Submitted by Kimberly Locke - [email protected]
Last year, after I had sent my annual "please don't sell
fur" letters to the major department stores (Saks, Macy's, etc.), a
reply made it's way through my mail slot. It was from Macy's consumer
relations. It was a polite note that said simply that Macy's had to
(yes, it said HAD TO) sell furs because people kept buying them. I read
the short three paragraphs and put the letter down. It was that letter
that sparked what would be a most interesting experiment for the
following year.
That note was written in 2001, and a few days before
January 1st, 2002, I conjured up an idea. I would save all the receipts
from purchases I made of items that could have been bought at Macy's,
but were purchased from non-fur selling stores. I would save them in a
box, and then add them up at the end of the year. I was curious to see
how much money there would be.
Well, it's the end of the year. Time to bring out the
old shoe box (from All Man Made Material shoes, of course). And there's
quite a lot of paper in here. But let's do this chronologically, shall
we? By the way, all totals are before tax.
-----------------------------------
February's Purchases
Valentine's Day gifts for husband, mom, dad, and sis:
Sweater = $34.00
Turtleneck = $21.00
Necklace = $14.99
Sweatshirt = $29.00
Earrings = $7.99
Earrings = $4.99
February's Totals = $111.97
-----------------------------------
March's Purchases
Birthday gifts for husband:
Sweater = $44.00
Sweater = $38.00
Sweater = $38.00
Anniversary gift for friends:
Frame = $14.99
March's Totals = $134.99
-----------------------------------
April's Purchases
Birthday gifts for dad:
Sweatshirt = $28.00
Socks = $14.97
Birthday gifts for mom:
Shirt = $21.00
Necklace = $11.99
Jewelry box = $19.99
April's Totals = $95.95
-----------------------------------
May's Purchases
Mother's Day gifts:
Shirt = $21.00
Necklace = $7.99
May's Totals = $28.99
-----------------------------------
June's Purchases
Birthday gifts for bro:
T-shirt = $14.00
T-shirt = $14.00
Father's Day gifts:
Watch (metal band) = $35.99
June's Purchases = $63.99
-----------------------------------
September's Purchases
Clothes for me:
Khakis = $25.00
Pants = $32.00
September's Totals = $57.00
-----------------------------------
December's Purchases
Birthday gifts for sis:
Purse = $24.99
Bath set = $12.99
Earrings = $4.99
Earrings = $4.99
Christmas gifts for husband, mom, dad, bro, sis, and friends:
Sweater = $44.00
Sweater = $44.00
Sweater = $38.00
Sweatshirt = $29.00
Purse = $29.99
Jewelry box = $17.99
Sweatshirt = $29.00
Necklace = $12.99
Necklace = $12.99
Socks = $24.95
Underwear = $13.98
Shirt = $21.00
Shirt = $23.00
Earrings = $2.50
Earrings = $4.99
Earrings = $4.99
Sweater = $34.00
December's Totals = $435.33
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
Yikes! That's almost a grand! Jeez.
So that's how much Macy's could have gotten from me, had they stopped
selling furs last year. Keep in mind, that is purely one year, and just
one person.
Perhaps the consumer relations people should consider what they are
losing by selling furs.
Go on to Dumb Bird
Return to 19 January 2003 Issue
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