Okay, for my next rant I am going to continue my issues about shopping. As mentioned, I am not a shopper and that statement applies now more than ever. I guess this is typical as a person gets older but shopping for me is really becoming a chore. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that at least 98% of what there is to buy at any given time is unwanted, unnecessary, and hideously ugly.
At the top of my list is clothing. What are store owners, buyers, and designers thinking? Most clothing that is for sale is either colorless, shapeless, and looks like it has been worn since the 1930’s or the retro look that comes from the late 1960’s. What is the deal with so much in white, black, gray, or brown? Or the alternative, purple, orange, and lime green in a nauseating paisley print? (Hey designers! Big hint: the 60’s look was bad the first time around; the repeat is worse.) Then there is the rather interesting idea that the more holes a pair of jeans have, the more they cost. Also, the thinner and cheaper the fabric on a shirt, the more it costs. Now I know there are people who are buying this stuff because I see them wearing it. It makes me wonder if they own a mirror. I am convinced that clothing designers are deliberately putting the worst clothes out there they can come up with just to get a big laugh when they earn a million dollars from it.
Next is furniture. The same principles apply to furniture as to clothing. You have your choice of either a huge lump of oatmeal sitting in your living room or something that makes the dog hurl every morning he wakes up. There is very little in between. And all for a price that makes me hurl. I read in the newspaper a few years ago that R.C. Willey is the biggest financial institution in the state of Utah. Really? I can’t imagine that is true today. Are people really buying that stuff? My neighbor has a living room set that she says is 23 years old. She wants a new one, but she can’t stand the junk that is out there to buy. My sister has a couch that is about 21 years old with holes in it that she covers with a blanket. She has the money to buy new furniture but she says the worn out stuff is still better than what she sees in the stores. From what I have seen, I agree.
Then there is the imported home décor stores. Cheap prices and very cheap goods. I have a certain relative who gets off on this stuff and what I want to know is why most of what she brings home looks like funeral urns. They are supposed to be vases, decorative containers, or decanters, but I just know they are really used for ashes. It makes me wonder who is in them. But I went to the store where she buys all these – containers – and they all look like urns. It was one of the more bizarre experiences I have had: walking down rows and rows of urns. Plastic, ceramic, glass, and, the best one, one that looks like a mirror mosaic. And this stuff is selling. Ask any newlywed couple what they got for wedding gifts: cheap home décor. And again I ask, what are people thinking?
I suppose that manufacturers must sell what is new and in order to come up with something “new” they resort to the butt-ugly and the bizarre. And yes, I know that people buying is what fuels the economy. But really it is just stuff. Previous to the economic melt-down of 2009, we all bought stuff; not because we needed it or even that we truly wanted it. We bought because we could. And now our houses are full of stuff – over-full. We have basements and garages full of just stuff we don’t need or even want. We keep it because we paid money for it.
As for myself, I’ve stopped buying. I no longer buy things just to have something new, or just because I can. I buy only what is needed. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of all the stuff in my basement.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Shopping for stuff
Okay, for my next rant I am going to continue my issues about shopping. As mentioned, I am not a shopper and that statement applies now more than ever. I guess this is typical as a person gets older but shopping for me is really becoming a chore. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that at least 98% of what there is to buy at any given time is unwanted, unnecessary, and hideously ugly.
At the top of my list is clothing. What are store owners, buyers, and designers thinking? Most clothing that is for sale is either colorless, shapeless, and looks like it has been worn since the 1930’s or the retro look that comes from the late 1960’s. What is the deal with so much in white, black, gray, or brown? Or the alternative, purple, orange, and lime green in a nauseating paisley print? (Hey designers! Big hint: the 60’s look was bad the first time around; the repeat is worse.) Then there is the rather interesting idea that the more holes a pair of jeans have, the more they cost. Also, the thinner and cheaper the fabric on a shirt, the more it costs. Now I know there are people who are buying this stuff because I see them wearing it. It makes me wonder if they own a mirror. I am convinced that clothing designers are deliberately putting the worst clothes out there they can come up with just to get a big laugh when they earn a million dollars from it.
Next is furniture. The same principles apply to furniture as to clothing. You have your choice of either a huge lump of oatmeal sitting in your living room or something that makes the dog hurl every morning he wakes up. There is very little in between. And all for a price that makes me hurl. I read in the newspaper a few years ago that R.C. Willey is the biggest financial institution in the state of Utah. Really? I can’t imagine that is true today. Are people really buying that stuff? My neighbor has a living room set that she says is 23 years old. She wants a new one, but she can’t stand the junk that is out there to buy. My sister has a couch that is about 21 years old with holes in it that she covers with a blanket. She has the money to buy new furniture but she says the worn out stuff is still better than what she sees in the stores. From what I have seen, I agree.
Then there is the imported home décor stores. Cheap prices and very cheap goods. I have a certain relative who gets off on this stuff and what I want to know is why most of what she brings home looks like funeral urns. They are supposed to be vases, decorative containers, or decanters, but I just know they are really used for ashes. It makes me wonder who is in them. But I went to the store where she buys all these – containers – and they all look like urns. It was one of the more bizarre experiences I have had: walking down rows and rows of urns. Plastic, ceramic, glass, and, the best one, one that looks like a mirror mosaic. And this stuff is selling. Ask any newlywed couple what they got for wedding gifts: cheap home décor. And again I ask, what are people thinking?
I suppose that manufacturers must sell what is new and in order to come up with something “new” they resort to the butt-ugly and the bizarre. And yes, I know that people buying is what fuels the economy. But really it is just stuff. Previous to the economic melt-down of 2009, we all bought stuff; not because we needed it or even that we truly wanted it. We bought because we could. And now our houses are full of stuff – over-full. We have basements and garages full of just stuff we don’t need or even want. We keep it because we paid money for it.
As for myself, I’ve stopped buying. I no longer buy things just to have something new, or just because I can. I buy only what is needed. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of all the stuff in my basement.
At the top of my list is clothing. What are store owners, buyers, and designers thinking? Most clothing that is for sale is either colorless, shapeless, and looks like it has been worn since the 1930’s or the retro look that comes from the late 1960’s. What is the deal with so much in white, black, gray, or brown? Or the alternative, purple, orange, and lime green in a nauseating paisley print? (Hey designers! Big hint: the 60’s look was bad the first time around; the repeat is worse.) Then there is the rather interesting idea that the more holes a pair of jeans have, the more they cost. Also, the thinner and cheaper the fabric on a shirt, the more it costs. Now I know there are people who are buying this stuff because I see them wearing it. It makes me wonder if they own a mirror. I am convinced that clothing designers are deliberately putting the worst clothes out there they can come up with just to get a big laugh when they earn a million dollars from it.
Next is furniture. The same principles apply to furniture as to clothing. You have your choice of either a huge lump of oatmeal sitting in your living room or something that makes the dog hurl every morning he wakes up. There is very little in between. And all for a price that makes me hurl. I read in the newspaper a few years ago that R.C. Willey is the biggest financial institution in the state of Utah. Really? I can’t imagine that is true today. Are people really buying that stuff? My neighbor has a living room set that she says is 23 years old. She wants a new one, but she can’t stand the junk that is out there to buy. My sister has a couch that is about 21 years old with holes in it that she covers with a blanket. She has the money to buy new furniture but she says the worn out stuff is still better than what she sees in the stores. From what I have seen, I agree.
Then there is the imported home décor stores. Cheap prices and very cheap goods. I have a certain relative who gets off on this stuff and what I want to know is why most of what she brings home looks like funeral urns. They are supposed to be vases, decorative containers, or decanters, but I just know they are really used for ashes. It makes me wonder who is in them. But I went to the store where she buys all these – containers – and they all look like urns. It was one of the more bizarre experiences I have had: walking down rows and rows of urns. Plastic, ceramic, glass, and, the best one, one that looks like a mirror mosaic. And this stuff is selling. Ask any newlywed couple what they got for wedding gifts: cheap home décor. And again I ask, what are people thinking?
I suppose that manufacturers must sell what is new and in order to come up with something “new” they resort to the butt-ugly and the bizarre. And yes, I know that people buying is what fuels the economy. But really it is just stuff. Previous to the economic melt-down of 2009, we all bought stuff; not because we needed it or even that we truly wanted it. We bought because we could. And now our houses are full of stuff – over-full. We have basements and garages full of just stuff we don’t need or even want. We keep it because we paid money for it.
As for myself, I’ve stopped buying. I no longer buy things just to have something new, or just because I can. I buy only what is needed. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of all the stuff in my basement.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A Trip to the Mall
Can I describe my recent trip to the mall? Now understand I am an unusual female in that I am not much of a shopper. I look at shopping as a chore; something I have to do, not want to do. I want to get in, get it done and get out with a minimum of hassle, fuss, or boredom. Yes, boredom. I find most shopping boring. There are very few stores or items in a store that I get excited about. About once every decade or so, I find a store that peaks my interest. The rest are boring.
So my daughter and I walk into Southtowne Mall last week because I have to get something for my sister’s birthday. I haven’t been in a mall for at least five months. We start walking down the concourse trying to get past the kiosks that run down the middle. As we approach the first one, I warily eye the good looking young man wondering what it is going to take to get past him. I have no idea what they are selling and I don’t care.
“Would you like to try some…” (whatever it was), he asks.
“No thank you, I’m not interested,” I firmly answer.
“Could I ask you a question?” he says as he starts to walk toward me.
Keep walking, I tell myself, or you are dead. “No, I am busy.”
He comes nearer, too near. I fix my most evil eye on him, which causes him to realize that if he doesn’t leave me alone, I am going to resort to violence. So he backs off. I then turn my head forward only to nearly slam into the next kiosk salesperson.
“Would you like to try some…?” a young girl asks.
“No thank you, I’m not interested,” I firmly answer.
“Could I ask you a question?” she says as she starts to walk toward me.
“No, you cannot.” Keep walking, just keep walking.
Repeat, ad nauseam.
I soon learn not to look at them and if they say something, pretend to be deaf. I find myself walking faster and faster to get away from them. I see the store I want to get to and it becomes a goal to get there without undue violence. I finally get to the store and feel like collapsing as though I just finished a marathon.
When it came time to leave the store, I found myself peeking out around clothes racks, charting my escape route. I made several feints to get the ambushing kiosk clerks to just think I was going to leave the protection of the store, only to melt back into the clearance section. Ha ha, fooled you! I actually thought about using the back shipping door.
You know, I can’t imagine why that mall was mostly empty of customers. What on earth are mall managers thinking? Is it their intent to anger what few customers they get? Why not move to tripping, tackling, and obstacle courses? Just employ a few gang members and let them do the selling. Anybody else feel this way?
So my daughter and I walk into Southtowne Mall last week because I have to get something for my sister’s birthday. I haven’t been in a mall for at least five months. We start walking down the concourse trying to get past the kiosks that run down the middle. As we approach the first one, I warily eye the good looking young man wondering what it is going to take to get past him. I have no idea what they are selling and I don’t care.
“Would you like to try some…” (whatever it was), he asks.
“No thank you, I’m not interested,” I firmly answer.
“Could I ask you a question?” he says as he starts to walk toward me.
Keep walking, I tell myself, or you are dead. “No, I am busy.”
He comes nearer, too near. I fix my most evil eye on him, which causes him to realize that if he doesn’t leave me alone, I am going to resort to violence. So he backs off. I then turn my head forward only to nearly slam into the next kiosk salesperson.
“Would you like to try some…?” a young girl asks.
“No thank you, I’m not interested,” I firmly answer.
“Could I ask you a question?” she says as she starts to walk toward me.
“No, you cannot.” Keep walking, just keep walking.
Repeat, ad nauseam.
I soon learn not to look at them and if they say something, pretend to be deaf. I find myself walking faster and faster to get away from them. I see the store I want to get to and it becomes a goal to get there without undue violence. I finally get to the store and feel like collapsing as though I just finished a marathon.
When it came time to leave the store, I found myself peeking out around clothes racks, charting my escape route. I made several feints to get the ambushing kiosk clerks to just think I was going to leave the protection of the store, only to melt back into the clearance section. Ha ha, fooled you! I actually thought about using the back shipping door.
You know, I can’t imagine why that mall was mostly empty of customers. What on earth are mall managers thinking? Is it their intent to anger what few customers they get? Why not move to tripping, tackling, and obstacle courses? Just employ a few gang members and let them do the selling. Anybody else feel this way?
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