The New Economy
A recent sojourn into the local Mall shattered my sense of values. Not moral, but fiscal and physical values.
“I’ve found something that Santa can bring me” cooed my spouse, who has a newfound interest in the culinary arts. Her most recent declaration is to have “as many tools in the kitchen as you have in the garage.” Dutifully, I responded “what is it?” To which she pointed out a particular advertisement declaring a gigantic sale on stainless steel pans. Specifically, a Wok with glass top reduced from $39.95 to $19.95. A bargain, to be sure.
Circled ad in hand, I made the trip to Macy’s House wares department, singled out my wife’s selection, and proceeded to examine and then purchase this handsome and well-crafted pan. A great addition to our hanging pan rack, I thought to myself. A good choice.
As the clerk was ringing up the sale, and because I’m less than adept at gift-wrapping, I asked for directions to the gift-wrap department. Therein, was my value shattering experience.
“Pick any one of those on display on the wall behind the counter” the gift wrapper suggested. “Which ones are the courtesy wraps?” I asked. “Oh we don’t do courtesy wraps any more,” she said in a manner as if to say “where have you been silly man?”
So, examining the elaborate display, and after being told I would have to wait until the wrapper finished the five packages for a customer she was working on, I made my choice. A simple blue paper with printed white snow flakes and a large snow flake attached to a ribbon.
“Nice choice” said the wrapper as she measured the box with my wife’s Wok. “That will be $10.95,” she said without a bit of shame. “Ten dollars and ninety five cents?” was my astonished reply. “You must be joking” was all I could say. With that, I told the lady I was going to wrap the gift myself, and left the store.
Returning home, I removed the pan and its cover from the box, the workmanship is superb. The material is top of the line. The box and packing is well constructed and assembled. Certainly worth the original $39.95 price, and a real bargain at $19.95. What is wrong with this picture?
With simple calculations of what the gift wrapper could produce in revenue for the department store while wrapping packages, it appears that everything in the store could be given away free, as long as we were required to use the gift wrapping department.
My Question? How can a quality product be designed, manufactured, boxed, distributed wholesale to the merchant, and offered to the customer for twenty dollars, while the merchant, with a straight face can charge the customer fifty percent of the purchase price to wrap it? How can the customer justify this? This is why I have lost my sense of values.
In my house, if Santa delivered a requested bargain gift, and paid fifty percent of the purchase price to have it wrapped, not only would he not get any cookies and milk on Christmas Eve, he would probably receive an invitation to have a mental examination.
©2003 Bill Effinger