I have about had it with major retailers screaming "foul" over slumping Christmas sales, and whining to anyone who will listen about "disappointing numbers" and "profits below expectations." It happens year after year, despite the economy or political landscape. Some years, the whining is particularly loud, only to be followed in January with a footnote on page A7 in the newspaper that Holiday sales broke previous records. I have found that regardless of gas prices, food prices, household wages or any other economic consideration, it's never enough for these crybabies, who seem to feel that we - you and I - owe them increases year over year.
From what I've seen, most retailers target a conservative three to six percent increase year over year. Are their employees getting that kind of increase? Is there any kind of kick back or incentive to the average consumer to justify that kind of spending increase? Are American workers benefitting from increased retail numbers?
Well, let's break that down a bit. Most of my associates, including myself, are lucky to get a three percent increase a year in wages. At the same time, benefits are being reduced, the cost of health insurance continues to skyrocket and pension plans, some 401K's and all social security benefits are no longer the stable certainties the previous generation enjoyed.
In an effort to boost profits, manufacturers are increasingly purchasing from overseas, where the pressure to court U.S. business is so intense that many standards of safety often are put on the chopping block. A recent example, lead paint is cheaper than the safer alternative, and now the market is so flooded with these dangerous toys that charities are stretched thin checking all the incoming donations to be sure they are safe for our children? Where does this pressure come from? It comes from the retailers who, understandably buy from the least expensive source and often turn a blind eye to the production process, be it tainted paint, sweat shop labor, child labor and the like.
This year, I've had enough. They have betrayed me, put my family at potential risk and have done their best to brow-beat me into blind acceptance of their corporate objectives. While Christmas, to me, is about family, friends and loved ones, it's all about maintaining or increasing profit margins to "them." And today, instead of bleeding you once a year, the blood-letting goes on around the clock in the form of credit card debt, exorbitant interest rates, and the like. Many big-box stores make more on credit card interest than they do from profits on their products! And don't even get into the area of rebates - where they hold your money for months at a time, reaping millions in collective interest on those holdings before they finally get around, sometimes a year later, to mailing you your rebate check.
This year, I shop the smaller family owned stores in my town. Though I'm not religious, I avoid any place with a "Seasons Greetings" sign in the window and choose to shop where I'm greeted with a sincere, "Merry Christmas." At least there, I can rest assured that they still might have a clue what's important to me - my wife, my three daughters, my friends, my family.
If you agree with this, please spread the word. I know I'm not the only person fed up with these self-important CEO's who are determined to drive profit margins at the expense of the working class, and who are so paranoid about seeing a profits divide open that they don't mind the expansion of the divide between the "haves" and the "have nots."
It's not important, but I have a very health family income. I'm not wanting in any way. I have worked hard and have achieved the kind of wealth and security I dreamed of as a kid. This is not a rant coming from someone with an economic axe to grind. It's coming from someone who recently left a job where the ENTIRE focus was maintaining a 30-plus percent profit margin at any cost. I chose to not become part of that cost. Many of my friends and associates, unfortunately, were part of that cost. Now, I write books and live the American Dream. It gives me some free time to speak out against this misuse of the Christmas season and the way retailers use guilt and pressure to force a significant part of the consumer base into debt, depression and ... worse.
I will not shop anywhere on Christmas Eve day, because that's their "last ditch" hope that I do. Many are staying open all night, for up to four days before Christmas, just to get my dollar. I will stay home with family. Remember this: The fastest way to double your money is to leave it in your wallet.
Merry Christmas!
