Does American commercialism know no bounds? The cheapening of Holidays

[Bucky]

As we get older we tend to get crankier! Old folks don’t like change. Just a fact of life. I’m more concerned about where I might be for the next holiday than I am in what others may or may not be doing.change happens. What was traditional never really was. Was just thought to be by that generation. I got over worrying about minor crap ages ago.

When I was a kid school summer vacation was June- August and start again after Labor Day. Now many are year round! Doesn’t mean that’s necessarily a bad thing. When school was out we would ride our bikes all around the city having fun. Parents didn’t mind as long as we were home for dinner. Now parents don’t even let their children play with others unless they have a “play date”. I could go on and on but it’s just change. As an old guy I’m not a fan but at least I realize that’s just the way it is, different.

 

[Rolltydr]

Old folks don’t like change.

I guess you’re probably right, generally speaking. However, I’m 70 years old and I love change. I believe there isn’t anything that can’t be improved and improvement requires change. I will admit that I like it a whole lot more when I am in control of it, or at least influential, rather than having no influence on it at all. But, even then, I eventually realize there isn’t anything I can do about it and just go with the flow rather than fighting it.

 

[heathpack]

The interesting thing is that you're only exposed to this commercialism by going shopping, which is also a form of commercialism.

Dont get me wrong. I go to stores. But the chances of one noticing and being annoyed by excessive commercialism increases for those who go to stores more frequently. There's a reasonable chance that from Aug to Nov I don't go to any store that might sell Halloween things which would result in me being unaffected by the impact of commercialism on holidays.

It seems plausible that the more time you spend in stores, the more you notice "commercialism".

 

[jp10558]

Haven’t seen the commercial, I see very few commercials. Back when I did see commercials, there were plenty for crap we don’t need and I learned that many department stores have big sales every week. Moved me to spend not one bit. This is a consumer- based economy and the fight for dollars from your wallet will never end. Since there are enough spenders that enjoy “lesser holidays” like Halloween, there will be merchandise for it. Considering that this is the year of tariffs, it’s not a big surprise for holiday displays to start asap to get inventory bought months ago gone.

Since I live quite a ways from any retail, or drive through window, it’s easy to not spend. I don’t know where the nearest Wendy’s is, maybe within 40 miles but not along any route I regularly travel. That said, McDs would have to seriously offend me to end my Egg McMuffin enjoyment. It’s about 45 minutes to the place and breakfast has hard stop, so it’s a rare treat. My mornings are in the gardens outside.

Overall, sure, corps want profits and they are as “ensheepened” to the advertising industry as the recreational shopper is to “deals”. Nothing I do will change any of that, but I do vote with my wallet. There are some places that will never see my money and I do try to support the small businesses. I have some long standing issues with Walmart, but, darned the luck, that is the only sensible place to do the bulk of my shopping, about an hour drive time one way (good staff there, and, of course, always interesting people watching). Depending on the need, Dollar General is much nearer and I’ve come to accept the understaffing and inventory carts in the aisle. While I can do without a takeout burger or Egg McMuffin, I gotta have TP, no matter what corp DG is doing to solve problems (or let them fester). The practical reality of my new mountain living requires getting over some of my biases and preferences. If there were a Costco nearby, I would easily walk on by the holiday aisles undisturbed.

I don't live *quite* as far out as you do, but I've recently been super happily surprised that my local Wal-Mart (22ish miles) now delivers. Instacart now delivers from my "local" Sam's Club that's 44 miles away. Sam's also always shipped via FedEx stuff like Toilet Paper, so for me I just buy in bulk vs paying more at dollar general. I don't actually know if you can get FedEx where you live now though.

Anyway, the long and short of even Wal-Mart pick up for me is I don't have to deal with horrible checkout lines and I have no opportunity to be tempted by some "random thing on the shelf". While I can get recommended "stuff" online, I find it's way more geared to me searching for what I need / want and doesn't get many opportunities to tempt me really like in store does. I used to do Sam's Club Pickup about as soon as I found out they offered it to save time and money on weekends.

I will say, my local McDonalds have I think finally convinced me to give up on them. They always have a huge drive through line that seems to take 30 minutes to get through, but even if you order ahead on the app and then walk in, they don't ever have anything ready, you have to wait 5-10 minutes. When there's no inside line at all. I used to think it was staffing issues in the COVID recovery, but they were slow in 2015 too. Now I see they're back to 4-5 people working or more, yet they take forever. IDK what the issue is, other places that are fully staffed seem to do a lot better with online order ahead. If you order ahead ~15 minutes anywhere else, you can 70% of the time walk in and pick up the order from the shelfs they have. The other times it's maybe a 4 minute wait at most. McDonalds NEVER has it ready. 0%. Even when they eventually get you your food you're amazed if it's lukewarm rather than cold.

I was going there because they had "good" iced coffee for my mom and lunch food. Almost no where else even tries (in our area). After the last 2 failures, I'm like - can't we go to Dunkin for the coffe and literally anywhere else for the lunch food? It'd probably take the same amount of time, the coffee is better, the food is way more likely to be better.

Though, honestly, "fast food" in general has gotten so poor that I regularly wonder if it's worth it at all. On trips we've really started stopping at WaWas or better gas stations as they tend to be as fast, we can also fill up the car, and the food tends to be fresher and better. We used to stop at fast food for a quick restroom break and snack. Now the improved gas stations are taking that. I'm not even sad - with more to do, I don't have to try and order ahead, I can go place the order, wander a bit, fill up the car, and not take much more time.

Honestly, if Chilis and the like would get a bit more car eating friendly to go packaging, I'd be tempted to order some of their burgers for being better and cheaper or the same price as fast food - and again with order ahead, likely take the same amount of time.

 

[jp10558]

We stream everything with no adds so I haven't seen any holiday adds. I did see Halloween stuff at Costco while I was hanging out waiting for tires. I really didn't care.

I wouldn't care, but also wouldn't like it all, if Spotify started playing Christmas music now.

Bill

Yea, on the one hand, I don't really care. It's very very far down my list of issues with the world and my life right now, and probably ever. However, it is fun to complain about - and it's a little annoying pushing a holiday 3 months out - I just feel like we don't get to have a seasonal feel anymore. I'm just going to wistfully think about how nice it would be to have more "non holiday" time. My family has started to rib me about how I'm never really aware of the holidays when I'm booking TS trips, and "every trip" seems to hit a holiday I didn't know was happening. I was getting annoyed with myself a bit, but then realized that - the US has A LOT of holidays, and outside of 4th of July (the date is in the name), New Years (kinda fixes the date too), Christmas (fixed date) I don't really spend a lot of time with a holiday calendar. Thanksgiving I kinda know is end of November. Otherwise I'm often "surprised" that it's Easter or Memorial Day or Labor Day or Flag Day or some other holiday. Thank goodness work now sends out e-mails the week before telling you you have time off!

 

[clifffaith]

Yea, on the one hand, I don't really care. It's very very far down my list of issues with the world and my life right now, and probably ever. However, it is fun to complain about - and it's a little annoying pushing a holiday 3 months out - I just feel like we don't get to have a seasonal feel anymore. I'm just going to wistfully think about how nice it would be to have more "non holiday" time. My family has started to rib me about how I'm never really aware of the holidays when I'm booking TS trips, and "every trip" seems to hit a holiday I didn't know was happening. I was getting annoyed with myself a bit, but then realized that - the US has A LOT of holidays, and outside of 4th of July (the date is in the name), New Years (kinda fixes the date too), Christmas (fixed date) I don't really spend a lot of time with a holiday calendar. Thanksgiving I kinda know is end of November. Otherwise I'm often "surprised" that it's Easter or Memorial Day or Labor Day or Flag Day or some other holiday. Thank goodness work now sends out e-mails the week before telling you you have time off!

With Easter moving around, it seems like every other year we’d be accidentally traveling at that time. Spent one Easter on a plane to Australia; that’s how we learned Melbourne has the largest Greek population outside of Greece, and we took full advantage of all the bakeries offering Greek Orthodox Easter goodies which fell on the following Sunday. That same trip we were in Sydney on ANZAC Day, which we’d never heard of, and enjoyed seeing all the veterans squeezed into their army uniforms.

 

[jp10558]

With Easter moving around, it seems like every other year we’d be accidentally traveling at that time. Spent one Easter on a plane to Australia; that’s how we learned Melbourne has the largest Greek population outside of Greece, and we took full advantage of all the bakeries offering Greek Orthodox Easter goodies which fell on the following Sunday. That same trip we were in Sydney on ANZAC Day, which we’d never heard of, and enjoyed seeing all the veterans squeezed into their army uniforms.

Yea, as my review for La Bell Maison said, I had no idea I was going to be in NOLA on Easter lol. Nor did I expect to run into the gay parade in the evening lol. I didn't expect to hit Memorial Day with a cheap extra vacation at Massanutten last year either. And while I did know about the 4th of July, I was surprised to get a Last Call for Smuggs this year 2 weeks out! That was fun and would do again if it happened to work out.

 

[davidvel]

Yea, as my review for La Bell Maison said, I had no idea I was going to be in NOLA on Easter lol. Nor did I expect to run into the gay parade in the evening lol. I didn't expect to hit Memorial Day with a cheap extra vacation at Massanutten last year either. And while I did know about the 4th of July, I was surprised to get a Last Call for Smuggs this year 2 weeks out! That was fun and would do again if it happened to work out.

Sometimes you just get lucky!

 

[Panzerman45]

Marketing and sales see people as a milking cow. The goal is to squeeze every drop out of you.
Understand this concept and you will be fine. Also, NOTHING in the world is FREE.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Marketing and sales see people as a milking cow. The goal is to squeeze every drop out of you.
Understand this concept and you will be fine. Also, NOTHING in the world is FREE.

Agreed. Never understood why people can't comprehend this? They are private corporations and unless then are sucking you dry they are not doing their jobs.

 

[Cornell]

Ummmmm there’s a reason why all of this marketing of the holidays occurs: it works.

 

[stmartinfan]

Agreed. Never understood why people can't comprehend this? They are private corporations and unless then are sucking you dry they are not doing their jobs.

Actually, many of these are publicly held corporations, so they are working hard to deliver profits so their shareholders (likely many of us who have money invested invested in mutual funds,etc.,) will get the return we're hoping for. Of course there's also the motivation of big bonuses for their execs., which I hate to see.

 

[geekette]

I don't live *quite* as far out as you do, but I've recently been super happily surprised that my local Wal-Mart (22ish miles) now delivers. Instacart now delivers from my "local" Sam's Club that's 44 miles away. Sam's also always shipped via FedEx stuff like Toilet Paper, so for me I just buy in bulk vs paying more at dollar general. I don't actually know if you can get FedEx where you live now though.

Anyway, the long and short of even Wal-Mart pick up for me is I don't have to deal with horrible checkout lines and I have no opportunity to be tempted by some "random thing on the shelf". While I can get recommended "stuff" online, I find it's way more geared to me searching for what I need / want and doesn't get many opportunities to tempt me really like in store does. I used to do Sam's Club Pickup about as soon as I found out they offered it to save time and money on weekends.

I will say, my local McDonalds have I think finally convinced me to give up on them. They always have a huge drive through line that seems to take 30 minutes to get through, but even if you order ahead on the app and then walk in, they don't ever have anything ready, you have to wait 5-10 minutes. When there's no inside line at all. I used to think it was staffing issues in the COVID recovery, but they were slow in 2015 too. Now I see they're back to 4-5 people working or more, yet they take forever. IDK what the issue is, other places that are fully staffed seem to do a lot better with online order ahead. If you order ahead ~15 minutes anywhere else, you can 70% of the time walk in and pick up the order from the shelfs they have. The other times it's maybe a 4 minute wait at most. McDonalds NEVER has it ready. 0%. Even when they eventually get you your food you're amazed if it's lukewarm rather than cold.

I was going there because they had "good" iced coffee for my mom and lunch food. Almost no where else even tries (in our area). After the last 2 failures, I'm like - can't we go to Dunkin for the coffe and literally anywhere else for the lunch food? It'd probably take the same amount of time, the coffee is better, the food is way more likely to be better.

Though, honestly, "fast food" in general has gotten so poor that I regularly wonder if it's worth it at all. On trips we've really started stopping at WaWas or better gas stations as they tend to be as fast, we can also fill up the car, and the food tends to be fresher and better. We used to stop at fast food for a quick restroom break and snack. Now the improved gas stations are taking that. I'm not even sad - with more to do, I don't have to try and order ahead, I can go place the order, wander a bit, fill up the car, and not take much more time.

Honestly, if Chilis and the like would get a bit more car eating friendly to go packaging, I'd be tempted to order some of their burgers for being better and cheaper or the same price as fast food - and again with order ahead, likely take the same amount of time.

I have avoided online shopping and will continue to, just my own preference. I also have hermit tendencies so coming down off the mountain is good for me. I managed to get my home bound neighbor out with me the other day and we had a lot of fun. I bundle my errands so it becomes a half day blown. FedX and UPS do deliver here, we are right off a highway. Still I would prefer to be in the store.

I am lucky that our McDs is fast, my order always hot (no mobile app for me).

Neighbors here like “the steakhouse” (Western Sizzler with giant buffet, have never ordered a steak there, always enjoy the fried chicken and the pot roast) and Tokyo buffet. Fast food is slim pickings, KFC, Taco Bell, McDs, all in the same area miles from me. There is a finer dining restaurant much closer, usually packed. Eventually we’ll show up at 3:45 to get a table when they start seating a 4. A bit early for me for dinner, but, again, living with the situation I have.

Chilis…. Another “not along my normal route” consisting of a few US highways. Miss them. Hadn’t thought about in-car eating, but I’d agree that would be challenging!

 

[TolmiePeak]

Actually, many of these are publicly held corporations, so they are working hard to deliver profits so their shareholders (likely many of us who have money invested invested in mutual funds,etc.,) will get the return we're hoping for. Of course there's also the motivation of big bonuses for their execs., which I hate to see.

Just sad to see what the changes that the vulture private equity firms are inflicting on Southwest.

 

[bizaro86]

I wouldn't care, but also wouldn't like it all, if Spotify started playing Christmas music now.

Bill

This is something I didn't realize how much I would miss until I switched from terrestrial radio to spotify for music. My favourite station runs Christmas tunes for 3 weeks before Christmas and 1 day after (Boxing Day).

Spotify kept playing my regular playlist until I realized I was missing out on the carols and made a specific playlist for that.

 

[easyrider]

This is something I didn't realize how much I would miss until I switched from terrestrial radio to spotify for music. My favourite station runs Christmas tunes for 3 weeks before Christmas and 1 day after (Boxing Day).

Spotify kept playing my regular playlist until I realized I was missing out on the carols and made a specific playlist for that.

My usual Spotify are the daily mix and discover weekly. This week it was Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats playing "I need never get old" that made it to my liked playlist.

I have a YouTube playlist for Christmas Eve that we play while the family is here. I'm not really into it but my wife loves Christmas music on Christmas Eve, and I like her, so I put up with it, lol.

Bill

 

[JudiZ]

I swear that my life has been better since I stopped watching live TV (so no ads there) and started using an adblocker online, my life is generally better. Cutting back on news helped too. Of course, the downside is I have no idea what's happening much of the time, but I think I'm less anxious.

After my Mom, cousin and aunt died, all within a one month period, my therapist recommended I stop watching the news - more stress than I could handle. Should have done this years ago. Not quite "there" on the no live TV but I agree with you completely. Aside from commercialism, doom and sheer stupidity, I avoid most of the internet as well.

 

[dioxide45]

I see that the OP @CO skier never back to defend their rant and explain how they somehow completely misinterpreted the advertising campaign.

 

[davidvel]

I see that the OP @CO skier never back to defend their rant and explain how they somehow completely misinterpreted the advertising campaign.

You mean how the sacrosanct pristine holiday of Halloween has been commercialized?