11/25/2003 6:57 PM- 0700
1 1/25/2003 6:57 PM- 0700: Consumer confidence is up. Members of my tribe recently got a decent per capita and have the propensity to spend. You only need to go to Shopko, Target, Wal-Mart, the mall, or even the local car dealerships to see proof of this. It actually feels good to walk into one of these places and really feel like a customer. It hasn't always been that way.
There were plenty of times growing up when we would walk into an establishment and be eye-balled with suspicion. We were usually 'greeted' immediately by a sales clerk who wanted to know if there was anything they could 'help' us with. I used to hate being followed around by clerks. Their suspicions must have been contagious because for whatever reasons, the other white customers seemed to lend their eyeballs as well making sure we didn't steal anything, or whatever.... It was very demeaning. I never thought I would see the end of those days.
But damn... look at us now. We have cash.... and lots of it collectively. At the end of the day we dropped a little over $2M dollars of expendable income into the local economy in a very short period of time. Not bad considering our past spending power. Suspicious eyes now have a hint of envy, and I swear I feel welcome at most establishments anymore. I think it is even safe to say they are glad to see us coming.
The other day we had our vehicle serviced at a new car dealership. Salesmen who in the past might have ignored us, or at best brought us over to the budget lot, were now inciting us over to the "new car" lot showing off the latest and greatest in vehicles. These are very keen salesmen... I swear they seem to know the amounts of our per capitas before we do.
I have to admit it does feel good to say "naw.... not today," but I'll tell you what. It's an even better feeling in knowing that today I have choices.
Ahhhhhh.... Spending parity at its best.
There were plenty of times growing up when we would walk into an establishment and be eye-balled with suspicion. We were usually 'greeted' immediately by a sales clerk who wanted to know if there was anything they could 'help' us with. I used to hate being followed around by clerks. Their suspicions must have been contagious because for whatever reasons, the other white customers seemed to lend their eyeballs as well making sure we didn't steal anything, or whatever.... It was very demeaning. I never thought I would see the end of those days.
But damn... look at us now. We have cash.... and lots of it collectively. At the end of the day we dropped a little over $2M dollars of expendable income into the local economy in a very short period of time. Not bad considering our past spending power. Suspicious eyes now have a hint of envy, and I swear I feel welcome at most establishments anymore. I think it is even safe to say they are glad to see us coming.
The other day we had our vehicle serviced at a new car dealership. Salesmen who in the past might have ignored us, or at best brought us over to the budget lot, were now inciting us over to the "new car" lot showing off the latest and greatest in vehicles. These are very keen salesmen... I swear they seem to know the amounts of our per capitas before we do.
I have to admit it does feel good to say "naw.... not today," but I'll tell you what. It's an even better feeling in knowing that today I have choices.
Ahhhhhh.... Spending parity at its best.
posted by Rezilla | 6:57 PM
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