The Macys-izaton of America (companies, tax, employees, money)

[Rapture]

I worked for Macy's years ago. Don't buy anything full price and try not to buy at retail price since then. I had a ring from Macy's that was silver and about fifty dollars. Couple years later I went to a trade show at the Javits and found the exact same ring for $2.25.

[Lannie]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

Good post Scranton. Wal-mart had their managers hiring (and illegally filling out medical forms) for federally disabled employees- so the co would save $$$ not giving them health coverage- this is illegal- and there was a huge class action lawsuit. Any purchase from Wal-mart supports 3.00 a week workers oppressed in China- and Walmart is running amok in the corporate greed department. It is a disgrace. Wish people could boycott it but too many are concerned about saving 10.00; I would rather spend more money at Kroger in a nice clean store. Thanks for the post Scranton!

sunny

~~~~~~~~~~

Wal-Mart is the #1 retailer in the WORLD. People will never boycott it on a large scale basis. Wal-Mart is the reason that half of this country can feed their families. The prices are low - a bottle of Pantene shampoo is the same at Wal-Mart as it is at Kroger's with the exception of the price. Wal-Mart = $3.00 while Kroger + $5.00. Why? Does it shampoo hair better because it was purchased from Kroger vs Wal-Mart. I'm not into "trendy" shopping - I'm going to shop where I find the items I'm looking for at the best price.

[grammy164]

Oh please--you're talking to an old lady here. Of course I hate it!
I remember when department stores were department stores. They weren't somewhere you went everyday, but when you did go it was so special. Anybody else old enough to remember when they all had restaurants inside---with fashion shows while you were eating? Famous Barr in St. Louis, Lord and Taylor in CT, Hudson's in Detroit, Macys in NYC--where it should be....Gimbels, LaSalles...those were the days! I hate big box stores--every town or city you drive through has the same places anymore.
One of my favorite memories of shopping as a kid was when we lived in Ridgewood, NJ. The dress shops in that downtown were so nice to shop in. I remember shopping one night when it was snowing. My Mom and I went into our favorite store to pick out a new winter coat for me and they were serving hot chocolate and cookies (it was near Christmas time.) The street looked like a Norman Rockwell painting.
Remember local grocery stores? Going to the meat counter and asking for a 3lb. chuck roast?
Yes, things often do seem like poor quality in Macys and other stores now. That's because they probably weren't made here. We don't produce anything in the Unites States anymore. For someone as old as I am, it's very sad.

[ScranBarre]

I'm with you there, Grammy! I may only be 20, but I cringe to think that the Main Street in my hometown of Pittston, PA, which is now literally decaying into the streets, used to be home to a movie theater, JCPenney, Woolworth's, and various other stores when my parents were children. Now, there's really not a single retailer left in town; people have moved out of Pittston to those cookie-cutter homes in the 'burbs, and big-box development has followed, leading to the downfall of the "quaint" downtown atmosphere. Our area has such a "wasteful" mentality; screw mom-and-pop if Scranton can get another Starbucks or IKEA, right?

In general, I'm just anti big-box retail (even though I work for one, so you can call me a hypocrite if you'd all like! LOL!), as I don't like that every town with over 10,000 people in this nation has the SAME exact stores on their outer peripheries; I can't name one town in our area with 10,000 or more residents that isn't already home to a Wal-Mart or is slated to get one in the next 2-4 years. (Alright, so perhaps Kingston and Carbondale are the two exceptions that come to mind). Back in the "good 'ole days" heading downtown was a "big deal!" Now, people at the "trendy" plaza where I work will hop in their car and drive a few aisles to a closer parking spot as they progressively shop from Best Buy to Old Navy to Bed, Bath & Beyond to ****'s. People don't even walk along the sidewalk between these stores!

I suppose this is why I'm so happy for Downtown Scranton; after years of neglect and being slammed by urban sprawl, the city has taken a turn for the better since 2000, with new boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife popping up all over town. Give me a living, breathing city brimming with various funky shops ANYDAY over a bland, non-descript, impersonal big-box store that's a mirror-image of the SAME store the next town over.

Furthermore, as big-boxes get bigger and Bigger and BIGGER, customer service gets worse, and Worse, and WORSE. I work at Lowe's, and I'm aghast to still see that customers think we're in the era of "Uncle Bob's Corner Hardware Store," where you can chat one-on-one to the owner about so-and-so down the street who knows you on a first-name basis. Folks, I hate to break this to you, but those who manage and/or work at big-box retailers, including myself, personally do NOT care about you, contrary to the fake smiles we provide. When you have a parking lot brimming with cars and aisles overflowing with hurried and clueless customers, you simply need to ask us a quick question, let us assist you, and then move on; just this evening I had a woman complain because I was spending "too much time" helping another woman! Folks, when you have a skeleton crew of one person working in every department who need to manage several people at a time with varying questions and needs, then you NEED TO LEARN SOME PATIENCE! If you want better service, then head to your mom-and-pop retailers; with the way stores like Lowe's intentionally understaff their stores to reduce expenses, you'll never be able to get the same one-on-one interaction at our store as you would at "Uncle Bob's." In fact, when we're out-of-stock or don't carry an item that a customer is looking for, I automatically start name-dropping some of the nearby "mom-and-pops" before I direct them to the nearest Home Depot (simply because I abhor both Lowe's and Home Depot, but I digress). Then again, when I recommend smaller, independent hardware stores, they cringe at the "high prices" and want to know how to get to the Home Depot down the road.

Folks, there will come a day when nearly all independent businesses are shuttered (It's already happened to my hometown of Pittston). At that time, we'll be at the mercy of the big-box corporate monoliths, who can charge whatever they please if they're the only guy left in town. I just can't believe so many in this country would sacrifice their own moral beliefs to "save a buck or two at Wal-Mart." If I'm earning $9/hr and can afford to shop at mom-and-pops, then why can't some of you? I don't mean to sound so bitter; I'm just sad that Pittston, my hometown, is such a sewer with very few vestiges remaining of the wonderful, thriving center of commerce it once was before sprawl smacked it upside the head.

[grammy164]

I was going to write about how much I enjoyed and can relate to your post, SWB, but I guess you wouldn't see my response. Anyway, very good post and how true!

[gizmo980]

Hey... I spent 3 hours at Macy's today, and got some very nice duds! And at nearly 75% off, I might add. I like shopping at all different types of stores, but it's hard to find things that fit well in some of them... I've personally always loved Macy's & Bloomingdales, and spend more than I'd like to admit at them. But I agree, the malls are getting a bit "Macy-fied", or whatever the big chains are. I think it's okay for shopping malls to be somewhat trendy & "big-business", but it's nice to see them & downtown areas with some character! There's a street around here named Burlingame Ave., where I used to spend lots of time growing up... it was once full of eclectic independent stores, and now it's all Gap, Banana Republic, Bebe, etc. Totally ruined the feel of that whole street...

[Mack123]

Great post. I too am upset about all the Macy's. They're a horrible store and have NO RESPECT for the traditions of local stores. They're under the false assumption that everyone wants Macy's. They DON'T! We don't want Macy's.

Boycott Macy's!

[christina0001]

I don't mind Macy's, but I don't often shop there. I tend to buy my clothes at discount stores (Marshalls, Ross's, etc.). If I go to the mall, I go into all the department stores and check the clearance racks. I seldom pay even 50% of retail...I think clothing is completely overpriced. I have a hard time clothes shopping though because I am petite and not all stores sell petite clothes...paying to have them altered to fit me is expensive, too.

[ExNYC]

I have been a Macy's shopper for many years but used to shop at Gimbels, Filene's, Jordan Marsh and Robinson's-May as well. Those stores are gone. Will Macy's be hit with an anti-trust suit, I wonder, along the lines of Ma Bell?

[coffcoff]

I invite all to go to:
Marshall Field's is Chicago - FieldsFansChicago.org - Boycott Macy's
to read the postings about how macy's has ruined the fine Marshall Field's department stores in the midwest and how successful the continuing boycott is working.
The "macy-ification" of America is a flop.