Apparently 99 cents Only is really a buck now?
Seerialmom
I'd use the actual cents symbol but I haven't figured out how to do
alt-0162 on this iMAC G3 :P) Anyway, the store still shows the big 99
Only but I must have missed the little .99 they stuck on some of the
signs inside. The register shows .99999 and that's how they're
staying under $1...sort of. All the shelf markings, however, still
show .99. According to this USA Today story it's the first time in 26
years they raised prices:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2008-09-08-99-cents-stores-raises-prices_N.htm
Elliott
Interesting article, although it the price raise isn't really material
- it's still fascinating to see that they did indeed increase their
prices by effectively $0.01.
larry
> Not that I'll stop shopping there but 99 cents Only (sorry...normally
> I'd use the actual cents symbol but I haven't figured out how to do
> alt-0162 on this iMAC G3 :P) Anyway, the store still shows the big 99
> Only but I must have missed the little .99 they stuck on some of the
> signs inside. The register shows .99999 and that's how they're
> staying under $1...sort of. All the shelf markings, however, still
> show .99. According to this USA Today story it's the first time in 26
> years they raised prices:
>
You're lucky, all of our various 99 cent stores are now
$1.39 stores. They didn't change the signage though. About
1/2 of our Asian and Middle East 99 cent and dollar stores
have closed up in the last year.
-- larry/dallas
Al Bundy
On my ASCII map, 162 is "ó" and 155 is ¢.
Yes, there is a technical increase. I wonder if it was not more
because of the mechanics of marking and cashiering then the extra
revenue. I consider it meaningless because the value received for $1
is what counts and that can be manipulated so easily by quality and
quantity changes.
George Grapman
Several stores here have large "99 cent" followed by very small
"and up"
Don Klipstein
So a few or several decades ago we had "5-and-10 stores" that got to
be known as "dime stores".
And when "dime store merchandise" cost 25 to 49 cents, there were still
people calling such retailers "dime stores".
Such stores included to a bit of an extent "Woolworth", which was some
sort of a hybrid of a "dime store" and a "department store".
And after that, K-mart did a bit of beating Woolworth at their own game,
and all-too-soon-afterwards Wal-Mart did so further...
(I have more to say here, but I am waiting until I get in a good mood to
say it and say it the same way any hour of the day, any day of the week,
with however many or however few beers recently behind me! That may be
Yule-time!)
- Don Klipstein (d...@mosty.com)
Seerialmom
If we were still in the manual cash register age they wouldn't be able
to. But since the registers are all computerized it allows for the .
99999 entry which rounds up to $1. Of course this means we'll also
pay higher taxes for those in states that have a sales tax. But
you're right the increase is not all that important and won't empty
the wallet of anyone who shops there.
George Grapman
For a business with low margins adding a 1 percent profit on each
item can make a difference.
larry
>
> So a few or several decades ago we had "5-and-10 stores" that got to
> be known as "dime stores".
> And when "dime store merchandise" cost 25 to 49 cents, there were still
> people calling such retailers "dime stores".
> Such stores included to a bit of an extent "Woolworth", which was some
> sort of a hybrid of a "dime store" and a "department store".
> And after that, K-mart did a bit of beating Woolworth at their own game,
> and all-too-soon-afterwards Wal-Mart did so further...
G C Murphy, W T Grant, F W Woolworth, S S Kresge, J G
McCrory, J C Penney, to name a few. Most long gone, but not
forgotten by millions of kids growing up in the 40s 50 &
60s. About 5 years ago I stumbled upon a webpage page with
many pictures of abandoned store fronts all over the US of
just these names. Every small town had at least one. Did
find this Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_businesspeople_in_retailing
-- larry/dallas
Seerialmom
The 99 cent/dollar stores in Dallas you've mentioned were most likely
single owner ventures stocked with mainly imported cheap stuff.
Dollar Tree is a nationwide chain and 99 Cents Only is mostly on the
west coast but there are stores in Dallas, too (why can't I get ASCII
to work on this machine...guess it's time to buy Macs For
Dummies..heheh). Anyway the difference is DT and 99CO stores carry
major name brand items whereas the mom/pop dollar stores carry mostly
imported/generic stuff. Most around here close not too long after
they open because of the quality.
Seerialmom
True and apparently the investors were pleased with the plan. I think
it'd be fun to sit outside one of these stores and ask the people if
1. they knew the price was raised and 2. how much would something cost
if it were .9999 cents (or as they're saying on the speaker, 99.99
cents).
SMS
> Don Klipstein wrote:
>>
>> So a few or several decades ago we had "5-and-10 stores" that got to
>> be known as "dime stores".
>> And when "dime store merchandise" cost 25 to 49 cents, there were
>> still people calling such retailers "dime stores".
>> Such stores included to a bit of an extent "Woolworth", which was
>> some sort of a hybrid of a "dime store" and a "department store".
>> And after that, K-mart did a bit of beating Woolworth at their own
>> game,
>> and all-too-soon-afterwards Wal-Mart did so further...
>
> G C Murphy, W T Grant, F W Woolworth, S S Kresge, J G McCrory, J C
> Penney, to name a few. Most long gone, but not forgotten by millions of
> kids growing up in the 40s 50 & 60s. About 5 years ago I stumbled upon
> a webpage page with many pictures of abandoned store fronts all over the
> US of just these names. Every small town had at least one.
And now we see the abandoned malls that took the place of many of these
abandoned stores, as Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco become the latest
trend in retailing.
Seerialmom
What I find odd is that in the late 60's-70's big enclosed malls with
3-4 "anchor" stores were the downfall of these stand-alone retailers.
The trend, at least on the west coast, not sure about elsewhere, are
these cookie cutter shopping centers with an open air feel. Most have
Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Bed, Bath and Beyond along with smaller
shops. I prefer the stores at these open air centers but like the
idea of an enclosed mall (especially in the winter and hot summers).
Most enclosed malls just have clothing stores and that's not all that
interesting to me (ok, I did like when there was a JC Penney Outlet in
the local mall, but that closed so it's a moot point).
Macuser
seeing. Stuff that used to be $1 is now $1.49 or even $1.99. I sincerely
hope they're losing business. They lost mine.
"Thrift is sexy." ;)