Macy’s Planning to Go Forward With Store Closures

[Bruce]

Somewhat related, but I noticed with IZOD products currently Amazon is selling the latest Spring/Summer 2024 collection at full MSRP, while JCPenney, Kohl's, and Belk are selling them for more reasonable prices. I would not pay full MSRP for clothing.

I wouldn't buy any clothing through Amazon anyway.  You cannot see and touch the fabric to determine if it's to your liking.  It also makes fitting a lot more difficult.

But returns are pretty easy - often at a Kohls. <shrugs>

Why do that when I can go to a Kohl's and just choose off the rack?

The trick is to buy some shit from Amazon, return it at Kohl's, and use the 20% coupon they give you to buy some clothes from the store.

[RobbieL2415]

I would guess that Macy's long term plan to survive is to go fully up-market, completely pricing out middle and low-income customers. I heard anecdotally they are going to rely more heavily on Bloomingdale's for that, as well.

There is literally nothing I would ever need to buy at Macy's when Target is across the street and if not, then Amazon.

With regard to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, if Macy's folded, I'm sure they would liquidate their IP assets to a venture capital firm that would then renegotiate the rights for the City of New York and Comcast to use them. Even so, the parade itself wouldn't go anywhere and it's not like the route hasn't been adjusted before.

[Pink Jazz]

Somewhat related, but I noticed with IZOD products currently Amazon is selling the latest Spring/Summer 2024 collection at full MSRP, while JCPenney, Kohl's, and Belk are selling them for more reasonable prices. I would not pay full MSRP for clothing.

I wouldn't buy any clothing through Amazon anyway.  You cannot see and touch the fabric to determine if it's to your liking.  It also makes fitting a lot more difficult.

But returns are pretty easy - often at a Kohls. <shrugs>

Why do that when I can go to a Kohl's and just choose off the rack?

The trick is to buy some shit from Amazon, return it at Kohl's, and use the 20% coupon they give you to buy some clothes from the store.

Unfortunately many of the quality name brands (including IZOD) are excluded from coupons. For men's the only quality name brands that I know that are still not excluded are Haggar and Van Heusen (which are brands that very few people still buy today).

[ErmineNotyours]

Yes.  Dear Macy's, If you didn't WANT the Bon, why the heck did you buy it?

Because of the parade.  You have this expensive parade on national television and so you want to leverage your name on it.  They used "Bon Macy's" as a transitional name, and they could have stuck with that.

I'm starting to have the same question with Rite Aid and Bartell's.  Why buy it just to shut most of them down?  Because they weren't in financial trouble when they bought Bartell's.

[freebrickproductions]

I'm starting to have the same question with Rite Aid and Bartell's.  Why buy it just to shut most of them down?  Because they weren't in financial trouble when they bought Bartell's.

Eliminating competition would be my guess.

[DenverBrian]

I'd much rather not have to return it at all because I had two minutes looking at the actual article.
Repacking it, requesting a return authorization online, taping it on the box, taking the box to a UPS outlet (or whatever).

I also don't like making the market dominant sales outlets richer.  It's in everyone's interest to ensure continued competition.

No repacking or taping a piece of paper needed. It's a QR code in an email. Take the item into Kohls, show them the QR code on your phone, they take care of repackaging.

I think your second objection is the real one.

[Road Hog]

Never even knew Macy's was going national until I saw their sign in 2000 on the exterior of Stonebriar Mall, which was going up in the middle of nowhere in Frisco. Of course I blinked and by 2006 it was completely surrounded by amazing commercial development.

[vdeane]

I'd much rather not have to return it at all because I had two minutes looking at the actual article.
Repacking it, requesting a return authorization online, taping it on the box, taking the box to a UPS outlet (or whatever).

I also don't like making the market dominant sales outlets richer.  It's in everyone's interest to ensure continued competition.

No repacking or taping a piece of paper needed. It's a QR code in an email. Take the item into Kohls, show them the QR code on your phone, they take care of repackaging.

I think your second objection is the real one.

In my mind, returns are supposed to be extraordinary events, not standard operating procedure.  It feels dishonest, even.  In my mind, you verify what you need before you buy it, and only return if something is broken or something else weird happened.  Not "I'm buying a ton of things and returning most of it because I'm using my home as a fitting room".  Just taking things out of their packaging creates a lot of work for the retailer, if they can even resell something at all.  Fun fact: there are even stories of people being banned from Amazon for returning too many things.

Not to mention that, at least around here, Kohls tends to be inconveniently located.

[kkt]

Never even knew Macy's was going national until I saw their sign in 2000 on the exterior of Stonebriar Mall, which was going up in the middle of nowhere in Frisco. Of course I blinked and by 2006 it was completely surrounded by amazing commercial development.

Do you mean Frisco, Texas?  Because Macy's was in San Francisco back to the 1950s at least, and in New York of course.

[kkt]

I'd much rather not have to return it at all because I had two minutes looking at the actual article.
Repacking it, requesting a return authorization online, taping it on the box, taking the box to a UPS outlet (or whatever).

I also don't like making the market dominant sales outlets richer.  It's in everyone's interest to ensure continued competition.

No repacking or taping a piece of paper needed. It's a QR code in an email. Take the item into Kohls, show them the QR code on your phone, they take care of repackaging.

I think your second objection is the real one.

They're both real.  My nearest Kohl's is a half hour drive each way.  Gas and aggrevation are not free.  At that rate, repacking it myself and taking it to the UPS store 10 minutes walk away looks like a win.

[Bruce]

Staples is also a dropoff option, but then again I've seen them close several Seattle-area stores. There's an entire office supply store desert forming in Lynnwood, which lost both Staples and Office Depot recently.

[Ted$8roadFan]

I also remember when Macy's bought out and closed many regional department stores in the mid-2000s, including Jordan Marsh. I hated to see it happen, but the writing was on the wall for those regional chains.......and that was before the iPhone, the Great Recession and the COVID-accelerated "you can do everything from home", among other things. I don't think Macys will completely go away, but they will need to find the sweet spot between catering to high-end shoppers while not completely shutting out the middle class.

[1995hoo]

I'd much rather not have to return it at all because I had two minutes looking at the actual article.
Repacking it, requesting a return authorization online, taping it on the box, taking the box to a UPS outlet (or whatever).

I also don't like making the market dominant sales outlets richer.  It's in everyone's interest to ensure continued competition.

No repacking or taping a piece of paper needed. It's a QR code in an email. Take the item into Kohls, show them the QR code on your phone, they take care of repackaging.

I think your second objection is the real one.

In my mind, returns are supposed to be extraordinary events, not standard operating procedure.  It feels dishonest, even.  In my mind, you verify what you need before you buy it, and only return if something is broken or something else weird happened.  Not "I'm buying a ton of things and returning most of it because I'm using my home as a fitting room".  Just taking things out of their packaging creates a lot of work for the retailer, if they can even resell something at all.  Fun fact: there are even stories of people being banned from Amazon for returning too many things.

Not to mention that, at least around here, Kohls tends to be inconveniently located.

Heh. I worked at Micro Center during the summer of 1993 and there was one customer I would now call a "return artist" (a term I picked up from my brother, whose first few jobs out of college were "loss prevention"). We all knew what he was doing because he had so many returns—he bought software, took it home, copied it, and returned it because he "didn't like it" or it was "too slow" or some other transparent excuse.

[mgk920]

Never even knew Macy's was going national until I saw their sign in 2000 on the exterior of Stonebriar Mall, which was going up in the middle of nowhere in Frisco. Of course I blinked and by 2006 it was completely surrounded by amazing commercial development.

Do you mean Frisco, Texas?  Because Macy's was in San Francisco back to the 1950s at least, and in New York of course.

And that San Francisco store is also on thier near-term chopping block.   

Mike

[Ted$8roadFan]

I also remember when Macy's bought out and closed many regional department stores in the mid-2000s, including Jordan Marsh, Burdine's, Strawbridge, etc. I hated to see it happen, but the writing was on the wall for those regional chains.......and that was before the iPhone, the Great Recession and the COVID-accelerated "you can do everything from home", among other things. I don't think Macys will completely go away, but they will need to find the sweet spot between catering to high-end shoppers while not completely shutting out the middle class.

[kkt]

Staples is also a dropoff option, but then again I've seen them close several Seattle-area stores. There's an entire office supply store desert forming in Lynnwood, which lost both Staples and Office Depot recently.

I was really surprised when the Office Depot next to University Village shut.  They were the obvous choice for individual students, faculty, and staff - near 100,000 people.  And they were also the supplier for the university's institutional needs.  All I can think of is that their property might be rented and their landlords might charge top dollar rent and made no allowance for the pandemic.

What's left is an Office Depot (might be an Office Max?) in Ballard and one on Aurora near Home Depot.  Or scrounding through an art supply store, or University Book Store, but they don't have the depth of stock.

[kalvado]

Staples is also a dropoff option, but then again I've seen them close several Seattle-area stores. There's an entire office supply store desert forming in Lynnwood, which lost both Staples and Office Depot recently.

I was really surprised when the Office Depot next to University Village shut.  They were the obvous choice for individual students, faculty, and staff - near 100,000 people.  And they were also the supplier for the university's institutional needs.  All I can think of is that their property might be rented and their landlords might charge top dollar rent and made no allowance for the pandemic.

What's left is an Office Depot (might be an Office Max?) in Ballard and one on Aurora near Home Depot.  Or scrounding through an art supply store, or University Book Store, but they don't have the depth of stock.

.....amazon......

[DenverBrian]

I'd much rather not have to return it at all because I had two minutes looking at the actual article.
Repacking it, requesting a return authorization online, taping it on the box, taking the box to a UPS outlet (or whatever).

I also don't like making the market dominant sales outlets richer.  It's in everyone's interest to ensure continued competition.

No repacking or taping a piece of paper needed. It's a QR code in an email. Take the item into Kohls, show them the QR code on your phone, they take care of repackaging.

I think your second objection is the real one.

In my mind, returns are supposed to be extraordinary events, not standard operating procedure.  It feels dishonest, even.  In my mind, you verify what you need before you buy it, and only return if something is broken or something else weird happened.  Not "I'm buying a ton of things and returning most of it because I'm using my home as a fitting room".  Just taking things out of their packaging creates a lot of work for the retailer, if they can even resell something at all.  Fun fact: there are even stories of people being banned from Amazon for returning too many things.

Not to mention that, at least around here, Kohls tends to be inconveniently located.

It's not binary. It's not either "return nothing" or "return everything you buy online."

The vast majority of people are rational about returns. They get something online, and learn something upon opening that changes their mind. <shrugs>

The online experience has created a huge advantage for all those who hate having to drive to a store, only to find that their size, color, or style isn't there.

[Brandon]

Never even knew Macy's was going national until I saw their sign in 2000 on the exterior of Stonebriar Mall, which was going up in the middle of nowhere in Frisco. Of course I blinked and by 2006 it was completely surrounded by amazing commercial development.

Do you mean Frisco, Texas?  Because Macy's was in San Francisco back to the 1950s at least, and in New York of course.

Given that he's from Collin County, Texas, I suspect he's talking about Frisco, Texas.  Stonebriar Mall: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RJzSJ6JsRzBFKjQn8

[Takumi]

Heard from an inside source that the Macy's in Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights, Virginia is going to close in the near future. It was originally Thalhimers when the mall opened, then became Hechts in 1992.

[Scott5114]

Staples is also a dropoff option, but then again I've seen them close several Seattle-area stores.

Norman, OK has neither a Kohl's nor a Staples; nearest Kohl's is in Moore and nearest Staples is off of I-240 on the south side of OKC.

I'd much rather not have to return it at all because I had two minutes looking at the actual article.
Repacking it, requesting a return authorization online, taping it on the box, taking the box to a UPS outlet (or whatever).

I also don't like making the market dominant sales outlets richer.  It's in everyone's interest to ensure continued competition.

No repacking or taping a piece of paper needed. It's a QR code in an email. Take the item into Kohls, show them the QR code on your phone, they take care of repackaging.

I think your second objection is the real one.

In my mind, returns are supposed to be extraordinary events, not standard operating procedure.  It feels dishonest, even.  In my mind, you verify what you need before you buy it, and only return if something is broken or something else weird happened.  Not "I'm buying a ton of things and returning most of it because I'm using my home as a fitting room".  Just taking things out of their packaging creates a lot of work for the retailer, if they can even resell something at all.  Fun fact: there are even stories of people being banned from Amazon for returning too many things.

Not to mention that, at least around here, Kohls tends to be inconveniently located.

It's not binary. It's not either "return nothing" or "return everything you buy online."

The vast majority of people are rational about returns. They get something online, and learn something upon opening that changes their mind. <shrugs>

The online experience has created a huge advantage for all those who hate having to drive to a store, only to find that their size, color, or style isn't there.

Ehh, I'm with Valerie on this one. I generally feel like returning something should be a last resort to be used in cases like defects or misrepresentation of the item (well, a credit card chargeback is the ultimate last resort, but this is just before that). If I just don't like something I bought, but it is in fine working order and matches the description of the item, well, that's my problem, not the seller's. If the seller has a lenient return policy, that's there to avoid bureaucracy in handling the return, not something to be relied upon as part of the process of buying.

Large retailers can afford to have extremely lenient return policies because the cost of handling them is a budget line item for them, and they can afford to lose a bit of inventory that comes back unsaleable. Small businesses don't have that luxury—I had a large return once that managed to screw up my cash flow for the whole month, and any inventory I have to toss will meaningfully affect my profit/loss number. If we normalize "oh, I bought this without thinking and am now returning it because I have the decisiveness of a housecat", then that permanently hands an advantage to large business at the expense of small business.

[Rothman]

By that logic, I shouldn't have returned the shoes that didn't fit that I purchased recently  They weren't defective -- I'm sure someone with very narrow feet could have got them in there.  Someone could have found them functional.

I'd take it further, too:  If I buy something after being led to believe it had a certain benefit when it did not, I see nothing wrong with returning it (i.e., it still works in some capacity and is not broken or defective).

[Scott5114]

By that logic, I shouldn't have returned the shoes that didn't fit that I purchased recently  They weren't defective -- I'm sure someone with very narrow feet could have got them in there.  Someone could have found them functional.

That's on you for not trying them on before buying them.

I'd take it further, too:  If I buy something after being led to believe it had a certain benefit when it did not, I see nothing wrong with returning it (i.e., it still works in some capacity and is not broken or defective).

This is what I mean by "misrepresentation of the item"—if the advertisement says it slices and dices and juliennes, but I get it out of the box and find that it doesn't do a satisfactory julienne, I would be justified in returning it. (Although if it slices and dices particularly well, I might just keep it anyway. I don't know that I've ever actually needed to julienne anything.)

[Rothman]

By that logic, I shouldn't have returned the shoes that didn't fit that I purchased recently  They weren't defective -- I'm sure someone with very narrow feet could have got them in there.  Someone could have found them functional.

That's on you for not trying them on before buying them.

Hey, 20th Century Dude.  People buy online nowadays, fuddy duddy.

[Scott5114]

By that logic, I shouldn't have returned the shoes that didn't fit that I purchased recently  They weren't defective -- I'm sure someone with very narrow feet could have got them in there.  Someone could have found them functional.

That's on you for not trying them on before buying them.

Hey, 20th Century Dude.  People buy online nowadays, fuddy duddy.

I don't buy shoes online because I don't want to spend money on something that doesn't fit. (The only exception would be well-established styles, like Converse, where I know already how they will fit due to having owned a pair of them previously.)