FANNIE MAY IS FADING AWAY

Remember when your city had a Fannie May store? Ours was on a corner right in the center of town. I think my sister worked there for awhile. They gave away samples. Who could resist buying a pound of Mint Meltaways or Chocolate Truffles. The perfect gift for every occasion. Even after my children left home and spread out across the country, they loved receiving a box of their favorite chocolates in the mail. The candy was a bit more expensive than drugstore chocolates, but well worth it. Sadly, it’s one of life’s simple pleasures that’s coming to an end. Fannie May is fading away.

For decades, I sent loved ones Fannie May Candy for every birthday, Christmas and Easter. Some had favorites, like Pixies. Others didn’t care, as long as it was from Fannie May. It was something a little special that I enjoyed doing.

Most of the retail stores closed several years ago., although there are still a few in Illinois and Indiana. For awhile, you could scout around for a Fannie May kiosk in some malls. They didn’t ship, but for $22, you could buy a pound that fit into a post office sleeve, and mail it to anywhere in the USA for $5. When they closed those stores, you could still order directly by calling Fannie May. I think they had free shipping. And then that stopped. You couldn’t order online at all. Now, Fannie May has changed their policy once again and you can order online, but shipping and handling costs are $23.95! No savings there.

Last week, I decided to order candy for a relative recovering from surgery. Much to my surprise, Fannie May Chocolates now sell for $49.95 a pound on Amazon. That 100% inflation. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Federal Reserve Chairmen Jerome Powell say our inflation rate is 5%. Don’t believe them.

.No wonder Fannie May is fading away. There’s a limit to how much the average person will pay for a box of chocolates.

May 5, 2021May 5, 2021

GRANNY’S KINDLE ALARMS ATLANTA TSA

Remember when everyone had a Kindle ? If you were traveling, you would see people in hotels and motels sitting in the lobby reading their Kindle. On beaches, paperbacks were replaced by those little gray devices that someone had received for their birthday or Christmas. It was all the rage. However, when we stopped going south for the Winter, my Kindle was relegated to a desk drawer. Last week, I recharged it for a trip to my granddaughter’s wedding. Stuck it in my suitcase, and sailed through TSA at the Indy airport. But on the return trip from Atlanta, I was stopped by airport security and told my bag would have to be opened. Did they think an octogenarian in a wheelchair was carrying something dangerous? Turns out, Granny’s Kindle alarms Atlanta TSA.

Whew. They didn’t inspect my Kindle for suspicious reading material. Actually, I didn’t even have to remove my sandals. But I learned my lesson. Should have put my Kindle device in the tray along with my cell phone. Then I would have avoided the embarrassment of exposing the contents of my sloppily packed suitcase.

Here’s what’s happed to the Kindle: It’s gone out of style. When launched ten years ago, it seemed miraculous. You could carry hundreds of stories in that little slip of thick, black plastic. And it was pricy, at $399. In 2014, 32% of adults used a Kindle or Nook for reading e books. Currently, only 19% own an e reader. Why? Because they’re considered clunky compared to reading an e book on your I phone.

Yes, I could spend hours gripping my slippery cell phone and squinting to read a 435 page novel. But I’d much rather relax with my trusty Kindle that I can prop on my knees during a plane ride When you have arthritic fingers, bigger is definitely better. And reading a Kindle is much easier on the eyes. Amazon uses eInk technology on Kindle. This means that the screens reflect light in the same way that paper does, so that your eyes won’t get tired when reading like they do when looking at an iPhone.

At home, I prefer reading real books. I like turning pages, and the feel of a hardcover in my hands. Not sure if or when I’ll be getting on another airplane. But you never know what’s going to come up. So, I’ll store my Kindle in a drawer, available if needed. . However, since Granny’s Kindle alarms Atlanta TSA, I’ll throw it on the conveyor belt in plain sight if I ever fly again.

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021

ONLINE RETURNS A PAIN IN THE NECK

Most of us have done more online shopping during the covid-19 pandemic than ever before. We’ve ordered all kinds of products that we could buy at a store. That’s been helpful. But it’s different with clothing and shoes. Even though a few retailers are still open, their dressing rooms are closed. So, it’s no different than online shopping. I’ve ordered more dresses, shoes, and sports outfits online than ever before. And half the time, they have to be returned. Online returns are a pain in the neck.

Many retailers offer free shipping for certain items. . Somehow, this lulls you into forgetting that they may have to be returned, and this could cost you . As an example: I ordered a dress, not realizing it came from Hong Kong. This meant a three week wait. When the item came, two things were wrong: 1. Although I’d ordered a size larger than normal, it was still too small . 2. The material in the dress was see-though. Yes, you could see the color of my underwear. Don’t they know women don’t wear slips anymore? It’s hard to believe anyone would keep a dress like this. Where would you feel comfortable wearing it? And so, I printed out an Amazon return label, and was told that I would be charged for return shipping. Only about 4.00, so not too bad.

Ordering shoes online is especially problematic is you have anything wrong with your feet. Only certain shoe styles accommodate annoying problems like bunions and hammertoes. But remember, shoes are heavier. You not only have to pay for shipping, you also have to pay shipping on returns. So, buying and returning a pair of ill fitting shoes can result in at least $10 bucks in shipping costs.

Online returns a pain in the neck. Shipping costs and waiting in line at the post office is the downside of online shopping. — Purchases are often disappointing. Online returns are a pain in the neck.

But it’s not just the cost that’s bothersome. It’s the time and effort it takes to repackage the item, tape it up, and find a place to return it. In our city, UPS is located miles away in a busy part of town. Sometimes they’ll let you return the item to Kohl’s—in the same part of town. First, you have to find a parking place. Then , put on our mask, walk through the store, and stand in line for service. Those lines have grown much longer during this pandemic. Other retailers let you use the Post office, which results in the same inconvenience.

I really miss shopping in the mall. The luxury of trying on three or four dresses or pair of shoes before making a decision. Knowing that what you see is what you get—not some distorted picture in an online catalog. Will department stores ever make a comeback? I wish they would, because online returns are a pain In the neck.

March 6, 2021March 6, 2021

CLOTHES AREN’T FUN ANYMORE

For one solid year, I have not taken the time to try on any new clothes. In fact, my closet is full of outfits I’ve not worn during the covid-19 pandemic lockdown. When I went to the grocery store, I didn’t care what I wore because no one recognized me. Especially during the cooler months when my head was covered with a stocking cap. It didn’t matter if anything matched. The only requirement was that summer clothes kept me cool and winter clothes , warm. Now that most everyone will be vaccinated by Summer, I’m preparing to attend social events where it will matter what you wear. I’d forgotten that trying and buying clothes is boring and time consuming. Clothes aren’t fun anymore. .

The first problem is that there’s no place to shop and try things on. . All of my favorite stores like Macy’s and Carson’s have closed. Do you remember those all day shopping excursions that included a fancy lunch and maybe even a glass of wine.? Those days are over, unless you live near a big city. Shopping on line is a real pain. Clothes aren’t the same color they looked like on Amazon.

And then, there’s the way things fit. If you’re a 20 something, everything looks good. Fashion models don’t eat much. But most ordinary women do. And we have a few bulges we’d like to hide. Online clothes may look good, but when you model them in front of your mirror, it’s enough to make you cry.

Now, you’re faced with returns. Sometimes there’s no charge. But often, you’re surprised to find that there is. Bought a pair of shoes for $39 that said “free shipping.” Turned out they didn’t fit. They provided me with a prepaid return shipping label that charged $10 to my Visa. And there’s the hassle of boxing the items and dropping them off at the post office.

Sooner or later, the day will come when you step back out into the world. You can spend an hour trying different combinations of tops and pants to make sure they look coordinated. What a waste of time. I had forgotten the pain of buying clothes and trying them on. Clothes aren’t fun anymore.

February 1, 2021February 1, 2021

WARNING! RUN ON PUZZLE TABLES

When was the last time you finished a jigsaw puzzle? Since I was born before the dawn of television, jigsaw puzzles were a popular entertainment for kids. During the winter, we always had one going on a card table in the living room. I don’t know when or why that all ended, but by the time I was in high school, the puzzles were gone. In the decades that followed, I didn’t know anyone who worked them. But Covid-19 lockdown changed all that. Stuck at home, with nothing much to do but read and watch TV. Suddenly, jigsaw puzzles took on a new luster. Around Christmas, we decided to invest in a jigsaw folding table. But it turned out to be difficult. Warning! There’s a run on puzzle tables.

Why would anyone spend the money on a single purpose table? Because puzzles –the good ones, anyway—take time to complete. Maybe even weeks. Our living room space was cluttered by two card tables—one for the stray pieces, and another for the work in progress that had been started. We got on Amazon and looked for tables. We didn’t want a puzzle board, we wanted a stand alone folding table. There weren’t many to pick from. Googled puzzle tables and found a metal folding table we liked. It was more expensive than we anticipated, but what the heck. Ordered it and waited for it’s arrival.

The table never came. The manufacturer kept sending us notices that the delivery would be late. And then, about a month later, they said they had run out of stock, and we wouldn’t receive one at all. Bummer!

Back to Amazon. Ordered a Hammacher Schlemmer deluxe model. Same thing happened. First they gave a delivery date, then they said they’d run out. So, we went straight to Ham/ Schlem. They, too, procrastinated on delivery. Kept postponing the date. Until finally, yesterday, Fed Ex brought the table to our door.

Did you know that jigsaw puzzles are good for the brain? They prevent cognitive decline, improve memory and problem solving ability, also, increase your IQ.

Warning! There’s a run on puzzle tables during this pandemic.

August 15, 2020August 15, 2020

ANOTHER BLOW TO RETAIL THERAPY

Our neighborhood mall provides air conditioned comfort for summer walkers, and warmth on sub zero winter days. But more, much more than that, it has been home to a discount department store that meets your needs and fulfills your desires. That’s all ending. In another blow to retail therapy, Stein Mart has just declared bankruptcy.

Blow to Retail Therapy: Stein Mart leaves us without retail therapy — Another Blow to Retail Therapy: Stein Mart declares bankruptcy

As a child growing up in the post depression years, the inside of a department store was like a field of dreams. With no internet or TV, entertainment was limited to the radio and movies. Even if you didn’t have a dime, the department store atmosphere was an escape from the humdrum world we lived in. The fragrances from the cosmetic counter, glamorous store clerks, latest fashions, and shiny new housewares promised a better world.. When I was old enough to earn my own money, it was delightful to wander from department to department, admiring all the shiny merchandise before I made a purchase.

Later, after I’d graduated from college and moved to Chicago, I was mesmerized by the glamour and sophistication of the Marshall Field Department store. I would go there after work and simply wander around, admiring the latest fashions. Since I could sew, I often copied a designer fashion for a fraction of the price. And the store windows! Especially at Christmas, they were full of wonder and beauty.

According to Forbes magazine, the appeal of department store was due to these five factors:

Inspiration
Immediate Gratification
Convenience
Taction (the idea of touching, feeling, trying products on, i.e., getting help or confidence in a purchase)
Experience (the memory or social delight of being somewhere)

As a parent, I enjoyed shopping in department stores for my children, even though I was often on a tight budget. But the one of the best things of being a grandparent was shopping with my granddaughters.. I loved taking them to the mall and buying them special things that maybe their parents thought were too extravagant. What a joy to see their faces light up as they bought a pretty dress or a pair of fancy boots.

The pandemic is merely hastening the beginning of the end. Everyone’s ordering online for products they can’t smell, feel, or really see. A picture is one dimensional. What looks good online might not suit you at all. Shopping on a computer doesn’t even come close to the fun of trying on clothes in a department store with a friend or relative along.

There are a couple of chains hanging on for dear life—Kohl’s and Tj Maxx, for example. But will they last forever? Sad to say, I’m afraid retail therapy is coming to a sad, slow end.