Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jake Barnes · Joined: 30 May 2005

Has anyone else watched CNN lately? Have you seen some of the videos from the first day of official Christmas shopping in the States, "Black Friday"? Honestly as an American this just makes me all the more happy that I will not be going home this year for the holidays. People packed at the front of stores waiting to get the 15 super discount items the store is offering, stampeding over each other once the doors are open, fist fights over who gets the last one of the 15 super discount items, and then fist fights over queing up at the register. I cannot believe how bad people want to save $10 on a TV, or computer, or Johnny the talking(insert name or popular toy here). Yet, the stores must know that there will be trouble coming when they plaster their ads all over the place and then only have limited numbers of the deep discounted items. Its just a shame that people have to be sent to the hospital over shopping and consumer greed.
Happy Holidays,
JB

desultude · Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I used to make it a rule to never go near a mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is some of the worst of American culture. Who wants that mass produced, ubiquitous, plastic mall crap, anyway? Oh yeah, I need another _____ from Pottery Barn/Williams Sonoma/Gap etc. Rolling Eyes

Then there is the week after Christmas, when the malls are worse, because everyone is returning the crap they never wanted in the first place, or else got three of. Laughing

Ho! Ho! Ho!

rainyqueen · Joined: 14 Nov 2005

Have you ever been to a department store here????

I remember (five years ago) my first shopping experience in Korea. I actually cried. I phoned my mom - and told her to imagine the busiest day of shopping at home (black friday or boxing day) and multiply it ten. I didn't go back to a department store for a long, long time!! Mind you, I'm sure part of my reaction was culture shock - but seriously, its still scary!!!

Col.Brandon · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

And then it collapses on your head. I hate it when that happens.

peppermint · Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject:

I don't find department stores awful, but I avoid shopping districts like Gangnam and MyeongDong like the plague

desultude · Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject:

I sometimes go through Lotte to ge to the theaters, but otherwise, department stores have no interest for me- they are expensive and, due to sizes, useless for me.

Why in the world pay big money for mass-produced, over-priced goods?

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

I kind of like shopping. I have a natural immunity to spending too much, though. Often I'll go out and not buy anything at all, seems like some people are incapable of that.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

No christmas in Korea makes it a wonderful place. No hype, no build up, no last minute shopping.

Wonderful.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

I would love to be home shopping. Walmart had a 42" Plasma TV for $997. The same thing here is at least double the price.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

desultude · Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject:

I go home every year for the holidays, but I go with all of my gifts in hand. When I travel during the year, and here in Korea, when I see something appropriate, I buy it and stash it. I'll get to the States on the 22nd., and relax because my shopping will complete.

And nothing I give anyone looks like it came mass produced from China via Walmart. Cool

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

desultude · Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:05 am Post subject:

I have nothing in particular against the Pottery Barn/Williams Sonoma/Gap/Banana Republic malls- except if you go to a mall in the U.S., that is what you see, along with some other national retailers.

It's all so faux style, unimaginative, and boring. Not to mention ubiquitous. Blech! Use you imagination, and don't get suckered into 6 month's of paying off credit cards used to buy gifts that people don't want or need anyway.

Yeah, it is an insidious racket. You want to fall for the hype and propaganda, be my guest. My friends and family will be happy that when I was wandering the temples of Ankor Wat, or the markets in Seoul, in February or August, I saw something interesting and thought enough of them to get it for them. Beats the crap out of the Mall chain store crap bnought on the fly on Christmas Eve in frustration and anger.

Actually, I know they will really just be happy to see me, and I them.

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003