Target CEO Brian Cornell says shoppers are pulling back, even on groceries, as they feel stressed about their budgets.
In an interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick that aired Thursday morning, he emphasized that the retailer has posted seven consecutive quarters of declining sales of discretionary items, such as apparel and toys, in terms of both dollars and units.
“But even in food and beverage categories, over the last few quarters, the units, the number of items they’re buying, has been declining,” he said in the interview.
I hate everything being locked up. I am sick of being treated like a criminal when I’m just going to the fucking store.
I’m on camera at the self checkout. There’s staff breathing down my neck as I’m scanning shit. I get followed by Target staff especially when looking at clothes, as though they haven’t put alarm things on literally every single item, even if it’s 5.99. I get my receipt checked at walmart before I can leave. At Burlington they took my cart before I left the store because they said it would lock up if it got to the parking lot. Good thing I didn’t buy anything heavy?
I hate amazon, but at least I don’t have to deal with all that shit. And it’s not like I can escape giving my money to giant, evil corporations anyway. It’s not like I can afford to shop at small businesses. But that’s exactly why they do it. They know they can’t drive people away from shopping at these stores, because we have nowhere else to shop. “Capitalism fosters competition” my ass.
I commiserate with you on all of this, but I just wanted to let you know that as a small form of protest, you can say no to them checking your receipt on the way out the door. Be polite and civil, of course. But they can’t legally stop you from walking out with your purchases.
I do that as a matter of course. And the previous point is spot on. One notable instance was Best Buy. I bought something and encountered someone intending to check my receipt who happened to be management on the way out. I politely pointed out that their default position of mistrust of legitimate customers has a longer term effect on their business model. Her dishonest response sealed the deal: “we just want to make sure you purchased what you intended to purchase”.
Hah. As if.