It's Not Just Me!
Someone else noticed it - Target is insane!:
It was Jan. 2. Our Christmas tree had just been denuded of decorations, and as is the case every year, I needed one more green and red plastic storage tub to pack away the last of the ornaments and garland.
So I zipped into my local Target, focused and determined not to get sidetracked and wind up spending $50. Halfway down the main aisle I slowed and gaped. There, in the children's section, were racks and racks of short-sleeved T-shirts and swimsuits.
"Short sleeves in January. And swimsuits. Unbelievable," I groused aloud. A cheery Target employee overheard the grumbling.
"May I help you?"
"No, I was just complaining."
"Oh! About what?" The guy either was a glutton for punishment or bucking for employee of the month.
"Short-sleeved tops! In January!" I sputtered. "What is with that?"
"Spring has sprung," the man in the red shirt said. "At least it has at Target."
Ooooh, I hate that! I
wrote about that last year, when I went looking - on January 15 - for a winter coat. There were none - but the aisles were lined with spring clothes and swimwear. But try going to Target to find a swimsuit in July, or school clothes in October - you know, when people are
swimming or
going to school...
Last year, I ran around town trying to locate heavy cotton tights for my child. In February. Target had long since replaced its stock of heavy kids' tights with the thin microfiber variety.
But I've gotten smarter. This year, while Christmas shopping, I noticed that my local Target was down to four pairs of heavy cotton pink ribbed tights in size 4-6x. I knew what to do. I cleaned the store out.
Like shopping for bread in the USSR, I tells ya.
Posted by Mitch at
January 25, 2006 06:39 AM
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Mitch, you should have given the man his props. That was pretty darned good for a Target employee. The employees at my Walmart aren't quick enough or educated enough to use that line.
Posted by: Scott at January 25, 2006 08:39 AMI'm sure its based on sound business decisions, weighing opportunity cost versus cost of unsold inventory as well as trying to hedge against creating a consumer incentive to wait until the item is marked down.
Its the wisdom of the market, Mitch. Adam Smith's unseen hand in full force. You should be celebrating - dancing, even - that its not in the aisles because what's good for business is good for everyone else, just like they say on FOX and MS-NBC.
(Besides, everyone knows you have to go to Marshalls or Burlington Coat Factory for the late-season clothing)
Posted by: Bill Haverberg at January 25, 2006 09:43 AMBad mouthing Target? You've just earned a lifetime Lileks ban.
cp
Posted by: cleversponge at January 25, 2006 10:48 AMBill, that was a sensible and well reasoned post. I am impressed.
Posted by: Kermit at January 25, 2006 11:31 AMSince just about all you do is snipe, Kermit, I'm really not all that impressed.
Posted by: Bill Haverberg at January 25, 2006 11:38 AMScott: True.
Target Employee: Kudos!
Bill H: Yeah, I know there's a sound business reason for it. My faith in unfettered capitalism doesn't deny me the right to complain; I AM the market, after all.
Sponge: My choice of paper towels has already made me persona non grata.
Kermit and Bill: Go to your rooms and don't come out until you can get along.
Posted by: mitch at January 25, 2006 11:50 AMYa try to be nice and look what happens. I guess I'll just stick to sniping. So much for rehabilitation...
Posted by: Kermit at January 25, 2006 12:17 PMHere in Texas all the chain stores start selling long sleeve shirts only starting in August. We need long sleeve shirts about 10-20 days a year and not at all until December. Shopping in December you find a large selection of sweaters and other useless things. I guess Target has a standard store inventory that must be maintained, the same in Vermont as in Arizona. So does Old Navy it seems. Always lot of left over winter clothes at deeply discounted prices after season from the ones that didn't sell.
Maybe you could find a Texan to swap with you. You buy his summer clothes In August up north and he can buy your winter clothes in Dallas in January. Sounds fair?
Posted by: Ron Wheeler at January 25, 2006 12:48 PMThat's what you get for shopping at a place that caters to trendy yuppies and yo homies.
Fleet Farm, now THAT's where a Real Man shops for fashion.
/sarcasm off
Posted by: nathan.bissonette at January 25, 2006 01:36 PM.
We moved from WI to Tucson AZ in October 2001. With temperatures in the 90s outside we went to Target in search of sandbox toys (and some stuff for our kids!) and were told only 'winter goods' were in stock. Winter. In Tucson.
Posted by: chriss at January 26, 2006 12:01 AMProbably good business though... there is a point of diminishing returns when goods no longer justify their (precious as gold) shelf space. Target no doubt has that point timed to the nanosecond.
I can't complain about Target -- when Christmas shopping for a portable stereo that I learned was out of stock at that location the electronics clerk ran a print out of the nearest 5 locations and how many of that item each had in stock -- done with a smile.
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