Christmas in the '06 - part 2, the shopping

I think it started in November when Wal-Mart announced that their 3rd quarter profits would be lower than expected…and in an effort to regain lost profits by slashing prices on flat screen tvs. Maybe because they are the #1 US retailer. Maybe it's because there are 5 in every town in the country, but when they said that EVERYBODY started having major sales on flatscreens. I must admit, I too was in the market for one myself. I went by Circuit City on the week AFTER black Friday. They had as many open box tvs as new ones on the floor. So I asked a salesperson "why so many 'open box' tvs?" She said alot of people buy those tvs just because they are on sale and then return them because

1) Too big for the space they intended.
2) They don't know you have to have HD PROGRAMMING from your cable or satellite provider
3) They don't know you have to have an HD receiver to receive HD programming
4) After they get the TV and realize all those extra costs...can't afford it
5) Without those things, its just a big TV...that looks nothing like what you see in the store (except for DVDs)

Aside from all that, I have never seen so many men looking so vulnerable at a store. I mean droves of guys, big and tall, short and small with that hungry look like "I want one, don't you?" I can only imagine budget concerns and/or wife/girlfriend somewhere else in the store or on the cyberleash (cell phone) with warranted concern a spouse on the loose in an electronics store is going to spend this month's mortgage on a 42' plasma. So while I was out doing my rounds I would check prices (mostly online) beforehand and check for returned items in Best Buy and Circuit City. I actually settled on a 37" vizio. I know what you're thinking. VIZIO? Who the heck is that? Well, they are are this upstart no-frills LCD TV manufacturer. Under normal circumstances I would have stuck with a brand I know, but through Costco which offers a lifetime guarantee on their products, if something goes wrong, I can just take it back, no questions asked.

Other things of note:
-Linen N' Things accepts Bed Bath & Beyond coupons, expired or not
-Wal-Mart had a bunch of old movies for $4.50
-Bath and Body works had coupons for $10 off any purchase of $30 or more
(I got this Black Currant and Vanilla lotion & pillow mist of the same-NICE)
-Kohl's had "Kohl's Cash", something like 25% of your purchase that could be used towards your next purchase
-Macy's had 20% off coupons
-And the much hyped PS3? My local Best Buy had about 10 in stock.

I didn't notice any particularly obsessive behavior like people cutting each other off in parking lots, or rudeness in stores. At least everybody I came in contact with was polite and even outgoing. I was surprised at how courteous some of the younger kids at retail places were. It was a pretty good experience all the way around.

This year was the first time in years that I actually had money to do Chrstmas shopping at Christmas time. I remember when I was married, we were so broke one year all I could get my wife was a box of rain-blo gumballs. That was a rough year. Totally contrast of 2006. I am thankful that God allowed me to get everything I wanted this year AND debt free AND get gifts for a bunch of my friends and family. Only God can do that, and I'm lovin it!