Slow Sales for Everyone

[z50com]

It's the ECONOMY again.

People are scared to spend money they don't have!

And with the looming war with North Korea things are only going to get worse.

I've been storing water for months now, because when the grid goes down you won't be able to pump water out of the ground.

[z50com]

 I wish I had more money because I have all the love I need!

I'll be celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary in August

[lindyslucky]

As a former clothing store owner, it's already happening.

We see many of our former customers at the Goodwill.

 Ten years ago,that wouldnt happen. It was just unacceptable.

Clothing has become so cheap, it has lost its value.

Look at what people wear.

It just doesn't matter any more.

Now a new phone.. Or TV...

Most garmets don't wear out for years.

People don't enjoy shopping any more, as an activity. Eating out? Yes!

[mg152]

---

@z50com wrote:

The 1858 Remington is in it's holster hanging on the coat rack.

Cash is stashed under the shed out back.

Plenty of supplies, enough to last a few months for sure.

I'm PREPAIRED (I was a boy scout long long ago)

---

Except that cash will be no good. I've advised my boys to invest in precious metals. And yes I too have the weapons and ammo ready, something I resisted for 30 years but it's time now. We are in a sad state here. I usually laugh at preppers but not anymore. I don't know if it's age or what but I'm expecting bad things to happen real soon.

[mg152]

---

@z50com wrote:

Wells Fargo give me less then 1% on my saving account yet they charge 20% for their credit card.

Wait until the US goes digital money, it's not going to be pretty.

They'll know everything you buy and where you bought it. . .

---

We already have & they already know. When's the last time you went shopping with cash? I used to rarely have or see cash but I've started squirreling cash away for my new life if things dont go bad before I get my chance.

[mg152]

---

@sockmonkeydave wrote:

@z50com

I am with you on this one Z.

I have C-span 1, 2 and three.  On 24/7

The news calls N. Korea nukes a joke, low yield.

What they don't say is that Russia built a super EMP bomb.

It is low energy by bomb standards, But super high EMP output.

Just one air burst over the US would wipe the grid out.

And also everything electronic.  computers, cars, etc.

This is not from a nut job, it is from the govt.

And the N.K. nukes have the signature of an EMP bomb.

To the poster who said the bible held no wisdom, so wrong.

" Rotate your crops, and in the 7th year let the land lay fallow "

" do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

" Don't skinny dip with your wife's sister "

The bible ( king james ) is two different books.

The old testment god liked messing with the Jews.

He would set them a task, they would fail, he would punish them.

He seemed to have anger issues.

Then in the new testment Jesus shows up.

And he is one mellow laid back Dude.  Nothing like his dad.

He was all about helping the poor.

And he said to not throw rocks at the working girls.

What I find odd, back then god showed up on a daily basis.

I guess he has taken a nap.

---

At least Jesus was real. He was a carpenter. Was he an alien or a time traveler? I don't know but so many of his "miracles" sound like good old antibiotics to me.

Lets take a poll

Jesus: Alien, time traveller or the son of God?

[mg152]

How's the cabin coming Mr C? When will you be sharing more pics? I don't think you need to lose 7 lbs. you & Mrs C are in great shape! 😀❤️

[desertratmotosports]

Absolutely.  The golden era of materialistic desires for the working class is done, stick a fork in it.  When Dollar General outperforms Walmart, because Walmart's prices are even too steep for average consumer, you have a problem.  Phones will eventually slow down if they haven't already, nothing revolutionary going from one model to the next.

Media will spin Online Sales to blame, while it may be partially true.  What they won't say is that Americans have become broke and are simply not spending money.  Many of these big box stores that closing, already sell online and have been selling online for years.  People will say "Diversify your products" on these forums as a reason for slow sales.  What happen to being a niche seller, master of a specific craft, the go to person for (fill in the blank).  Seriously?  Most these stores you could darn near buy anything but a jar pasta sauce while you are in store.  You can buy milk and cheese now at Menards...I just came for tube of liquid nails and some screws.  At what point will we come to where these box stores will just be a big mush of everything. 

You want to know why sales are slow, just ask yourself what's keeping you from purchasing your wants.  Like the Capitol Bank commercial goes, What's in your wallet?  Nothing......some cob webs, some old receipts that the thermal ink has worn off it's been so long since I bought something at a store. 

[junkonhill786]

Maybe it's better to stone your neighbor than cut their heads off and parade it on a stick.

[skatesave]

Americans are now starting to act the way Canadians have since 1900.  Canadians for the most part only buy what they need, the rest of the time, they are the Western World's version of Cheapskates.

The old joke .........

What's the difference between a Canadian and a Canoe?

A Canoe tips .

[sockmonkeydave]

@z50com

---

@z50com wrote:

 I wish I had more money because I have all the love I need!

I'll be celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary in August

---

lol  I found my gal in 1985.

Back to sales, for me it is like clock work.

When the weather gets nice in the spring, my sales flat line.

Then in the fall they pick back up.

We work on our planes in the winter, and fly in the summer.

When I went to A&P school, all the old mechanics were retiring.

There was a huge demand, my starting class had 200 of us.

Now they are lucky to have 25 incoming students.

10 years from now when our generation retires.

There be another surge in demand.

But then again, many airlines are out sourcing maintenance.

And I think Boing has sent some production over seas.

[sockmonkeydave]

@desertratmotosports

At the end of WWII we were the only country with an intact industrial base.

And we had 20 years of pent up consumer demand.

This was good for us, but ti was just a matter of time before they caught up.

Do you remember H. Ross Perot in 1992 and nafta.

He said if we go down this path of free trade.

There will be a giant sucking sound, as all the jobs leave the country.

I worked for a publicly traded distribution center.

We were bought by a private hedge fund group.

For the year it took for them to work the deal, we were told nothing would change, lie.

The first week they fired all the truck drivers, and sold the trucks.

And still they said your job is safe, lie.

In less than 6 mo. they had sold off all the assets,

and declared the company bankrupt. 

When I was a kid, every town had a shoe or garmet factory, all gone now.

[desertratmotosports]

@skatesave

LOL..oh man.  I like the Canoe joke.  Seriously, nothing wrong with that mentality.  Downfall is we have to go through a clensing period.  Just like a heroin addict going through withdawal, it's real ugly.   Your reference reminds me of the book I read couple years ago "In Cheap We Trust" by Lauren Weber.  Basically talks how being frugal and cheap was turned into a heinous act.  "Oh he's  or she's cheap"  or "It's cheap, it will fall apart".   The word had different meaning years ago.  To be frugal was almost like bragging rights back in the day.  Now, you are viewed as a serf with that mentality.  Good book, easy read. 

[emerald40]

I wonder how many can be attributed to a seller with unrealistic expectations who refuses to budge from them.

Case in post two dime store dolls in package.

With one doll, both arms have come off and fallen into the bottom of the package.  It does happen with these old dolls, where arms have to be restrung, but yo would have to open the package which would lower values.

Been sitting there for a while. and I mean over a year, at least.

I bid $3.00 lower - listing set up to accept offers.  $19.99 vs $16.99

And it is declined.

Oh, and no mention in title or description about the arms, so a buyer would have to be sure to study the picture.

[desertratmotosports]

@emerald40

Title is merely a search word box.  If you treat it like a title like you and I would perceive such as "Doll with Damaged Arms"  You are going to lose a lot of impressions.  "Vintage Rare Antique Doll Sealed in Box", notice I used a lot of keywords that triggers collectors when they search.  You will get anyone looking for a anything collectable really.  More impressions, more clikcks, more bids, and mo money.   A good seller would then note the condition of the item in both the condition section and item description.  But yeah, that's why most people like LOTS of pictures with used items.  Proof is in th pudding.

The problem with collectables is people associatate emotional value with currency value.  Just because it was my childhood toy with great memories, doesn't mean it's also the buyers.  Collectables are tricky, they are hyper sensitive to consumer confidence.   You know the saying, the market is always right.  Apple Inc is worth what it is because thats what the collective investment community feels it is worth.  Collectibles are wierd because most of them don't serve a functional purpose, they don't produce anything, most of time are asthetic and can only be cashed in for a value the next buyer feels it is worth.  It would be a tough business, I give credit to people who do it for a living. 

I remember baseball and football cards, even regular rookie cards were found to be worth $10-100.  back int he 80-90's.  Now it's only the real rare gems are even worth pursuing.  Why?  People back then threw money around a lot more than they do today.  Nothing wrong with collecting nostalgia stuff, but it's exactly that.  I would have to be very passionate about something to own for nostalgia factor. 

[sockmonkeydave]

@desertratmotosports

lol when the ball card crazy hit, everybody and their brother were buying them.

Heck they were selling in the gas station.

People thought they were going to get rich.