How is XMAS store traffic by you?

I have posted several times in Denver there isn't any that I have seen. Have you seen any mall traffic in your city?

and it was like any other weekday. All the soldiers are gone, save a few dotting the mall here and there. Fort Hood, and I cant remember the last time I saw so much "cheer" in one town. not.

...bad. Went shopping myself and didn't have any problems getting around or waiting in lines......

I figured since school's out traffic would be better but hell no!

And that was during non-Christmas times of the year. I don't know how you Miamians can stand it (is "Miamians" a real term?) Anyway, good luck with the Christmas traffic!

Thanks, I ask myself that same question everyday and yes Miamians is a real term or so we think it is. :-)

I despise Dixie Hwy after I-95 ends! Those are the friggin NARROWEST lanes I've seen in my life! And the Palm Beaches ain't much better. All these nutbag Boca SUV/Humjob cell fone yappin bozos!

Lu Cifer
http://www.LU13.TK
http://www.MidnightCalling.com

in a fist fight at a mall yesterday,does that count?

I love chick fights.

It was dead. It was like shopping at 2 am. Granted, the weather was cold and threatening snow, but it's 3 days before Christmas. I've never seen it like this.

where in Denver last week. NO traffic and NO ONE in line. I was in & out in a few minutes....can't wait for the 12/26 sales!

Even the Target, Best Buy and Costco here were pretty empty this past weekend. Noone I know is buying much this year. My family income is down 20% from last year, and we are the lucky ones, we can pay the bills, are debt free other than the mortgage and can still put something away in the 401k. We planned to do some major house renovations and redcorating this year, but it looks like we may wait a little longer. If we can't pay cash, we aren't going to do it.

There are either a lot of people shopping in San Diego, or the stores are too cheap to hire enough help.

Are you in a very upscale area of San Diego?

El Cajon and a section of La Mesa near Southeast San Diego.
Specifically, at a JC Penney and a Burlington Coat Factory (discount store with clothes, toys, housewares, etc).

Maybe these are shoppers who used to shop at high-end places, before the Bush economy screwed everything up.

here in the Albany/Saratoga, NY area. The mall in Albany you had to circle around to find a spot the other day. Some lines, not too long. Lots of sales especially on clothes.

for Christmas bags and wrapping paper, was very quiet.

I live right smack dab in the middle of lots of malls, strip malls and every big block store in creation has one within walking distance of me and the traffic is nothing like it use to be. Usually it's impossible this time of year. It's heavier than any other time of year but not the nightmare I expected. And the Wal-Mart parking lot has lots of empty spaces.

the houses aren't decorated like years past. The flashing lights are fewer, and some neighbors just didn't bother to put any decorations up on their lawns. I even see fewer Christmas trees in windows (I myself am guilty - just wasn't in the mood to put it up - must be something in the air (like dead Iraquis & US troops maybe?)

There is NO Xmas music in any stores and NO ONE is wishing me a happy %^*(^&*(!! Someone at Kmart wished me a good w/e 2 weeks ago.....whats up? whats happening by you?

one of my biggest sellers has been "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" !!

just not there ... there are no Christmas street decorations where there have always been; the stores are not filled with background Christmas music; there are no store clerks donning Christmas hats or Santa suits; even the Salvation Army woman standing out in front of the store ringing the bell for her collection box was dressed in an everyday regular kind of dress...and on the local news they've had their reporters (one of the stations has) going after people at TOYS-R-US and other places where there are toys and begging people to donate a toy for the Toys for Tots etc...The supermarkets are not filled with Christmas music (I haven't noticed the Christmas tree sale outside our regular supermarket this year) and, it is either depression (psychological or economical or both) or it is repression--but there doesnot seem to be much of a Christmas spirit around. It appears that Bush's BROWNING OF CHRISTMAS is beginning to take hold.

when I swung by to drop off a client. My dad and I skeddaled outta the Wal-Fart. (And that was in Denver on Hampden Ave)

you try to go anywhere, and has been for two to three weeks; I've stopped trying to drive anywhere between the hours of about 2pm and 9pm.

Nassau County, Long Island.

I refuse to go out, but a co-worker had to go out and pick up candy boxes for clients from Costco today (North Portland). She said it was pretty crazy, but when she spoke to her husband, the Costco out in Woodburn was empty. Mall parking lots - no problem finding a space from what I've heard, even Washington Square - it's usually the worst.

busy spots this weekend. Finnegan's was really busy on Saturday and so was Powell's. I had to go to Art Media (fairly empty) and to Whole Foods(fairly busy). Pioneer Place was pretty dead (I hate that place)The streets were really packed, more so than usual. But I noticed, while my son and I waited for the trolley at Powell's, that most had very few if any bags. Nordy's and Saks were pretty busy, Meir and Frank busy (I walk through the square on my way home).

I think it was the last-minute crowd, a lot of very young shoppers (many looked like 12 to 15 year olds) and making a lot of noise all over the mall, as if they were in a state of panic

Oh my gosh, the shopping traffic here is horrible, completely horrible. We have outlets stores in our town, plus Costco and Best Buy. Its madness complete madness I tell ya.

I thought I could sneak into Fashion Valley mall mid-afternoon Tuesday to get something with a free Sharper Image gift card.

HA!!

I took one exit and got right back on the freeway.

Very, very crowded!

at Fashion Valley and went home--after suffering through an hour of bumper to bumper traffic to get there.

This year I didn't even try, just shopped at cheaper places closer to home, or online.

I had to take a roll of film up to be developed. Solid traffic for five miles straight.

People seemed cool tho' maybe it's a state of mind.

When I drive near the malls I can see lines of cars waiting to get into the parking lots.

I ordered CDs, Sees candies and Hickory Farms online. I didn't get a tree either.

Bah humbug!

in Denver's western suburbs

There were people there but they weren't carrying much.