By Simon Grey, on December 8th, 2011
It’s the reason this happened: Authorities say a teenage girl was trampled at a western Michigan Walmart store and suffered minor injuries after getting caught in a rush to a sale in the electronics department.
The Muskegon Chronicle reports the girl was taken to a local hospital Friday morning. Fruitport Township Supervisor Brian Werschem says the girl was knocked down and stepped on several times in the store near Muskegon.
The difference between prole shoppers on black Friday and the banksters is that one group is significantly better than the other at being greedy.
Simply put, most, if not all humans are motivated by greed. Some may be motivated by the self-indulgent pursuit of vice, others may be motivated by enlightened self-interest, and some may be straightforwardly interested in certain things. Whatever the case may be, all humans are greedy. All humans want things for themselves. There are, of course, varying levels of self-restraint attached to the pursuit of those things one desires, but fundamentally all people act in pursuit of those things they desire.
As such, it is ludicrous to simply blame greed as the root of all of society’s ills. Humans have always been greedy, but not all societies have been unceasingly dysfunctional. Why? Because there have been occasions when social rulers have found a way to mitigate the negative effects of greed. This usually comes by fostering a system of voluntary cooperation, generally exemplified in the free market.
Therefore, social ills—such as people being trampled at a shopping center, or market collapses—should not be blamed on simple greed. Greed can be, and has been effectively channeled into productivity. If, therefore, that productivity lapses into destruction, the blame should be placed not on those who are greedy, but on those who make the incentives.
By Christopher Briem, on November 15th, 2011
I just note the small story on Downtown retail. PG: Mayor’s roundtable to beef up Downtown retail district
From the archives and my friend Jim D are the 161 pages of: Who Shops Downtown and Why? August 3, 1989 by Jim DeAngelis.
Though as I noted yesterday with some stats, I bet at least some of the great retail collapse, and the thousand fewer Mom and Pops in the region over the last decade, is coming from Downtown shops. I mean.. Honus Wagner closed!
Oh yeah… VOTE!
By Andrea Woroch, on July 28th, 2011
Textbook prices tend to rise at four times the rate of inflation for an average of $900 per year. It doesn’t take a college education to
figure out there are alternatives to traditional outlets, but incoming freshmen don’t always know the ropes. Here are 11 ways to save this fall — none of which include shopping at the college bookstore.
1. WAIT UNTIL AFTER YOU’VE SEEN THE SYLLABUS
Professors must submit their textbook lists far in advance of the next semester, which means they may never require you even open the book. Talk with your professor in the first few days to determine whether it’s worth shelling out cash for something that may become a paperweight.
2. RENT
Chegg.com, the Netflix of textbooks, started a trend several years ago by allowing students to rent their books. You’ll pay roughly half the purchase price and shipping is often free. Other similar dealers include BookRenter.com and CampusBookRentals.com.
3. WATCH DAILY DEALS
The aforementioned Chegg announced in late May they’d begin offering daily deals targeted at college students. Scheduled to start
in July, the program will begin with offerings from HP, Capital One, MTV, Microsoft and Dr. Pepper. Also keep an eye out for offers
tailored to students by location — possibly even your local bookstore.
4. BUY USED TEXTBOOKS
Used textbook companies have proliferated and even traditional booksellers now both buy and sell used textbooks. The selection has
greatly increased and the prices are far superior to exorbitant college bookstores. Check out Half.com, Textbooks.com and eCampus.com.
5. DOWNLOAD
Few classes require students read every page of a textbook, so why not download the necessary portion from such websites as
CourseSmart.com and Open Courseware from MIT? Project Gutenberg also has scanned in hundreds of free-domain books for use on e-readers.
6. DON’T PURCHASE THE WHOLE PACKAGE
Federal regulations no longer allow publishers to combine textbooks with add-ons, such as CD-ROMs and workbooks. Check with your professor or teaching assistant before you buy the whole bundle.
7. BUY ONLINE
If you want to physically own a new book, buying online often means free shipping and reduced prices. Grab a coupon code from
CouponSherpa.com and shop online at new textbook sellers like Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com and AbeBooks.com.
8. INTERNATIONAL OR OLDER VERSIONS
Non-traditional editions are usually significantly cheaper. There may be some slight changes, but many of these tend to be cosmetic or minor and won’t greatly impact use.
9. SHARE
If you carpool, you know the advantage of splitting the cost of high-ticket expenses. Sharing is easier if you’re in the same study
group and/or see each other frequently.
10. SWAP
Some schools now hold swap meets, where students can trade their old textbooks for the ones they’ll need next year.
11. COMPARE PRICES
You wouldn’t buy a Porsche without shopping around, so do the same with textbooks. Websites such as CampusBooks.com, BigWords.com and AllBookstores.com make the process much easier.
By Andrea Woroch, on July 25th, 2011
In the wake of Borders recent announcement it’s folding up shop, those holding gift cards from the bookstore chain may have cause for concern. While the second-largest bookseller says it’s presently honoring gift cards, shoppers are well advised to use up their
balances before it’s too late. We faced a similar situation when Blockbuster and Circuit City filed for bankruptcy and are likely to do
so again. To ensure consumers don’t get left in the lurch, here are a five lessons we’ve learned from these experiences.
1. MOVE FAST
Store liquidations usually begin rapidly — this past Friday for Borders — so it’s often best to use up gift cards online, rather than wait
until you have time to visit a retail store. Borders liquidation website says all 399 remaining stores will close by September, but
they may start writing the final chapter on your local store much earlier.
2. RESEARCH THE BANKRUPTCY STATUS
Borders was refused bankruptcy, meaning they had no choice but to liquidate. Other retailers, however, filed for bankruptcy and turned things around. Sometimes a company that’s filed for Chapter 11 is allowed by the bankruptcy court to honor its gift cards. California, however, specifically requires merchants in bankruptcy compensate gift card holders.
3. CONSIDER THE COMPANY’S STABILITY
If you hear tales of other merchants threatening to close shop, research their financial stability via such sites as BBB.com and Forbes Risk List. (Stores considered at-risk by Forbes presently include Rite Aid and Zales.) Also, ScripSmart.com regularly updates
its list of “Gift Cards to Avoid.”
4. USE IT OR SELL IT
If you’ve received a gift card for a merchant you wouldn’t frequent, don’t wait until a store goes out of business. You can exchange gift
cards for cash right now on such sites as GiftCardGranny.com and receive up to 95 percent of the card’s value in cash.
5. USE A CREDIT CARD
If you’re concerned about a retailer’s financial stability but still want to buy a gift card, do so using a credit instead of a debit card.
You can then ask the card issuer to withhold payment until you’re sure of the merchant’s status.
By Andrea Woroch, on July 12th, 2011
The summer travel season is finally in full swing. While gas prices remain high, many major retailers are taking steps to cut costs for
disgruntled drivers. Wal-Mart is leading the charge, reducing their fuel prices by 10 cents per gallon for the summer months. The retail giant will offer discounted prices at gas stations in 18 states until September 30. Many other stores have followed suit with their own deals. Here’s a list of other major merchants helping Americans save at the pump this summer.
CVS
The drug store chain is offering a free $10 gas gift card to ExtraCare Rewards members when they purchase $30 worth of select
products. The promotion runs through August 28, so there’s still plenty of time to cash in.
KROGER AND SHELL
The grocery chain has been offering discounted gas for quite awhile now, but their partnership with Shell has really turned up the
savings. With 100 points on your rewards card, you’ll get 10 cents off per gallon on a fill up at both Kroger and Shell stations. If you’re
not satisfied with that discount, Kroger also offers $1 off per gallon when you earn 1,000 points on your rewards card.
KELLOGG’S
Do you eat a bowl of cereal every morning for breakfast? If so, you’re well on your way to saving on fuel. When you collect 10 UPCs
from cereal boxes and mail them in, Kellogg’s will send you a $10 prepaid gas card. Submissions must be received by December 31 and there’s a limit of five cards per household.
WAREHOUSE CLUBS
Big warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club keep popping up all over the place. While they typically have some of the lowest gas
prices around, a fill-up still requires a membership. Joining the club can be done for around $50, so if your car guzzles gas, the long-term savings are worth it.
Gas discounts aren’t the only way to save, though. Here are a few more general savings tips to help you travel for less this summer.
GIFT CARDS
Gift cards are becoming a currency all of their own. Cards for popular fuel stops like Shell can be bought and sold at sites like
GiftCardGranny.com. Also, with merchants like Wal-Mart reducing gas prices for the summer, a discount Wal-Mart gift card can really compound the savings.
LOW OCTANE GAS
Unless you’re driving a top of the line sports car, premium gas probably isn’t necessary. Most cars on the road will perform just fine
with lower octane gasoline and it’ll save you a couple of bucks on a fill.
SLOW & STEADY
If you want to save some extra money, let up on that lead-foot for just a little while. Driving at high speeds and starting and stopping
quickly burns more fuel.
RESEARCH
Instead of waiting to hit the pump until you’re down to the last drop, plan your purchase in advance. Websites like GasBuddy.com
will help you find the lowest local gas prices. They even have a mobile app to help you save on the go.
RIDE SHARING
A combination of frugality and going green has led to a resurgence of carpools. If you’re trying to track one down, websites like
eRideShare.com and CarpoolConnect.com are useful resources for both drivers and riders.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
As long as you’re not still in high school, riding the bus probably isn’t as torturous as you remember. If public transport isn’t an
option, you can always dust off the old bicycle. It costs next to nothing to maintain and it’ll get your blood pumping better than a cup
of coffee in the morning.
SHOP ONLINE
The easiest way to save on gas is to just stay at home. Most shopping needs, including groceries, can be satisfied online which keeps you from burning gas outside in the blazing heat.
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