Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Boxing Day Madness
So the economy is in the tank. And maybe you're one of those unfortunate souls who is really struggling because of it.
So does that mean you didn't bother with the Boxing Day sales in your area?
From what I saw in Saint John, not so much.
I went out on Dec. 27 (Boxing Day being a "Day of Rest" in New Brunswick), and went to a few stores. And what I saw were people who were still spending just as much on electronics and clothes and everything else that might have been on sale for ridiculous prices.
For myself, it meant spending $100 on DVDs at HMV. There were some steals in that store. My friend Kyla found a collector's edition box set of E.T. The set has two versions of the movie, a book with photos, annotated script pages, and a frame from the film itself. Regular $100. Kyla picked it up for $6. I can't even fathom how it came to be reduced by that much, but there it is.
There were deals everywhere, and I was surprised to see so many people out spending money in these tough economic times. But then something crossed my mind.
Maybe everyone waited until after Christmas to buy the really nice gifts for friends and family members.
Think about it. My youngest brother got an XBOX 360, which cost around $300. Toys 'R Us was selling the unit on Dec. 27 for about $240.
So why wouldn't you wait until after Christmas to buy yourself a brand new video game console, or a giant plasma television? Why not wait to buy some movies or music until they're on sale for a couple of bucks.
Sure, retailers lose money on merchandise when it's on sale for the crazy reduced prices seen during Boxing Day sales, but it almost has to balance out in the end. They had less business leading up to Dec. 25, when prices were more or less what they'd be any other time of the year, but then they sell boatloads of merchandies between Dec. 26 and New Year's. Granted, it's at much lower prices, but they're selling more.
So maybe the economy is struggling. And maybe some of those who bought brand new, 50" LCD televisions will see them repossessed in six months. But for now, it seems the consumer mentality is alive and well in North America.
Long live the credit card!
-BT
So does that mean you didn't bother with the Boxing Day sales in your area?
From what I saw in Saint John, not so much.
I went out on Dec. 27 (Boxing Day being a "Day of Rest" in New Brunswick), and went to a few stores. And what I saw were people who were still spending just as much on electronics and clothes and everything else that might have been on sale for ridiculous prices.
For myself, it meant spending $100 on DVDs at HMV. There were some steals in that store. My friend Kyla found a collector's edition box set of E.T. The set has two versions of the movie, a book with photos, annotated script pages, and a frame from the film itself. Regular $100. Kyla picked it up for $6. I can't even fathom how it came to be reduced by that much, but there it is.
There were deals everywhere, and I was surprised to see so many people out spending money in these tough economic times. But then something crossed my mind.
Maybe everyone waited until after Christmas to buy the really nice gifts for friends and family members.
Think about it. My youngest brother got an XBOX 360, which cost around $300. Toys 'R Us was selling the unit on Dec. 27 for about $240.
So why wouldn't you wait until after Christmas to buy yourself a brand new video game console, or a giant plasma television? Why not wait to buy some movies or music until they're on sale for a couple of bucks.
Sure, retailers lose money on merchandise when it's on sale for the crazy reduced prices seen during Boxing Day sales, but it almost has to balance out in the end. They had less business leading up to Dec. 25, when prices were more or less what they'd be any other time of the year, but then they sell boatloads of merchandies between Dec. 26 and New Year's. Granted, it's at much lower prices, but they're selling more.
So maybe the economy is struggling. And maybe some of those who bought brand new, 50" LCD televisions will see them repossessed in six months. But for now, it seems the consumer mentality is alive and well in North America.
Long live the credit card!
-BT
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Happy Holidays
Merry Christmas, or whatever other holiday you may celebrate at this time of year, to you and yours.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
My country's leader is a chicken
Stephen Harper is a wimp.
Harper managed to put off his political death at least until the end of January. He asked Canada's Governor-General to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament, and she granted his request. So rather than facing a confidence vote on December 8, now he gets to hold on to power while our country's economy goes to hell. Hopefully he spends the next two months figuring out how to fix it rather than how to screw the opposition parties.
Harper has gone from being the bully to the victim. All of a sudden, the nerdy wimps he's picked on for the last three years have decided to stand up and fight back. Too bad they didn't do it during the election campaign, but better late than never.
And to those of you who say the proposed Liberal-NDP coalition wouldn't be legitimate, I suggest you take a look at our constitution. This country doesn't elect a head of government the way the United States does. In a minority government, if the majority (in this case, the opposition parties) can show they have the support of the house to govern, then they should govern. What Harper is doing is what is illegitimate and undemocratic. He's running from the people's representatives. He's so afraid of losing his job and losing his grip on power, he's decided to take his ball and go home, and hope the other kids will lose interest in the meantime.
All the prime minister has done is delay the inevitable. Come January 2009, he'll still be out of a job. And then we'll either see a coalition government, or we'll have yet another election. Either way, Harper's days as prime minister are numbered. If the opposition can't get rid of him, his own party will show him the door.
Harper managed to put off his political death at least until the end of January. He asked Canada's Governor-General to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament, and she granted his request. So rather than facing a confidence vote on December 8, now he gets to hold on to power while our country's economy goes to hell. Hopefully he spends the next two months figuring out how to fix it rather than how to screw the opposition parties.
Harper has gone from being the bully to the victim. All of a sudden, the nerdy wimps he's picked on for the last three years have decided to stand up and fight back. Too bad they didn't do it during the election campaign, but better late than never.
And to those of you who say the proposed Liberal-NDP coalition wouldn't be legitimate, I suggest you take a look at our constitution. This country doesn't elect a head of government the way the United States does. In a minority government, if the majority (in this case, the opposition parties) can show they have the support of the house to govern, then they should govern. What Harper is doing is what is illegitimate and undemocratic. He's running from the people's representatives. He's so afraid of losing his job and losing his grip on power, he's decided to take his ball and go home, and hope the other kids will lose interest in the meantime.
All the prime minister has done is delay the inevitable. Come January 2009, he'll still be out of a job. And then we'll either see a coalition government, or we'll have yet another election. Either way, Harper's days as prime minister are numbered. If the opposition can't get rid of him, his own party will show him the door.
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