Too many places to spend our money

[disneysteve]

I basically only shop at Walmart, Sears, the Hardware store, Dollar Store and Grocery store.

Actually, we're pretty much the same way. Probably 90% of our purchases occur at Target, Wal-Mart and the grocery store. There are a few things we can't/won't buy at those places: shoes, most of our clothing and a few other things. We hit the outlet stores a couple of times a year for clothes and shoes. We also do the thrift shops periodically.

As you can tell from this thread and my blog entry about a trip to the mall, we aren't much for the overabundance of choice and the upscale shopping experience.

[cschin4]

Yes, I do not like the shoes at Walmart. I generally hit Sears or JCP's for shoes. Limiting where you shop is helpful in saving alot of time as well. Since I know I don't like the shoes at WM I just don't even bother to check there. I immediately go to the other stores.
I personally cannot stand shopping anymore. There is nothing more boring than wandering around the mall looking at stuff. Funny that I used to enjoy that! Now, I would rather just stay home and watch the birds!

[disneysteve]

I personally cannot stand shopping anymore. There is nothing more boring than wandering around the mall looking at stuff. Funny that I used to enjoy that!

I think that is part of the wisdom that comes with age. When you're young, you see all the things and think it would be nice to have them. When you get older, you realize you really don't need 99% of that crap, have nowhere to put it and need your money for more important purposes.

I bought nothing, except for lunch, when we were at the mall on Sunday. DW and DD got stuff, which is why we went, but I spent $0. The only thing useful I did, besides getting some exercise walking around, was to stop in FYE (music and video store) and browse through the DVD section making a list of movies we want to rent on Netflix.

[lgslgs]

I don't know if it's age or not, but my husband and I just don't even respond to the whole "abundance of choices" thing.

We shop because we need something - so whatever we are going to get is already on the list. The other stuff in the store doesn't interest us or distract us.

We don't get overwhelmed shopping for type or brand. Type is always basic and unprocessed. Brand is almost always going to be Walmart's store brand for price and value.

One thing that helps possibly is that we don't browse the store displays to make our shopping decisions. For example, we don't go to the cereal aisle, look around, and try to make selections and choices there. We send one of us down the aisle to pick up the large container of Great Value old fashioned oats and then we're off to the flour aisle to get the next item on the list.

I don't quite understand some of the folks we pass in the stores who are on the cell phone taking a family poll about which variety of processed breakfast cereal they should overspend on that week. We don't see how can they turn shopping into such a production.

Lynda

[PrincessPerky]

I am all for limiting choices, so long as the ones you keep are the ones I buy....so keep the whole wheat bread with no corn syrup, keep the one brand of plain yogurt I buy (and keep stocking it in the huge bucket to save me shelf space), keep stocking the itty bitty baby carrots, but you can get rid of flavored yogurt, and white bread, and regular carrots, we just don't like em.......

Doesn't that seem a bit selfish?

I do agree that marketing increases desire and demand to a silly degree, but I do not think reducing the variety would benefit me...I am the oddball minority that eats whole wheat bread and cares about avoiding high fructose corn syrup...In a reduction of variety, I would lose out.

So please do keep making all sorts of ridiculous products, I have blinders on when I am near the junk aisle, and major tunnel vision in most other places....a eyeball habit I hope to teach my kids.

If anyone is taking requests, peanut butter that tastes like Jiff without high fructose corn syrup would be tops on my list

[Gruntina]

How do you know it is "growth" when there are new things to try out all the time. Anything new will attract attention but does not indicate that it was a good product people want in demand. It seems everything is in trial stage and never stick around to see if it is a quality product.

[disneysteve]

How do you know it is "growth" when there are new things to try out all the time.

Plus, any new product just takes away some business from an old product. Let's say some new breakfast cereal comes out that I try and I like it. I start buying it. That in turn means I stop buying whatever cereal I was previously buying. Is that growth? It is for the new company but not for the old company.

The same goes for stores in general. Last year, Wegman's opened in our area. We like it there, the selection is good, the prices are good, the people are nice, so we've been shopping there ever since. As a result, we no longer shop at Shop Rite where we used to go. I know many people that made the same switch. Is that economic growth? I'm not so sure.

There is definitely growth overall, though, because there are far more stores. The stores are bigger. And the selection of merchandise is much greater.

[Aleta]

I don't know how many of you remember the big deal about HDTV. The consumers never asked for it. They were surveying people and found that most had no interest in it. It was more of a government choice for us. Which has cost so many stations millions and millions of dollars for updated machine and technology.

I go to the store and can't believe the choices. It's really confusing. I have found like some on this forum that the less that I go into stores, the less I spend. I'm becoming more conscience of the little stuff I buy because it adds up. I go to a store with a list and I try to adhere to it unless there is a sale item really worth buying or yes - I forgot to put something on the list.

[Saving in So Cal]

I had similar thoughts to all of you, but in the context of sustainable living. It is nice to have choices, but it is hard sifting through the choices and making good selections.

In-n-Out is a fast-food hamburger chain in Southern California. They have a very limited menu, it tastes pretty good, it's reasonably priced, and there is always a crowd happily waiting in line no matter when you go.

I tend to buy the same types of things each week and I was idly wondering if someone could apply In-n-Out's strategy to groceries and sundries. I don't need 10 kinds of dish soap. I just need one good, reasonably priced kind. Instead of building superstores, I wonder if someone could have success with a more limited type store that focused on high quality basics that could be offered at a good price. I guess Trader Joe's does this to some extent. Anyway, it is a thought. I think there are consumers that would prefer simple quality to cheap glitz.

[Gruntina]

I had similar thoughts to all of you, but in the context of sustainable living. It is nice to have choices, but it is hard sifting through the choices and making good selections.

In-n-Out is a fast-food hamburger chain in Southern California. They have a very limited menu, it tastes pretty good, it's reasonably priced, and there is always a crowd happily waiting in line no matter when you go.

I strongly believe that is why Starbucks are so ever popular. They have limited flavor and drinks are usually consistent. I remember the old coffee shop would have so many flavors to choose from and so much food. Strategy is to give a few good choices than too many. For example: Gloria Jean was a wonderful coffee shop that used to be in several malls and stores outlets. They have so many flavors and they mostly diminished in California.

I don't usually buy from Starbucks but that is because I am working with a strict budget and just make my own coffee at home when it is just as good or better. But it makes sense of all the busy crowds I see when I drive pass them.

[Aleta]

I don't remember how many of you remember what they call Royal Castle Hamburgers. In the beginning, they just had a few choices other than chili,etc. In the morning, you could have a simple breakfast there as well. All was short-order cooking. It had a great taste and was reasonable. There still are a few of these restaurants around. I think that what was great was the simplicity of them.

[Coleroo]

I get "paralyzed" at so many choices lots of times too, and therefore tend to be brand / product loyal.. once i find something I like i stick to it, period. Sheesh, it makes me frustrated just to hear someone ask if i want water...then ask how i want it... in what cup... how do i want the ice... etc. Gosh. Just give it to me, dont give me a choice!

We're pretty much creatures of habit in my family (my husband and my parents too) - we frequent the same stores (walmart, kmart, food lion, dollar tree, goodys, thrift store), the same handful of places to eat (Ryan's Buffet, Red Lobster, Lizard's Thicket and a few other southern places here), and buy the same products. Choice is nice sometimes but most of the time I just want the base product... i want flour to be flour, eggs to be eggs, cookies to be cookies.. phew.

[scfr]

If this doesn't just take the cake ...

Last weekend I bought a pack of anti-perspirant at Costco (usual brand ... Degree).

Today when I opened the pack up I noticed that at the top it says: SPECIAL EDITION - Little Black Dress Approved.

"SPECIAL EDITION" ANTIPERSPIRANT?????

I am at a total and complete loss for the words to describe just how ridiculous that is.

Should I hold on to it in case it becomes a collector's item some day??? Give me a break!

[disneysteve]

"SPECIAL EDITION" ANTIPERSPIRANT?????

I am at a total and complete loss for the words to describe just how ridiculous that is.

Should I hold on to it in case it becomes a collector's item some day???

Have you done an ebay search to see what those are going for?

Just kidding.