Well I'm sorry to disappoint those who wanted a shopping boycott

but I joined the crowds on Friday and Saturday for the first time ever.
This was during yet another of our great family reunions. We split up in groups and hit the Dadeland Mall in Miami.
Big sis and I bought stuff that few people want at this time of year - hence prices dropped 50% plus - good underwear, comforters, cotton and linen shirts.
Something really strange happened to us at Macy's. This very charming young lady with an English accent (she said she was Danish and responded to my sister's thank you in Danish) was looking after all our stuff and earning herself a useful commission. When we were finished trying on and were ready to pay for our goods she suggested that since there were lines she'd take us to her office and cash our stuff. My oldest sister is tres naive and she thought it seemed a great idea, but I gave her a look and said no thanks since the line near the closest register only had one person ahead of us. She was way too charming for me and bells were ringing with this offer. I had visions of us being taken to some secluded office and robbed. Princess Charming gave me a strange look and said OK if you want to do it here - and she proceeded to check us
out.
I'm still wondering if we should have reported that.

We met up with our hubbies for late lunch and then headed to Barnes and Noble. I didn't see a copy of Palin's book but on the top shelf in the Politics section I did see a copy of Sarah from Alaska. I asked someone why it was so far away and made sure to leave a copy for others to browse. I bought lots of books for kids - some at very good prices.

Overall there were lots of people shopping but people were buying very carefully and most people in lines ahead of me were using cash. No one has lost a job in our immediate but everyone has cut back on spending in the last 12 months.
We exchanged gifts that we had made (that was an agreement from last year). The best gift I received was an absolutely beautiful quilt made by big sis. She has her own quilting store in Denmark and she promised me a special quilt two decades ago. This was worth the wait - it's an absolute labor of love.

We had an absolute ball - laughed at events from the past, argued lots of politics, listened to the youngsters' interpretation of world developments, and drank way too much. I spent a great four days in the sunshine state but damn Florida was freezing since Friday night.

Glad to be back in Jamaica where it's 80 degrees.

edit sentence

I wanted an LCD for my bedroom.

There is no way I'd travel with such a massive box. Guess they intended to eke out every dollar in savings since one of the owners only had an overnight bag with his massive TV box.

you probably didn't realize that the whole world doesn't work like jamaica.

offered to take us to their office to cash our stuff in a department store. Has anyone ever made that offer to you - anywhere on the planet? :D

the 'office' was the cashier's office on the second floor.

and over cautious. The truth is that the line wasn't long so I saw no need for the offer.

to avoid any unpleasantness, arguments among customers, and just to ensure a smooth flow of customers.

I went to Wal-Mart, and although the place was packed and no carts available, the lines were short and fast. It seems that the stores had their game plan drawn up to ensure smooth flow of customers. Esp. after the deaths and injuries that occurred last year.

I would have looked very stupid - hahahahaha

They are "personal shoppers". Likely had a couch and a nice glass of wine waiting so that you could relax while she checked you out.

I have never used that service, but had a cousin who worked for Nordstrom back in their heyday.

Glad you had a good time!

Edit to add -- the hope is that you will take their card and call upon them to shop for you and ship to you on an ongoing basis. The two of you being from outside the country is even more lucrative for them to build their client base if you don't have their stores locally.

I'll know for the next time. She really was a personal shopper and she was excellent - I was just a little nervous about the offer.

Customer service is practically non-existent these days. If not for my cousin telling me about this years ago, I would have questioned it as well.

got on a tour bus yesterday morning and rode four hours to Chicago where we braved the crowds for seven hours to shop.

I assume the bus had lots of storage space for the goodies. :D

making it!

and we really want to have less stress when the family gathers for Yule... So off to the stores to buy her a new oven - the old one has served well for over 20 years, so really owed us nothing.

when savings are available for stuff that people actually need.
I hope the new stove lasts another 20 years. One of my sisters bought a lovely juicer at a good price. We thought about it but didn't want the bother of a big box at the overseas airline counter.

that's a point the Buy Nothing boycotters failed to acknowledge. People still need stuff, and it's better to buy that stuff when the prices are the lowest. :hi:

Sid

As you said people do need stuff.

if you can.

and thanks for contributing to our economyB-)

...when my Ex-wife went there on a volunteer medical jaunt. Our boys were both small, and the youngest doesn't really remember the trip, but it sure was memorable to me...!

I've thought about going back on my own. I still want to see Port Antonio! ;-)

The lunatics are heading back to the IMF - the cost of living keeps rising and crime is way too high. Of course there are tiny pockets of good news.
I love Port Antonio. Lovely parish - how did you not reach there from Oracabessa - it's not far away. :D

...by a hurricane, and I think the only way there was roundabout through Kingston.

So close, yet so far away!

Sorry to hear about the messi-ness of things there!

Portland is lovely.

this year I went to get a puter for a friend... you are in Jamaica so you know well that prices for things like that rise through the sky. This one is going to a friend in Mexico.

I should have done the oven.

bought a new laptop for himself. He was thrilled that he saved $50.

And yes I know how prices rise in Mexico and JA. :hi:

add

actually compared to Mexico... over 150

:-)

:shrug:

my daughter and i went shopping friday morning for a carpet and wood boards. by friday afternoon the stores were thinning out...

Yep all savings are welcome and 80 degrees is lovely. :hi:
I bought a beautiful dress for a one year old - 50% off and big sis got lovely Xmas sweaters for her grandsons.

It was a book about her. :evilgrin:

Scott Conroy has worked as a campaign reporter and is currently a digital journalist for CBS News. Shushannah Walshe was a reporter and producer at the Fox News Channel from August 2001 until the end of the 2008 presidential campaign. They each were embedded reporters who covered Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and Sarah Palin’s historic vice presidential run for their respective networks. Conroy now lives in Chicago; Walshe in New York City.


http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Alaska-Education-Conservative-Superstar/dp/1586487884

They didn't have Going Rouge.

to help the economy moving.

Sadly, we have to go shopping for the merchants to at least not to lose everything and for sales people to earn some money.

Five siblings with spouses and adult kids.

For my great-nephew. Sure to annoy his parents :) Only 29.99 with free shipping using coupon code 25MERRY.

http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?ItemTyp=G&itemID=16e8a87&GrpTyp=PRD&ShowMenu=T&ShopBy=0

Great price.

:D

But then, I spend very little money any other time either.

It comes from not having any money to spend.