Cathy Classics by Cathy Guisewite for December 03, 2013

This is almost too realistic to be funny. And, honestly, just because they just came to the store, doesn’t mean that they weren’t sitting in a warehouse for several weeks. When that happens, they sometimes arrive at the store already reduced in price. People please, give the sales people a break!

A couple of big name retailers have been seen marking things up before they put discount sales prices on.

All the comments are spot on. And the amount they pay the people in China’s labor camps is ridiculous. Did anyone hear about that note that a woman in Oregon found in her Kmart Halloween decoration? It talked about how they work 15 hours a day with no days off, otherwise they are beaten. The note says they get paid 10 yuan/month (16 US cents). Terrible.Good morning, Cathy clan. Anonamouse, aren’t you somewhat near Glasgow? So sad what happened there…

Stores can be very sneaky with “sales.” I went to our local Coach handbag outlet the Sunday before Thanksgiving – found nice leather bags for 3 relatives on my list. Outlet price was $280, marked down to $199, then 50% off, so $99 each, a great deal for very nice purses. I happened to stop in the same store the following Saturday, day after “Black Friday.” The same purses were back up to $290. but you got 50% off and then an additional 10% off that price. Do the math – if I had waited until the big Black Friday weekend “sale,” I would have paid $126 for each bag. Stores do indeed raise the prices to give a “discount.” I learned years ago to do my holiday shopping there before Thanksgiving.

I once sold stereos in a department store. Yes, we were actually instructed to pull stunts like this. We had an $800 home entertainment system that the store wanted to move. They told us to put a ticket on it for two weeks that claimed it was $1,800, but not to sell any. If anyone asked, we’d say it was out of stock. After two weeks, we would put the original ticket back on, but with the following added: “DOWN FROM $1,800!” We hated doing it, and it was very awkward when we had customers like Cathy who saw right through it. One guy looked us in the eye and said “I happen to know that’s an $800 stereo system- list price.” Of course we were not allowed to say “Yes, it’s a big, fat lie.” I don’t don’t if anyone fell for it, but I kind of hope they didn’t.

Once again, Cathy amazes me into absolute speechlessness with how smart she can actually be sometimes. Kinda scary!!! ;-)

Hi, rgcviper!

lindz.coop: I just now left you a message on yesterday’s board.

Macuslalondra: I just now left a message on yesterday’s board for you, too.

Hello and Happy Tuesday, fellow “Cathy” friends. Hope everyone’s having a nice day today.

Forget the [eye-roll]—this one deserves a [face-palm].

HI, MOM. Hello, Clan.