Customer Friendly is Back

In the face of what was one of the worst economic downturns in our country, it looks like retailers have finally woke up and smelled the Mr. Coffee. In the last ten years, holiday shopping has been treacherous with battles between on-line and store shopping, price increases and credit card enticements.

Apparently, they have been paying attention because this year is a new Christmas shopping experience. Gone are the battles between the websites and the stores. Actually, large retailers such as Walmart and Sears got a jump on shopping by offering certain discounts on-line only for Thanksgiving Day. Also, they made a major score by offering big discounts for large screen TV's that many families have been waiting for years to purchase. (About time). No one ever likes to pay shipping charges so guess what, this year many on-line retailers have waived shipping across the board at the start of Black Friday. So the consumer saves gas, tax, and shipping charges. What's there not to like?

We are also seeing a more human side to the shopping experience as many stores and malls opened their doors at midnight on Friday instead of making people wait outside in their car or a tent. How nice of them. Hopefully brow beating at the registers to open a charge has lessened. With the credit crunch and many people filing for bankruptcy the last thing they need is another retail credit card with excessive interest.
Consumer beware ! So we now have choices.

If you are a died-in-the-wool shopaholic you could still have the Black Friday experience . There were still the door busters at 6:00am on Black Friday. Also, between leftovers you could go on-line compare prices, shop for hard to find items, and get early deals before quantities are scarce. Did I forget to mention that inventories are down so no need to be subjected to "pushy" sales tactics.

It seems like the goals are not really overstated but just to sell what is there. How different is that? On the same token, beware of out of stocks and back orders because what system is in place for replenishment? It is getting late and I would not risk a backorder at this point to be delivered in time for Christmas. Watch out for more great deals on things like decorations, appliances, and possibly furniture (if that ever comes down). Anything to create that Norman Rockwell holiday. Time is short, and these things must go off the shelves, also. Holiday themed merchandise has no retail value after Dec. 25.

For groceries try to shop at the very beginning of the holiday week. You will find the best deals and fully stocked merchandise. So for Christmas start about the week before, if you wait until that Monday everything will be gone including the good deals. We are caught a little off guard this year because Christmas falls on Friday which gives you only one weekend before the holiday. So act like a Boy Scout and be prepared. Santa only comes once a year and the last I heard the sleigh is almost fully loaded. Moms and dads if you really want to save more bucks shop for clothes and luxury products on December 26. The weekend after Christmas Day will be the real shopping spree. Surf and shop until you drop.