Kmart gets an early start on the holidays

I do have one more thing to add:  As far as Xmas lists go this year the kids have been notified they will be shorter and less expensive due to income changes.  I also make them give me a list by the end of the month with lots of different choices and then I can do a little shopping each time when I may have a lil extra money, this makes it a little easier.  also this year they will not be allowed to get everything on the list and usually they get ot pick stuff out but no more of that either.

The issue for me is not whether Kmart and Sears are doing Christmas in July specials.  All stores do it, even Newegg has a Christmas in July sale going on right now and they're mail order and definately not suffering.

 

These ad "gimmicks" are as old as retail itself, and it is an attempt to grab the consumers attention to get them to get interested and come in to buy something.  The problem is, no "gimmick" will work till everyone has the available cash to buy.

 

Kmart has been unattractive for some time due to their "bland" store design.  If you look at Target, or even the latest changes to Wal-Mart stores, they are "attractive" and they are supplying the items people want and need.  Kmart's prices used to be the lowest, but now they are higher than everyone else practically. 

 

I had a Sears Grand in my city, and now it's closed.  A failure of location and design.  The Sears stores have always been a lure due to their design, but the selections have not been the best (save for Lawn and Garden and Appliances).  Even the Toy Department no longer exists in a fashion I used to remember or enjoy.  In the store I go to, it doesn't exist at all except at Christmas.

 

Sears and Kmart needs to change and maybe take a step back and examine what is wrong and correct it, before it's too late.

 

No, Wal-Mart DOESN'T have lay-away any more......

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/14/AR2006091401728.html

 

Haven't in a while.

You gotta love this.  I never shop at Kmart, but when I saw this article it prompted me to check their web site to confirm my suspicion.  Yup, they have a 90-day return policy.  So let's all go buy a bunch of gifts that we won't be able to give people until December and that we can't return if they don't fit or whatever.  Great idea. 

I don't know that it's so much about greed anymore.  A lot of businesses are looking at the economy, and this Christmas season is looking pretty scary.  If retailers don't do well enough a lot more people are going to be losing jobs in the retail sector and they're going to put together whatever promotions they think will make a difference.  So this year, I wouldn't look at this as greed, I'd look at this as them trying to keep the company afloat.  I work at a craft store, and craft stores try to promote making Christmas gifts, which takes time, so we're pushing Christmas around October 1st usually.  This year I think we should get a jump start, because I think the craft business is a scary place to be when that's one of the easiest places to cut your spending.  I won't look at it as greed if we start promoting Christmas right now, I'm planning on suggesting it.  I'd just like to keep my job.

Egads! The sparklers haven't even cooled down yet and K-Mart is pushing CHRISTMAS??  I'm sorry that any retailer has to do that kind of business to stay afloat.

 

As a store owner, I wouldn't do anything about decorating for Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. I had people coming in the first of November and thanked me for not shoving, cramming and jamming "Christmas" down their collective throats and they felt more relaxed in making their purchases without the pressure. The Maine Mall was decorated and pumping Christmas carols before the November turkey dinner and though it was pretty, by the second week of December, who cared? The uniqueness of that time of year was already worn off.

 

IF Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) is supposed to be so special and heartwarming  for 4 weeks, why wear out its welcome but starting in July?  No wonder everyone is so sick to death of it a week before and so out of temper.

 

Lay-away was a good thing to keep people on a budget who normally wouldn't be able to come up with a chunk of cash at once. Nothing wrong with using it -- it should come back in vogue with one change--do not allow credit cards to be used to make the payments.  That way it's not the purchase you keep paying for after the fact...saving people money on the usuary rates the card companies charge.

Why even make Christmas shopping seasonal anymore?  It's gone from just after Halloween to -- yes, I've seen this in some so-called "respectable" chains -- after Labor Day.  Just keep the decos up all year long...go for the greed -- no one cares anymore.  Oh, don't forget there's this holiday just before Christmas called -- what is it -- Thanksgiving?  Merchants, except for Hallmark, have totally forgotten it, which is sad, because more folks travel for Thanksgiving than any other holiday.  I don't put my tree up until Thanksgiving weekend, and I don't even begin shopping until after Thanksgiving. 

 

I do 95% of my holiday shopping online -- easier, because I can do it 24/7; cheaper in many cases; I don't have to fight the insanity called Christmas shopping; and I've never had one problem with any online vendor with regard to returns policies.

I shop at Kmart, only because they are 2 blocks away.. their prices are comparable to WalMart but one thing they have in common with Walmart is their customer service stinks,, but I think Walmart might be a little worse.