People were on vacation but not buying anything

I mentioned yesterday I went on a mini vacation in Door County.

It is a lovely area and dotted with all kinds of unique stores/boutiques. The area is big for artists and craftspeople.

When I was trying to book at hotel or Airbnb I realized that almost everything was very full.
I was lucky and got the last room at a place. As we drove through the town every single hotel said “Sorry”. That was their way or saying no vacancy.
Trying to make dinner reservations was similar, all booked.

So here’s the interesting part. We did a couple days of shopping. There were load of people but NOBODY was buying anything. It was truly bizarre. Did everyone buy enough crap during Covid? Were people doing a budget vacation? It wasn’t one or two stores, it seemed like every single store. Even stores that are normally jammed packed, like the candy store or other tourist trap places. This area relies on their seasonal tourist and it’s not looking pretty.

Then we went to go have brunch. We saw something similar. People were going out to eat, but weren’t really eating full meals. The table next to us were a party of four and they were sharing a single slice of cake…. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, if that is what they want to do, but that will have a profound impact on these kinds of towns. These kinds of places can’t stay open when people only order one piece of cake for four people and dirty dishes and take up space.

I think these are all litmus test of what is to come. If you really open your eyes you can see human behavior and how things are not looking good.

a reply to: JAGStorm

I was overseas last week and people were spending life mofo's everywhere. I was actually surprised how many tourists there were.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Tourist towns are almost always over-priced. With the current inflation, I'd imagine that the prices in SOME tourist towns have surpassed the point of being ridiculous.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: JAGStorm

I was overseas last week and people were spending life mofo's everywhere. I was actually surprised how many tourists there were.

I’m not surprised. I think the people with money are spending it outside of the US.
They sure aren’t spending it in the little tourist towns here, but they are visiting them!

originally posted by: BrokenCircles
a reply to: JAGStorm

Tourist towns are almost always over-priced. With the current inflation, I'd imagine that the prices in SOME tourist towns have surpassed the point of being ridiculous.

A large number of the shops I went into had a sign that said NO Cellphone or Camera use.
I don’t think it was because people are copying their designs, but more so people wouldn’t look on Amazon to find it cheaper.

What we noticed most was the food prices were incredibly high. That is probably why people were only eating cake or sharing a meal.

a reply to: JAGStorm

My sons and their wives came down last week...went to Disney World for 3 days and bought zero Chinese souvenir crap from the giftshops.

originally posted by: JAGStorm
I’m not surprised. I think the people with money are spending it outside of the US.
They sure aren’t spending it in the little tourist towns here, but they are visiting them!

When you are away from home you need accommodations and meals, so they are spending it somewhere.

originally posted by: IAMTAT
a reply to: JAGStorm

My sons and their wives came down last week...went to Disney World for 3 days and bought zero Chinese souvenir crap from the giftshops.

They didn’t want a $48 weird shaped cup, or a $400 piece of “art”.

Disney has the best marketing in the world but I think a lot of people are pulling back. Maybe working from home people realized how much crap they have.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

When you are away from home you need accommodations and meals, so they are spending it somewhere.

They are for sure spending it on accommodations. It also appears they are going to restaurants but just not eating/spending like pre-covid. I know people that vacation but still make all their own meals, like sandwiches etc.

The Texans are back in full force here in the land of Enchantment, Buying weed and gambling in the casinos and race tracks, spending that money, buying bad art in Santa Fe, Taos and Ruidoso, like they used to precovid. Sorry, No Vacancy!

a reply to: JAGStorm
Typically, lunch and dinner in my small town sees people lined up in the drive-thru all over town and the inside filled up as well. Our restaurants do a lot of business around here, but lately I have noticed a reduction in lines and cars parked on the lot. Folks are starting to tighten their belts and I expect to see a lot more of it as fuel and food prices creep higher and higher. Inflation is the new pandemic...

originally posted by: olaru12
The Texans are back in full force here in the land of Enchantment, Buying weed and gambling in the casinos and race tracks, spending that money, like they used to precovid. Sorry, No Vacancy!

That isn’t a good sign either.
During all hard times the things that make the most money are Vice purchases!
Gambling, alcohol and drugs and illicit sales….

originally posted by: JAGStorm
They are for sure spending it on accommodations. It also appears they are going to restaurants but just not eating/spending like pre-covid. I know people that vacation but still make all their own meals, like sandwiches etc.

Unless you're a fatty fatso on a diet you still need to eat the same amount.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Also airlines are full because people bought the tickets when they were cheap last Summer. But now when they get to the resort, they can barely afford anything. One breakfast at an Orlando Fl. resort last month (Orange Lake) was $28.00. Families were coming in, looking at the menu, and leaving.

a reply to: JAGStorm

High gas prices are starting to (finally) reduce the number of cars on the highway. I made it into downtown Chicago yesterday in 45 minutes, and only slowed down once. It was like the height of Covid shutdown again. (Normally takes 1hr5min during the day.)

Yesterday, MSNBC's Biden-lovers said despite the high gas prices, people are driving as much as they normally do, because the economy is so robust.

They're going to have to cancel that narrative soon.

originally posted by: carewemust
Also airlines are full because people bought the tickets when they were cheap last Summer.

Buying tickets eleven months out is not cheap, the pricing algorithm knows when you buy that far out you are dedicated to that trip. Cheaper flights are in the two month to three weeks out range.

a reply to: JAGStorm

The other thing I saw, HELP WANTED at every SINGLE store and restaurant, every single one!!!

Many of the place only had one person working. It didn’t matter too much because people weren’t buying.

originally posted by: JAGStorm

originally posted by: olaru12
The Texans are back in full force here in the land of Enchantment, Buying weed and gambling in the casinos and race tracks, spending that money, like they used to precovid. Sorry, No Vacancy!

That isn’t a good sign either.
During all hard times the things that make the most money are Vice purchases!
Gambling, alcohol and drugs and illicit sales….

It's not up to me what people send their money on. Or you!

a reply to: olaru12

It's not up to me what people send their money on. Or you!

Of course it isn’t. Ever heard that a hooker can tell you more about the market than a broker?
There is truth to that.

I think human behavior is very predictable for the most part, and from what I’ve seen we should all be concerned.

a reply to: JAGStorm

It's probably a combo of broke AF budget vacationing, and seeing the tourist gouging for what it is -- unjustifiably high prices for cheapo junk items, with branding, or in the artsy cases, a flowery Starving/Struggling Artist guilt trip laid on thick.

It doesn't work anymore, at least until it proves itself as either beneficial, or a short-term fad. In effect, my life-long mentality for how I view & value objects and currency have finally caught on, they just call it "Kondo Style" now.