|
Financial crisis: Eat, spend and be merry
|
|
Topic Started: Oct 27 2008, 06:31 PM (645 Views)
|
|
Franko
|
Oct 29 2008, 10:53 PM
Post #16
|
Shower Moderator
- Posts:
- 7,303
- Group:
- Cadet
- Member
- #299
- Joined:
- January 9, 2005
|
Sorry, but I agree with the Admiral. The malls here are packed. And this afternoon, I was helping some people I know pick out a large screen HD TV and a stereo system at our "upscale" electronics store here in town.
After deciding on a good unit, guess what ? Another "consumer" came along and bought it from another sales person before we'd made the deal. So our clerk phoned the warehouse about the same model, and managed to get the last one. 15 orders had come in for the very same HD plasma set featuring 52 inches (Samsung). (about 4,000 dollars with extended warranty and tax and stand)
Yeah, retail consumerism is really taking a beating alright. The other day we were checking out the recent sale on high-end laptops, because they were over-stocked. By the time my friend and I got there (shopping till 9:00pm) they were sold out.
Another friend of mine sells trucks and autos at the local GM dealership. Big huge shiny black 4 by 4's ? Can't even keep up.
And this is just my little semi=rural hicktown of Abbotsford. 15 supermalls throughout our area, and you can't even get a parking space.
I'm starting to wonder why the markets needed 860 billion dollars. Hey, just have more sales and build more malls.
Edited by Franko, Oct 29 2008, 10:55 PM.
|
|
|
| |
|
RTW
|
Oct 29 2008, 11:04 PM
Post #17
|
Vice Admiral
- Posts:
- 7,678
- Group:
- Senior Officer
- Member
- #543
- Joined:
- February 12, 2006
|
I've heard that handgun sales are way up because many people feel that if they don't buy one now they may not be able to later.
Has anyone else heard this?
|
|
|
| |
|
whitestar
|
Oct 29 2008, 11:15 PM
Post #18
|
Captain
- Posts:
- 1,469
- Group:
- Senior Officer
- Member
- #122
- Joined:
- February 23, 2004
|
- Franko
- Oct 29 2008, 10:53 PM
HD plasma set featuring 52 inches (Samsung). (about 4,000 dollars with extended warranty and tax and stand)
Four grand! lot of money, I recentley bought a Samsung 42 inch plasma HD, with extended warranty, $1000, it was on sale, usual value between $1500-2000
|
|
|
| |
|
somerled
|
Oct 30 2008, 12:05 AM
Post #19
|
Admiral MacDonald RN
- Posts:
- 19,451
- Group:
- Banned
- Member
- #62
- Joined:
- September 24, 2003
|
Gerry Norman , the CEO of Harvey Norman Discounts was on the TV on Lateline the other night and was saying sales of consumer electronics in his "upscale" shops is quite depressed in the last quarter , he did say though the Federal Govs 10G$ handout to pensioners expected just before Xmas will help somewhat. Other than that people are not exactly mobbing the shops. Gerry never misses a chance to drum up business or to talk up sales.
My brother and my mum each bought a big Panasonic HD Plasma TV Model No. TH50PZ850A last week at Bennetts Green Bing Lee , where they had a 80% off sale to compete with the on the reopening pallet sale at the local Harvey Norman Discounts shop (50m away , on the opposite side of a share parking area), said they were selling for 1 day only at $1300 each). He called me and asked me if I wanted to buy one too , he'd pay for it now and I could pay him back when we got home. I don't need a bigger TV , or a HD TV so I passed. Anyway , they'll get lots cheaper as the manufactures flood the market over the next few years , so I'll wait til just before analog broadcast TV is turned off , I'll buy one about then.
By then USD will be next to worthless because of all extra trillions of $'s being printed to fund those bailouts and the other bailouts that will happen soon as the USA slides into a depression. And the AUD will be worth more compared with foreigh currencies of our trading partners since Oz is in pretty good shape compared with most others and should escape a recession and the worste of the fallout.
Bill should have a contingency plan - subcontractors are pretty vulnerable when businesses are in crisis and can not fund projects , he could find his contacting business drying up unexpectedly. Least my consulting is targeted to the resource and pyromet industries which show no sign of slowing their expansions and upgrade projects and greenhouse gas reduction projects , so I should be OK if I choose to keep it going after we return home in December or knock back the offer to move to and work in Darwin.
Edited by somerled, Oct 30 2008, 12:30 AM.
|
|
|
| |
|
somerled
|
Oct 30 2008, 12:15 AM
Post #20
|
Admiral MacDonald RN
- Posts:
- 19,451
- Group:
- Banned
- Member
- #62
- Joined:
- September 24, 2003
|
- RTW
- Oct 29 2008, 11:04 PM
I've heard that handgun sales are way up because many people feel that if they don't buy one now they may not be able to later.
Has anyone else heard this? Link ???
|
|
|
| |
|
whitestar
|
Oct 30 2008, 03:55 AM
Post #21
|
Captain
- Posts:
- 1,469
- Group:
- Senior Officer
- Member
- #122
- Joined:
- February 23, 2004
|
- somerled
- Oct 30 2008, 12:05 AM
Gerry Norman , the CEO of Harvey Norman Discounts was on the TV on Lateline the other night and was saying sales of consumer electronics in his "upscale" shops is quite depressed in the last quarter , he did say though the Federal Govs 10G$ handout to pensioners expected just before Xmas will help somewhat. Other than that people are not exactly mobbing the shops. Gerry never misses a chance to drum up business or to talk up sales.
My brother and my mum each bought a big Panasonic HD Plasma TV Model No. TH50PZ850A last week at Bennetts Green Bing Lee , where they had a 80% off sale to compete with the on the reopening pallet sale at the local Harvey Norman Discounts shop (50m away , on the opposite side of a share parking area), said they were selling for 1 day only at $1300 each). He called me and asked me if I wanted to buy one too , he'd pay for it now and I could pay him back when we got home. I don't need a bigger TV , or a HD TV so I passed. Anyway , they'll get lots cheaper as the manufactures flood the market over the next few years , so I'll wait til just before analog broadcast TV is turned off , I'll buy one about then.
By then USD will be next to worthless because of all extra trillions of $'s being printed to fund those bailouts and the other bailouts that will happen soon as the USA slides into a depression. And the AUD will be worth more compared with foreigh currencies of our trading partners since Oz is in pretty good shape compared with most others and should escape a recession and the worste of the fallout.
Bill should have a contingency plan - subcontractors are pretty vulnerable when businesses are in crisis and can not fund projects , he could find his contacting business drying up unexpectedly. Least my consulting is targeted to the resource and pyromet industries which show no sign of slowing their expansions and upgrade projects and greenhouse gas reduction projects , so I should be OK if I choose to keep it going after we return home in December or knock back the offer to move to and work in Darwin. Who NEEDS a bigger TV? but you don't know what your missing out on untill you come home to one daily. I would compare the difference between average TV's and big screen high definition as a big a jump as black and white to colour. Even the commercials are hard to walk away from (especially the hair shampoo adds with beautiful women and long swishing hair in slow motion)
On another part of your post, why do you purposely post delibratly in a confronting manner to upset the American members here? Your statement may or not be true but you put in a way as to insure a conflict. Why?
|
|
|
| |
|
somerled
|
Oct 30 2008, 05:36 AM
Post #22
|
Admiral MacDonald RN
- Posts:
- 19,451
- Group:
- Banned
- Member
- #62
- Joined:
- September 24, 2003
|
I've got an 80cm NEC , it's not a flat screen or HD , but is more than big enough for our loungeroom , and a 68cm NEC in the main bedroom (not that we use it much but was too good a TV to give away or toss out and that is where it wound up on a trolley in the corner.)
I don't accept that it's OK for the americans here to behave in a confrontational manner or to talk down to and ridicule the nonamericans here (who happen to dare to see things differently to them) which some of them do all so often with no consequences,. yet us foreigners have to behave like we are walking on eggshells in case we offen someone. If they dish it out they need to be prepared to ware it too.
But they wont have the privilege of being able to read my posts here for much longer as we will be departing Broome tomorrow or the next day (another dawn start) and going places where there is not likely to any wireless ADSL access for a while .
So the mice will be able to play again....
Edited by somerled, Oct 30 2008, 05:56 AM.
|
|
|
| |
|
Admiralbill_gomec
|
Oct 30 2008, 06:25 AM
Post #23
|
UberAdmiral
- Posts:
- 26,022
- Group:
- Flag Officer
- Member
- #5
- Joined:
- August 26, 2003
|
- somerled
- Oct 29 2008, 08:11 PM
- Admiralbill_gomec
- Oct 30 2008, 12:35 AM
- Minuet
- Oct 28 2008, 05:51 PM
Actually AB - as a person who works in a mall I can assure you that not everyone shops everytime they go to a mall.
Take your "soccer moms". The ones you see at lunch on a weekday are usually there to meet each other for lunch. They are there to socialize rather then shop. They may shop but it's not the main purpose of going to the mall on a weekday. Believe me - I was a stay at home for 6 years and I know whereof I speak.
You will also find lots of mom's with baby carriages, especially if the weather is bad and they can't walk outdoors.
Actually, the weather has been stunning lately, and all those soccer moms had shopping bags. Sorry.
- Quote:
-
Dillard's and Macy's were crowded with upscale soccer mom types
upscale ?? = ?? rich or trying to look rich ?  who are you trying to impress ? Probably find if you checked that most the ladies were buying what ever they were buying on never never (credit cards). Or could it be that the shopping bags were full of the weeks or fortnight's groceries ? you've given no evidence they were full of unnecessary consumer goods and luxury goods We only really have your word for it , and since you can't be bothered going to other malls (in underprivilaged areas or poor districts (snobbery ??)) then your claimed observation is worthless. Good Lord, this is just pathetic.
It doesn't fit your tiny worldview so I must be wrong. You dislike what I say so you move the goalposts.
You also don't know much about American malls. There are no supermarkets in malls, and shopping bags have store names on them (cheap advertising). Let me guess... now you'll claim that these folks are bringing the bags into the mall and filling them with empty boxes?
Who am I trying to impress? No one. Unlike you with your "vacation travelogue", I never need to. The mall I listed is the nearest one to me and I gave a thumbnail description. You can look it up.
Here's what you don't get: It IS MY OBSERVATION. It is SUBJECTIVE.
As I said numerous times, you can never admit, "okay, maybe I'm mistaken. Maybe it isn't all bad." You just keep digging yourself in deeper on things you know nothing about. While it can be amusing at times, it is also quite tiresome at others.
|
|
|
| |
|
Admiralbill_gomec
|
Oct 30 2008, 06:26 AM
Post #24
|
UberAdmiral
- Posts:
- 26,022
- Group:
- Flag Officer
- Member
- #5
- Joined:
- August 26, 2003
|
- RTW
- Oct 29 2008, 11:04 PM
I've heard that handgun sales are way up because many people feel that if they don't buy one now they may not be able to later.
Has anyone else heard this? There was a link on Drudge claiming that gun sales in Florida had increased.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V71Do4Fj8XU
|
|
|
| |
|
Admiralbill_gomec
|
Oct 30 2008, 06:27 AM
Post #25
|
UberAdmiral
- Posts:
- 26,022
- Group:
- Flag Officer
- Member
- #5
- Joined:
- August 26, 2003
|
- whitestar
- Oct 29 2008, 11:15 PM
- Franko
- Oct 29 2008, 10:53 PM
HD plasma set featuring 52 inches (Samsung). (about 4,000 dollars with extended warranty and tax and stand)
Four grand! lot of money, I recentley bought a Samsung 42 inch plasma HD, with extended warranty, $1000, it was on sale, usual value between $1500-2000 Wow, for a television? No thanks!!
|
|
|
| |
|
Admiralbill_gomec
|
Oct 30 2008, 06:28 AM
Post #26
|
UberAdmiral
- Posts:
- 26,022
- Group:
- Flag Officer
- Member
- #5
- Joined:
- August 26, 2003
|
- somerled
- Oct 30 2008, 12:05 AM
Gerry Norman , the CEO of Harvey Norman Discounts was on the TV on Lateline the other night and was saying sales of consumer electronics in his "upscale" shops is quite depressed in the last quarter , he did say though the Federal Govs 10G$ handout to pensioners expected just before Xmas will help somewhat. Other than that people are not exactly mobbing the shops. Gerry never misses a chance to drum up business or to talk up sales.
My brother and my mum each bought a big Panasonic HD Plasma TV Model No. TH50PZ850A last week at Bennetts Green Bing Lee , where they had a 80% off sale to compete with the on the reopening pallet sale at the local Harvey Norman Discounts shop (50m away , on the opposite side of a share parking area), said they were selling for 1 day only at $1300 each). He called me and asked me if I wanted to buy one too , he'd pay for it now and I could pay him back when we got home. I don't need a bigger TV , or a HD TV so I passed. Anyway , they'll get lots cheaper as the manufactures flood the market over the next few years , so I'll wait til just before analog broadcast TV is turned off , I'll buy one about then.
By then USD will be next to worthless because of all extra trillions of $'s being printed to fund those bailouts and the other bailouts that will happen soon as the USA slides into a depression. And the AUD will be worth more compared with foreigh currencies of our trading partners since Oz is in pretty good shape compared with most others and should escape a recession and the worste of the fallout.
Bill should have a contingency plan - subcontractors are pretty vulnerable when businesses are in crisis and can not fund projects , he could find his contacting business drying up unexpectedly. Least my consulting is targeted to the resource and pyromet industries which show no sign of slowing their expansions and upgrade projects and greenhouse gas reduction projects , so I should be OK if I choose to keep it going after we return home in December or knock back the offer to move to and work in Darwin. Um, the US dollar is quite strong right now. I believe your dollar has lost some 20% in value against it since July.
|
|
|
| |
|
somerled
|
Oct 30 2008, 06:57 AM
Post #27
|
Admiral MacDonald RN
- Posts:
- 19,451
- Group:
- Banned
- Member
- #62
- Joined:
- September 24, 2003
|
- Admiralbill_gomec
- Oct 30 2008, 06:28 AM
- somerled
- Oct 30 2008, 12:05 AM
Gerry Norman , the CEO of Harvey Norman Discounts was on the TV on Lateline the other night and was saying sales of consumer electronics in his "upscale" shops is quite depressed in the last quarter , he did say though the Federal Govs 10G$ handout to pensioners expected just before Xmas will help somewhat. Other than that people are not exactly mobbing the shops. Gerry never misses a chance to drum up business or to talk up sales.
My brother and my mum each bought a big Panasonic HD Plasma TV Model No. TH50PZ850A last week at Bennetts Green Bing Lee , where they had a 80% off sale to compete with the on the reopening pallet sale at the local Harvey Norman Discounts shop (50m away , on the opposite side of a share parking area), said they were selling for 1 day only at $1300 each). He called me and asked me if I wanted to buy one too , he'd pay for it now and I could pay him back when we got home. I don't need a bigger TV , or a HD TV so I passed. Anyway , they'll get lots cheaper as the manufactures flood the market over the next few years , so I'll wait til just before analog broadcast TV is turned off , I'll buy one about then.
By then USD will be next to worthless because of all extra trillions of $'s being printed to fund those bailouts and the other bailouts that will happen soon as the USA slides into a depression. And the AUD will be worth more compared with foreigh currencies of our trading partners since Oz is in pretty good shape compared with most others and should escape a recession and the worste of the fallout.
Bill should have a contingency plan - subcontractors are pretty vulnerable when businesses are in crisis and can not fund projects , he could find his contacting business drying up unexpectedly. Least my consulting is targeted to the resource and pyromet industries which show no sign of slowing their expansions and upgrade projects and greenhouse gas reduction projects , so I should be OK if I choose to keep it going after we return home in December or knock back the offer to move to and work in Darwin.
Um, the US dollar is quite strong right now. I believe your dollar has lost some 20% in value against it since July.
The USD is stronger than it should be , and so inflated because people have abandoned other investments and converted their investments to USDs because it is traditionally a refuge in bad times much like gold is , but the supply of gold is limited .
BTW the AUD has gone down in value against the USD by more than 30%. Despite the strength of our economy.
Good for our exporters (who sell in USD) , good for foreign tourists , no so good for local prices and for continuation of feasiability studies and plant upgrades and for new resource and infrastructure projects (which are generally paid for in USD).
Edited by somerled, Oct 30 2008, 07:04 AM.
|
|
|
| |
|
somerled
|
Oct 30 2008, 06:58 AM
Post #28
|
Admiral MacDonald RN
- Posts:
- 19,451
- Group:
- Banned
- Member
- #62
- Joined:
- September 24, 2003
|
- Admiralbill_gomec
- Oct 30 2008, 06:25 AM
- somerled
- Oct 29 2008, 08:11 PM
- Admiralbill_gomec
- Oct 30 2008, 12:35 AM
- Minuet
- Oct 28 2008, 05:51 PM
Actually AB - as a person who works in a mall I can assure you that not everyone shops everytime they go to a mall.
Take your "soccer moms". The ones you see at lunch on a weekday are usually there to meet each other for lunch. They are there to socialize rather then shop. They may shop but it's not the main purpose of going to the mall on a weekday. Believe me - I was a stay at home for 6 years and I know whereof I speak.
You will also find lots of mom's with baby carriages, especially if the weather is bad and they can't walk outdoors.
Actually, the weather has been stunning lately, and all those soccer moms had shopping bags. Sorry.
- Quote:
-
Dillard's and Macy's were crowded with upscale soccer mom types
upscale ?? = ?? rich or trying to look rich ?  who are you trying to impress ? Probably find if you checked that most the ladies were buying what ever they were buying on never never (credit cards). Or could it be that the shopping bags were full of the weeks or fortnight's groceries ? you've given no evidence they were full of unnecessary consumer goods and luxury goods We only really have your word for it , and since you can't be bothered going to other malls (in underprivilaged areas or poor districts (snobbery ??)) then your claimed observation is worthless.
Good Lord, this is just pathetic. It doesn't fit your tiny worldview so I must be wrong. You dislike what I say so you move the goalposts. You also don't know much about American malls. There are no supermarkets in malls, and shopping bags have store names on them (cheap advertising). Let me guess... now you'll claim that these folks are bringing the bags into the mall and filling them with empty boxes? Who am I trying to impress? No one. Unlike you with your "vacation travelogue", I never need to. The mall I listed is the nearest one to me and I gave a thumbnail description. You can look it up. Here's what you don't get: It IS MY OBSERVATION. It is SUBJECTIVE. As I said numerous times, you can never admit, "okay, maybe I'm mistaken. Maybe it isn't all bad." You just keep digging yourself in deeper on things you know nothing about. While it can be amusing at times, it is also quite tiresome at others. What has my travelogue got to do with this ?
|
|
|
| |
|
Admiralbill_gomec
|
Oct 30 2008, 08:47 AM
Post #29
|
UberAdmiral
- Posts:
- 26,022
- Group:
- Flag Officer
- Member
- #5
- Joined:
- August 26, 2003
|
- somerled
- Oct 30 2008, 06:58 AM
- Admiralbill_gomec
- Oct 30 2008, 06:25 AM
- somerled
- Oct 29 2008, 08:11 PM
- Admiralbill_gomec
- Oct 30 2008, 12:35 AM
- Minuet
- Oct 28 2008, 05:51 PM
Actually AB - as a person who works in a mall I can assure you that not everyone shops everytime they go to a mall.
Take your "soccer moms". The ones you see at lunch on a weekday are usually there to meet each other for lunch. They are there to socialize rather then shop. They may shop but it's not the main purpose of going to the mall on a weekday. Believe me - I was a stay at home for 6 years and I know whereof I speak.
You will also find lots of mom's with baby carriages, especially if the weather is bad and they can't walk outdoors.
Actually, the weather has been stunning lately, and all those soccer moms had shopping bags. Sorry.
- Quote:
-
Dillard's and Macy's were crowded with upscale soccer mom types
upscale ?? = ?? rich or trying to look rich ?  who are you trying to impress ? Probably find if you checked that most the ladies were buying what ever they were buying on never never (credit cards). Or could it be that the shopping bags were full of the weeks or fortnight's groceries ? you've given no evidence they were full of unnecessary consumer goods and luxury goods We only really have your word for it , and since you can't be bothered going to other malls (in underprivilaged areas or poor districts (snobbery ??)) then your claimed observation is worthless.
Good Lord, this is just pathetic. It doesn't fit your tiny worldview so I must be wrong. You dislike what I say so you move the goalposts. You also don't know much about American malls. There are no supermarkets in malls, and shopping bags have store names on them (cheap advertising). Let me guess... now you'll claim that these folks are bringing the bags into the mall and filling them with empty boxes? Who am I trying to impress? No one. Unlike you with your "vacation travelogue", I never need to. The mall I listed is the nearest one to me and I gave a thumbnail description. You can look it up. Here's what you don't get: It IS MY OBSERVATION. It is SUBJECTIVE. As I said numerous times, you can never admit, "okay, maybe I'm mistaken. Maybe it isn't all bad." You just keep digging yourself in deeper on things you know nothing about. While it can be amusing at times, it is also quite tiresome at others.
What has my travelogue got to do with this ? Your silly comment of "who are you trying to impress"
One could ask you the same thing with that travelogue.
|
|
|
| |
|
whitestar
|
Oct 30 2008, 10:54 AM
Post #30
|
Captain
- Posts:
- 1,469
- Group:
- Senior Officer
- Member
- #122
- Joined:
- February 23, 2004
|
- Admiralbill_gomec
- Oct 30 2008, 06:28 AM
Um, the US dollar is quite strong right now. I believe your dollar has lost some 20% in value against it since July. Actually it is closer to 40%, it was near parity to the US dollar at it's highest about 97cents to the US dollar, which I find ridiculous.. but it is also worth more than todays value of 60+ cents, that is a direct result of commodity prices crashing due to the recent meltdown, we are a commodity driven economy
|
|
|
| |