Comments on: Mike Folkerth: A Sobering Dose of Reality out of Retail http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/ "He who defends everything defends nothing." - Frederick the Great Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:51:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Concern4us http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18164 Concern4us Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:02:29 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18164 All good entries so far. I can't think of any of those stores that I have been in, and the one I had, they weren't nice. I am so SICK of the massive, ugly buildings that have been built in the last 10 years. Cold and impersonal. Back so far from the road, often built on what was once natural or open land or cinder blocks or solid concrete. Can you imagine how expensive it must be to heat the average home depot store in winter? 4 story ceilings and probably an acre or so enclosed. It isn't fun or nice. Those hideous bright lights at night. I miss the quaint shopping centers of the 60 and 70s. Well, now that we have online shopping, who really needs to "go" somewhere. Just buy and have it shipped. Now, we need to start planning the bulldozing and restoration of those properties that have been damaged with the 'uglification of America' by oil companies and concrete contractors. All good entries so far.

I can’t think of any of those stores that I have been in, and the one I had, they weren’t nice.

I am so SICK of the massive, ugly buildings that have been built in the last 10 years. Cold and impersonal. Back so far from the road, often built on what was once natural or open land or cinder blocks or solid concrete. Can you imagine how expensive it must be to heat the average home depot store in winter? 4 story ceilings and probably an acre or so enclosed. It isn’t fun or nice. Those hideous bright lights at night.
I miss the quaint shopping centers of the 60 and 70s.

Well, now that we have online shopping, who really needs to “go” somewhere. Just buy and have it shipped.

Now, we need to start planning the bulldozing and restoration of those properties that have been damaged with the ‘uglification of America’ by oil companies and concrete contractors.

]]> By: stuffingmonkey http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18142 stuffingmonkey Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:57:12 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18142 Azsaluki, I wish I could convince my family(ies) to do the same thing. For years, there hasn't been an item that I couldn't live without as the holidays approached, except for maybe the obligatory undergarments now and then. Especially with the in-laws, it's always just avoiding a guilt trip and turning into a contest to buy enough meaningless goods for each other so no one feels jilted about spending a lot more than they received. Though this year, at least everyone agreed on a budget. Frankly, the more retail junk sits on the shelves, the better for everyone. Azsaluki,

I wish I could convince my family(ies) to do the same thing. For years, there hasn’t been an item that I couldn’t live without as the holidays approached, except for maybe the obligatory undergarments now and then.

Especially with the in-laws, it’s always just avoiding a guilt trip and turning into a contest to buy enough meaningless goods for each other so no one feels jilted about spending a lot more than they received. Though this year, at least everyone agreed on a budget.

Frankly, the more retail junk sits on the shelves, the better for everyone.

]]> By: Richcinaz http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18140 Richcinaz Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:37:28 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18140 Tobby from what I understand alot of the stores can't get financing for inventory. I'm sure many of them would like to at least remain open thru Christmas Tobby from what I understand alot of the stores can’t get financing for inventory. I’m sure many of them would like to at least remain open thru Christmas

]]> By: John M. http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18138 John M. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:44:52 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18138 toysarefun - Yes, but we've got <a href="http://www.scotiawipers.com/" rel="nofollow">Frenchy's</a>! toysarefun -

Yes, but we’ve got Frenchy’s!

]]> By: toysarefun http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18137 toysarefun Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:39:41 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18137 If they cannot even operate an online store, they don't deserve to be in business. Yes, it is funny that many of these stores sold over-priced junkets. Second hand stores, like Good will and St. Vincents is back in! I noticed they've got wear it again stores, and also a baby store for re-using baby items. If they cannot even operate an online store, they don’t deserve to be in business. Yes, it is funny that many of these stores sold over-priced junkets. Second hand stores, like Good will and St. Vincents is back in! I noticed they’ve got wear it again stores, and also a baby store for re-using baby items.

]]> By: AZSALUKI http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18136 AZSALUKI Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:37:37 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18136 My sisters family, my brothers family and my family each have a credit card with a balance. We chatted last week and this is what we came up with. Each family spends about $100 on each other family so my sister, my brother and myself spend about $200 each for Christmas for each other. We have all agreed that our gifts to each other this year will be to take $200 and pay that towards our credit card balances. None of the adults NEED gifts from each other and the kids will never miss the gifts (trust me.....parents, grandparents, and of course santa bless us all more than we need). Our families will NOT be helping this recession during the holidays and i thought it was a GREAT idea (it was actually my sister's so i can't take credit). My sisters family, my brothers family and my family each have a credit card with a balance. We chatted last week and this is what we came up with. Each family spends about $100 on each other family so my sister, my brother and myself spend about $200 each for Christmas for each other. We have all agreed that our gifts to each other this year will be to take $200 and pay that towards our credit card balances. None of the adults NEED gifts from each other and the kids will never miss the gifts (trust me…..parents, grandparents, and of course santa bless us all more than we need). Our families will NOT be helping this recession during the holidays and i thought it was a GREAT idea (it was actually my sister’s so i can’t take credit).

]]> By: arizonaslim http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18135 arizonaslim Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:13:23 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18135 Am I the only one who has seldom, if ever, darkened the doorway of any of these stores? Igor says it all: Ripoff! Am I the only one who has seldom, if ever, darkened the doorway of any of these stores?

Igor says it all: Ripoff!

]]> By: Keith http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18134 Keith Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:00:19 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18134 Q1 2009 will not be pretty. Igor says: BOOM (Implosion?) Q1 2009 will not be pretty.

Igor says: BOOM (Implosion?)

]]> By: Tobby http://housingdoom.com/2008/11/17/mike-folkerth-a-sobering-dose-of-the-reality-out-of-retail/comment-page-1/#comment-18133 Tobby Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:04:38 +0000 http://housingdoom.com/?p=1813#comment-18133 What is really amazing is that many of these stores couldn't even hold out until Christmas. The holiday shopping season which starts in a little over a week represents 30 to 35% of yearly sales for these stores. Yes, it will probably be a lean shopping season, but still. They couldn't even last until then! Makes you wonder just how many other stores are just hanging on until the end of the year. What is really amazing is that many of these stores couldn’t even hold out until Christmas. The holiday shopping season which starts in a little over a week represents 30 to 35% of yearly sales for these stores. Yes, it will probably be a lean shopping season, but still. They couldn’t even last until then! Makes you wonder just how many other stores are just hanging on until the end of the year.

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