The end of an era — of SEVERAL eras.
I had a job I loved when I was in my 20s. A small business that was bought out by a larger competitor and absorbed. Of course, very few of the employees were offered jobs.
That was in 1988. I found a job in a retail chain called “Service Merchandise” — similar to Target. I was hired as the manager of the “Sight and Sound” department. In those days, that meant cameras, videocassette recorders, stereos, and consumer electronics like calculators, watches, etc.
In the year I worked there, I went through one Christmas cycle — and it was absolutely crazy! I’m glad I didn’t work in the toy department because those poor souls were locked in overnight to prepare for the onslaught of Christmas opening.
And things were different then. There was no “Black Friday.” The worst (best?) shopping day of the year — depending upon if you were a worker or a consumer — was Nov. 1.
When the doors opened — people flooded the stores, tore merchandise apart, assaulted each other. It was like Jerry Lewis’s film, “Who’s Minding The Store.”
Christmas brought out the worst in people — not the best. Customers waited in line for sales help.
(YES — there was actually plenty of staff walking the aisles to help customers and answer questions. It’s true — I’m NOT on drugs!)
An example: I’d greet the next customer in line at the counter and his greeting was no “Merry Christmas!” It was “I’ve been waiting here 45 minutes!”
Yes, people were poor planners even back then.
I spent at least 15 minutes demonstrating the features of a 35mm camera (a very weird type — it actually had FILM. There were no digital cameras — at least not affordable ones).
After all that time I made my sales close: “Would you like to pay cash or put it on your credit card?”
The customer gave the reply I heard all too often, “Oh, I’m not buying it here. I can get it cheaper at Best Buy, but they don’t have any clerks to answer questions.”
Best Buy was the NEW player in town and they were unique — self-service rather than helpful clerks. Of course, customers weren’t used to them. The public complained that they could get nobody to help them — but they still wanted the cheapest price.
I always remember that horrible Christmas — and the ramifications of cheap prices and self-service.
So we see the escalation this year. And the greeting has become:
Merry Christmas! You are laid off!
https://www.businessinsider.com/retail-bankruptcy-list-sears-blockbuster-borders-2019-12
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