Comments on: Deepening the Downturn http://susiemadrak.com/2008/04/18/06/28/deepening-the-downturn/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:39:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: John http://susiemadrak.com/2008/04/18/06/28/deepening-the-downturn/#comment-141247 John Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:05:50 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/?p=24516#comment-141247 I know all about this, I went from a nice paying job in a hospital business office to my first ever retail job. Now most weeks my take home pay is a third or less of what it had been. There has been only one week where I took home what I use to. But I'm partly dependent on commission and since sales have been sucking that doesn't help. I'm selling mattresses and rugs which are for most people are a purchase they will defer until later if at all. So it's hoping every day for a stroke of luck or someone replacing everything lost in a fire. I know all about this, I went from a nice paying job in a hospital business office to my first ever retail job. Now most weeks my take home pay is a third or less of what it had been. There has been only one week where I took home what I use to. But I’m partly dependent on commission and since sales have been sucking that doesn’t help.

I’m selling mattresses and rugs which are for most people are a purchase they will defer until later if at all. So it’s hoping every day for a stroke of luck or someone replacing everything lost in a fire.

]]> By: pragmatic_realist http://susiemadrak.com/2008/04/18/06/28/deepening-the-downturn/#comment-141193 pragmatic_realist Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:53:34 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/?p=24516#comment-141193 I work as a cashier in a major chain supermarket. (Why I am working there part-time for minimum wage at the age of 57 with two Master's degrees is a long story.) Anyway, I like to work the express line (15 items or less for those who bother to read the sign) because you can see out the window from there. I haven't actually done the math, but my guess is that the average express line total is up to $45 or so. Even the rich people who lay down their steaks, wine, sushi and asparagus are starting to flinch a little bit when I hit "Total"; for them the bill is more like $95. This store also has a fuel center to sell gas to the people, and all I heard yesterday was how gas had gone up 15 cents from the night before. Last night from 5:00 pm to 6:00pm when we are usually smashed with the "going home from work" crowd, there were noticeably fewer customers in the store. Something is going on, and it has started to bite in the last month, since Easter. I work as a cashier in a major chain supermarket. (Why I am working there part-time for minimum wage at the age of 57 with two Master’s degrees is a long story.)

Anyway, I like to work the express line (15 items or less for those who bother to read the sign) because you can see out the window from there. I haven’t actually done the math, but my guess is that the average express line total is up to $45 or so. Even the rich people who lay down their steaks, wine, sushi and asparagus are starting to flinch a little bit when I hit “Total”; for them the bill is more like $95.

This store also has a fuel center to sell gas to the people, and all I heard yesterday was how gas had gone up 15 cents from the night before.

Last night from 5:00 pm to 6:00pm when we are usually smashed with the “going home from work” crowd, there were noticeably fewer customers in the store. Something is going on, and it has started to bite in the last month, since Easter.

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