Sorry if this was mentioned earlier. I saw Halloween greeting cards yesterday. Seriously. Where will consumerism stop ?

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 12:24 PM

MMario: Why rant over something so unimportant?
------------
"Most stores have a specific area set aside for "seasonal merchandise". The summer vacation-swimming-camping season is played out. There's nothing in September worth pitching. And the last thing that a store wants is a bunch of empty shelves. So, they fill 'em up with Halloween stuff way earlier than is strictly logical."

Bruce: thanks for being logical.
-------------
I work in a fabric store. A few mothers and grandmothers are buying materials for costumes already. For many of them, this is the only kind of outfit they ever sew. They need lots of time for grappling with it. Most of them work fulltime and run the house and the cars. They need to plan ahead.

I like trick or treating. We never get threats or mean tricks, just little kids of every color, who trust us to be friendly. I like that.

Recently I read about an astronomer who sets up a telescope on his porch and invites the trick or treaters to see something interesting. (Saturn is the best object, if it's in view.) I hope to do that myself, weather permitting.

Nicole, your comment that "you might as well hand out cigarettes to the kids" is pure malarkey.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 01:14 PM

Leeneia, I see we haven't developed a sense of irony yet.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,saulgoldie (new computer; no cookie, yet)
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 01:24 PM

The consumerism will end when enough of us refuse to cooperate. I usually only shop when necessary, normally. And I avoid the stores like the plague whenever there is some season that I am "supposed" to be tuned in to, especially you-know-what. While I care about the jobs that may be lost if people dramatically cut back on consuming, I think that the world would be a whole lot better off if we consumed more thoughtfully and wisely.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,Wyrd Sister
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 03:27 PM

Today I ordered a skirt from the 'autumn' catalogue. Yep, four days into September it's out of stock but never mind, I'll be receiving the WINTER catalogue in a few days. I'm a bit stuck for options as I need specialist (long) sizing.Grrr!

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 04:45 PM

My supermarket has hot cross buns all year round now. On the other hand just try finding English fruit in season.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: gnu
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 05:23 AM

English fruit ?? The buns I can understand. They taste good all year round.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 08:05 AM

But surely they don't have to be hot cross buns - just sell toasted teacakes - they're exactly the same except for the pastry cross!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 04:11 PM

I think last year was the first time I noticed that some merchants (e.g., Cracker Barrell) had three different selections of seasonal merchandise going simultaneously, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: Peg
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 09:44 AM

why do all the Christmas lights you buy now only last one season, if that long??

The local AIDS charity shop sold a bunch of strings of used Christmas lights last year, all $1.00 apiece, many of them fairly old. They work great! And I bet I will be able to keep using them. My parents used the same string of lights on their tree every year for at least a decade or more...

The ones I bought at CVS last winter are now useless...

I think the shopping season nightmare is similar to the phenomenon I see more and more of these days: NOTHING is built to last or be repaired or recycled. Not a decade ago, one could count on using the same toaster, TV, radio, car, electric mixer, lamp, etc. for at least ten years. Now not even a complicated device like a computer has any recycle or retail value. This is ridiculous.
I refuse to buy "new stuff" (I am a thrift and charity shop and rummage sale maven, moi) unless absolutely necessary. Just like clothing made in the old days is more durable (or clothes still manufactured by companies doing things the "old way"). New furniture is a joke. Most of my home is furnished from second hand shops or people's trash.

My mom was a ceramics buff for years and made loads of ornamental things (several creche sets, those little tres you stick the plastic lights in, angels to hang on walls etc.). Some of them are very beautiful, like one winged cherub painted to look like verdigris. I am NOT an "angel" person AT ALL, so you know this thing must be pretty cool for me to have it in my abode. These make nice year to year "traditional" decorations. I am so happy to still have some of the things she made; many have broken or been given away over the years.

Refuse to submit to this silly seasonal stuff! Hallowe'en is now second to Christmas for the total amount of money spent on decorations, etc. I personally think it is partly because our culture does not have a comfortable relationship with death, and, probably almost totally unwittingly, people dig the big Hallowe'en celebration thing as a way to express and relieve this anxiety...

Of course, as a pagan I celebrate Samhain which is a somber thing...but we still like our parties! I have a "Gothic Samhain Soiree" almost every year, featuring a game of Death Jeopardy, a chocolate cake shaped like a bat, costume theme contests, and other sundry fun and games.

Subject: RE: BS: RANT: shopping 'seasons'
From: mouldy
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 03:02 AM

By the time Christmas comes all the excitement of "trimming up" has gone. I will have been decorating and undecorating a craft stall with a gradually increasing amount of glitz from October until early December, and I will be ready for a break. The run up to Christmas kicks off next weekend with a small fair, locally, and I will just put out a token few Christmas items such as little angel tree decorations, but by the time we're into early November's start of the Christmas fairs, there will be lights, tree and all! I have to at least start thinking in summer of what I want to be making for Christmas - it has to be under way by September. Some people start even earlier.

And yes, I am one of the people who complains when things appear hot on the heels of the previous season - eg: Cadbury's creme eggs advertised on TV around Boxing Day.

(Locally, there was a Poundstretcher shop selling off last year's Christmas stuff in August!)

Andrea