Off topic - how hard can this be to make

Gosh I feel like Debbie Downer here this week, but I saw a story
(forget where) that buying gift cards may not be a great idea because
this year so many retail chains are going to declare bankruptcy the
gift cards may be voided. Now that may be totally paranoid, but this
year I think I may have seen everything!
Victoria



Given I have two unplanned days off this week, I have to agree. But I
don't
think the bigger chains are going belly up before the cards are used.

C

I received this list the other day from a friend. Sadly, I think it is
correct.

Watch those store money cards and gift cards and credit slips! Stores that
informed the Security Exchange of closing plans between October 2008 and
January 2009.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Circuit City stores...
most recent (? how many) Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be
shuttered Lane Bryant,, Fashion Bug ,and Catheri
ne's to close 150 store nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January Cache will
close all stores Talbots closing down all stores J. Jill closing all stores
GAP closing 85 stores Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after
January Wickes Furniture closing down Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after
January.Whitehall closing all=20stores Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January. Home Depot
closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)Macys to close 9 stores after
January Linens and Things closing all stores Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pacific Sunware closing stores Pep Boys Closing 33 stores Sprint/ Nextel
closing 133 stores JC Penney closing a number of stores after January Ethan
Allen closing down 12 stores. Wilson Leather closing down all stores Sharper
Image closing down all storesK B Toys closing 356 stores Loews to close down
some storesDillard's to close some stores.

On 11/19/08 3:44 PM, in article ,
"Jangchub" wrote:

On Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:59:25 -0500, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

Gosh I feel like Debbie Downer here this week, but I saw a story
(forget where) that buying gift cards may not be a great idea because
this year so many retail chains are going to declare bankruptcy the
gift cards may be voided. Now that may be totally paranoid, but this
year I think I may have seen everything!
Victoria



Given I have two unplanned days off this week, I have to agree. But I don't
think the bigger chains are going belly up before the cards are used.

C

Already on your new job?

They did warn us that business was often slow until after Thanksgiving. It
is just slower than expected.

Hey, did you ever think the big car
builders would need a fifty billion dollar bailout?
Given the number of problems I had with my truck - yes. Great article in
the WSJ about how the government shouldn't bail them out but force them into
bankruptcy. (I agree whole heartedly.) Foreclosure would make them dump the
unprofitable ways.
I guess Walmart
won't suffer. I don't try to be cynical, but lately one never
knows.
actually, according to friends that work there, business on gift items and
jewelry are down. And people that would be 2-3 shirts are only getting one.

C

Cheryl Isaak wrote:
Given I have two unplanned days off this week, I have to agree. But I don't
think the bigger chains are going belly up before the cards are used.

C



Isn't there a "generic" visa/master debit card that works anywhere? That
may be safer than an individual store brand. I think the local mega-mall
also has mall credit cards that work on any store in the mall (probably
the aforementioned visa card).

sue

--
Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen
The Magazine of Folk and World Music
www.dirtylinen.com

On 11/19/08 3:09 PM, in article , "Lucille"
lzoltynospam@now at comcast..net wrote:


Gosh I feel like Debbie Downer here this week, but I saw a story
(forget where) that buying gift cards may not be a great idea because
this year so many retail chains are going to declare bankruptcy the
gift cards may be voided. Now that may be totally paranoid, but this
year I think I may have seen everything!
Victoria



Given I have two unplanned days off this week, I have to agree. But I
don't
think the bigger chains are going belly up before the cards are used.

C

I received this list the other day from a friend. Sadly, I think it is
correct.

Watch those store money cards and gift cards and credit slips! Stores that
informed the Security Exchange of closing plans between October 2008 and
January 2009.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Circuit City stores...
most recent (? how many) Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be
shuttered Lane Bryant,, Fashion Bug ,and Catheri
ne's to close 150 store nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January Cache will
close all stores Talbots closing down all stores J. Jill closing all stores
GAP closing 85 stores Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after
January Wickes Furniture closing down Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after
January.Whitehall closing all=20stores Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January. Home Depot
closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)Macys to close 9 stores after
January Linens and Things closing all stores Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pacific Sunware closing stores Pep Boys Closing 33 stores Sprint/ Nextel
closing 133 stores JC Penney closing a number of stores after January Ethan
Allen closing down 12 stores. Wilson Leather closing down all stores Sharper
Image closing down all storesK B Toys closing 356 stores Loews to close down
some storesDillard's to close some stores.




That's useful - scary but useful. I'm not surprised by some (Lane Bryant,
Fashion Bug or any jewelry store). I knew about Linen and Things.
Others really to surprise me - Ethan Allen in particular.



Now - if Bob's Discount Furniture was go belly up, I'd be happy. I hate his
ads and the people there were quite rude when we we looking for bookcases.

C

Lucille wrote:

I received this list the other day from a friend. Sadly, I think it is
correct.

Watch those store money cards and gift cards and credit slips! Stores that
informed the Security Exchange of closing plans between October 2008 and
January 2009.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Circuit City stores...
most recent (? how many) Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be
shuttered Lane Bryant,, Fashion Bug ,and Catheri
ne's to close 150 store nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January Cache will
close all stores Talbots closing down all stores J. Jill closing all stores
GAP closing 85 stores Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after
January Wickes Furniture closing down Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after
January.Whitehall closing all=20stores Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January. Home Depot
closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)Macys to close 9 stores after
January Linens and Things closing all stores Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pacific Sunware closing stores Pep Boys Closing 33 stores Sprint/ Nextel
closing 133 stores JC Penney closing a number of stores after January Ethan
Allen closing down 12 stores. Wilson Leather closing down all stores Sharper
Image closing down all storesK B Toys closing 356 stores Loews to close down
some storesDillard's to close some stores.

I don't think this is 100 percent accurate. For instance,
I know that Talbots is closing all men's and children's stores,
but only 22 other stores (from among Talbots, Talbots Petites,
Talbots Women and J. Jill). That's nowhere near all their stores--
it's around 2 percent, I think. They are looking for a buyer
for their J. Jill line, so that may or may not survive long term.
KB Toys has said it is *not* closing all those stores, though they
have opened some stores that are specifically designed to be open
only for the holidays in some high traffic retail locations.

I would say that it is definitely the case that one should
be cautious with gift cards. Most retail stores rely heavily on
profits from the holiday season, and this year is looking very
grim. There is no doubt that some stores will go into bankruptcy,
and not all of them will survive. Gift card holders will almost
certainly be very low on the priority list of creditors and may
well not get anywhere near the face value of gift cards. That
said, not everything that's going around about bankruptcies
is quite accurate.

Best wishes,
Ericka

"Ericka" wrote in message
...
Lucille wrote:

I received this list the other day from a friend. Sadly, I think it is
correct.

Watch those store money cards and gift cards and credit slips! Stores
that informed the Security Exchange of closing plans between October 2008
and January 2009.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Circuit City
stores... most recent (? how many) Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are
to be shuttered Lane Bryant,, Fashion Bug ,and Catheri
ne's to close 150 store nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January Cache will
close all stores Talbots closing down all stores J. Jill closing all
stores GAP closing 85 stores Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close
after January Wickes Furniture closing down Levitz closing down remaining
stores Bombay closing remaining stores Zales closing down 82 stores and
105 after January.Whitehall closing all=20stores Piercing Pagoda closing
all stores Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)Macys to close 9
stores after January Linens and Things closing all stores Movie Galley
Closing all stores Pacific Sunware closing stores Pep Boys Closing 33
stores Sprint/ Nextel closing 133 stores JC Penney closing a number of
stores after January Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores. Wilson Leather
closing down all stores Sharper Image closing down all storesK B Toys
closing 356 stores Loews to close down some storesDillard's to close some
stores.

I don't think this is 100 percent accurate. For instance,
I know that Talbots is closing all men's and children's stores,
but only 22 other stores (from among Talbots, Talbots Petites,
Talbots Women and J. Jill). That's nowhere near all their stores--
it's around 2 percent, I think. They are looking for a buyer
for their J. Jill line, so that may or may not survive long term.
KB Toys has said it is *not* closing all those stores, though they
have opened some stores that are specifically designed to be open
only for the holidays in some high traffic retail locations.

I would say that it is definitely the case that one should
be cautious with gift cards. Most retail stores rely heavily on
profits from the holiday season, and this year is looking very
grim. There is no doubt that some stores will go into bankruptcy,
and not all of them will survive. Gift card holders will almost
certainly be very low on the priority list of creditors and may
well not get anywhere near the face value of gift cards. That
said, not everything that's going around about bankruptcies
is quite accurate.

Best wishes,
Ericka


I hope you're right and some of that information isn't 100% accurate. But I
think we must be very careful.

Lucille

That's useful - scary but useful. I'm not surprised by some (Lane Bryant,
Fashion Bug or any jewelry store). I knew about Linen and Things.
Others really to surprise me - Ethan Allen in particular.

Our Ethan Allen closed about 6 months ago.

Wilson's around here is seasonal - comes in November, leaves in
January - although not yet this year - maybe they are going to skip
some of those type of stores.

Anyone else have the bellringers out yet? They are at the Post Office
and Wal Mart here in MO and I saw them at the Indianapolis WM on
November 9!

Linda

lewmew wrote:
Anyone else have the bellringers out yet? They are at the Post Office
and Wal Mart here in MO and I saw them at the Indianapolis WM on
November 9!

No doubt the Easter eggs will be in the shops anytime now...
--
Bruce Fletcher
Stronsay, Orkney UK
"I went to a restaurant that serves 'breakfast at any time'. So I
ordered French Toast during the Renaissance." (Peter Kay)

On 2008-11-19, wrote:
On Nov 19, 6:59*am, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
On 11/18/08 8:38 PM, in article
,"Louisa. " wrote:

SNIP

our local Wal-Mart (Halifax, Nova Scotia) has the Incredible Shrinking
Craft section. I must check Joann's next time we're in MA. There
wasn't one near us where we lived, but some friends have just moved,
and I think there's one close to them. I'll have to have a look!

Louisa

And if you're in MA, you ought to let the NE chapter of RCTN know and we'll
arrange a get together.

Cheryl

I'll do that! Maybe in the spring...

Louisa

If you come out in the sprin besides hanging out eith us, Celebrations
Needlework show is in May.Its not far from MA at all.
-Margaret in MA
--
\\ o o
|\/ o\ o
o Margaret St. John
|/\ / Let it snow!! http://www.silverthorn.org/mstjohn
///
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

On 2008-11-19, lewmew wrote:


That's useful - scary but useful. I'm not surprised by some (Lane Bryant,
Fashion Bug or any jewelry store). I knew about Linen and Things.
Others really to surprise me - Ethan Allen in particular.

Our Ethan Allen closed about 6 months ago.

Wilson's around here is seasonal - comes in November, leaves in
January - although not yet this year - maybe they are going to skip
some of those type of stores.

Anyone else have the bellringers out yet? They are at the Post Office
and Wal Mart here in MO and I saw them at the Indianapolis WM on
November 9!

Linda
I saw one Halloween day at the grocery store. Was really odd.
-Margaret

\\ o o
|\/ o\ o
o Margaret St. John
|/\ / Let it snow!! http://www.silverthorn.org/mstjohn
///
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **