Walmart has artificial christmas trees up.........

[CathyA]

I believe this is earlier than ever before. At least the christmas music is only in the garden area with all the other christmas stuff. I shouldn't be surprised,......but I AM disappointed. I should know better.......

[mschrisgo2]

They have been up since Oct. first where I live. They re-purposed the entire garden center, then moved into the main store as the school supplies dwindled. haven't seen any actual buying yet, though.

[Yppej]

Today the Christmas music started on Sirius XM, but they do confine it to a couple stations.

[CathyA]

I saw a commercial on TV today that was hinting at christmas. Oh no.......... That gets so old so fast.

[TooSweetForMe]

I saw a Wal-Mart Christmas ad late last night.

[Williamsmith]

My wife’s go to Channel for relaxation is Hallmark. I guess the advertisers have figured out there’s enough of a share to dedicate Harlequine romance type mini movies with horribly written plots and sometimes horribly acted. The standard recipe is woman or man has a fiancé they don’t really want to marry, they find themselves taking a vacation or business trip where they bump into an attractive distraction. They drift further from the fiancé and closer toward the love interest. It all ends when the fiancé is dumped and the new lovers kiss. For Christmas, throw in snow, decorations, warm fireplaces, hot cocoa, sleigh rides, Santa Claus, baking, being stranded by road closures and children and puppies.

This programming has begun already.....all the other programming has been replaced. The only show I could stomach has been suspended until January. Monk.....of course. I’m anxiously awaiting New Years Eve.

[SteveinMN]

Around here the Hallmark stores routinely have ornaments on display by September. And yesterday I was in one of the local supermarket chains to find the Halloween stuff on one Lozier and non-perishable Christmas décor and food on several others. No store décor yet; that's coming soon, I'm sure.

[Lainey]

Around here the Hallmark stores routinely have ornaments on display by September. .....

I've been wondering how the Hallmark stores are hanging in there financially. So many people I know just go to the Dollar stores when they need wrapping paper, gift bags and cards. So it must be the ornaments and other gifty-type things that are keeping them afloat?

[ToomuchStuff]

I've been wondering how the Hallmark stores are hanging in there financially. So many people I know just go to the Dollar stores when they need wrapping paper, gift bags and cards. So it must be the ornaments and other gifty-type things that are keeping them afloat?


I wonder how many of the stores are franchises now, verses company stores?
I have three friends who had them, and all are gone (one retired a couple years ago and closed). I think the only other one I know about is a corporate store (really should ask one of them next time I see them).
Besides cards (typically in the area, need one quick), I expect most of their sales are the cutesy stuff. (figurines, ornaments, dog collar bow ties, Laurie's kitchen soup mixes, etc) I know that one conversation about a friend of mine who was one of their biggest customers years ago, was that type of gifty stuff.

[CathyA]

My wife’s go to Channel for relaxation is Hallmark. I guess the advertisers have figured out there’s enough of a share to dedicate Harlequine romance type mini movies with horribly written plots and sometimes horribly acted. The standard recipe is woman or man has a fiancé they don’t really want to marry, they find themselves taking a vacation or business trip where they bump into an attractive distraction. They drift further from the fiancé and closer toward the love interest. It all ends when the fiancé is dumped and the new lovers kiss. For Christmas, throw in snow, decorations, warm fireplaces, hot cocoa, sleigh rides, Santa Claus, baking, being stranded by road closures and children and puppies.

This programming has begun already.....all the other programming has been replaced. The only show I could stomach has been suspended until January. Monk.....of course. I’m anxiously awaiting New Years Eve.

:laff:

[SteveinMN]

I've been wondering how the Hallmark stores are hanging in there financially.
I imagine Hallmark stores took a hit with the spread of sites like Facebook, which not only reminds you of a friend's birthday, but almost literally puts the comment field in front of you to type your wish right then. Instant gratification. :-) The only time I buy cards anymore is for people who are not on Facebook or even on email (I like to send personal notes to birthday celebrants).

The ornaments, IMHO, have descended into that special place occupied by so many other manufacturers (comic books, scale-model toy cars,...): lots of licensing/product/event tie-ins and a steady stream of "this year's ornament", almost none of which will be worth anything ever because they're creating "limited editions" in the hundreds of thousands and everybody thinks they'll be worth a fortune someday. >8)

I actually have some (too many) that I've received from my mom over the years; enough that I choose subsets of them for each year's tree. Our tree has been shrinking over the years (following my declining interest in putting hours into decorating it and taking it all down). If I were smart, I'd sell some of the lesser-loved ones on craigslist or such now (before Christmas).

[gmpg54]

Friend worked for Kmart for many years.Labor day weekend all the display trées were assembled and decorated in the store room to be moved onto the sale floor at whatever date they decided.
Hobby Lobby also puts out all their Christmas decor late August- early December.

[SteveinMN]

Hobby Lobby also puts out all their Christmas decor late August- early December.
I get craft/hobby stores putting out Christmas stuff because you need time to complete the project before the holiday season. But that doesn't mean the entire store has to go "White Christmas". And Hobby Lobby has plenty of stuff that requires no assembly or craft.

[Teacher Terry]

I rarely set foot in a store anymore. I buy most things online and my DH does the grocery shopping.

[Lainey]

I have to admit I was in Michaels this morning(using the 40% off coupon of course) and I still prefer in-store shopping vs. online.

Michaels also has their Christmas items out, and it's nice to see the new and different styles on display. I like seeing the scale of things, and feeling the material they use, plus stumbling onto something that I wouldn't normally have searched for. Doesn't mean I have to buy it, just that it can spark some creative thinking for gift-giving or my own crafting. Scrolling through screens on a laptop just isn't the same.

[frugalone]

Oh, I was in Hobby Lobby back in early August, and I swear to you that had not only Halloween stuff out, but Christmas stuff too.

Our Hallmark stores always had their ornaments up in July.

[BikingLady]

Neighbors had their Christmas Lights hung today by their yard company. Ugg

[Teacher Terry]

I won't shop in HObby Lobby because they hide behind religion so they don't have to pay for birth control for their employees.

[iris lilies]

I won't shop in HObby Lobby because they hide behind religion so they don't have to pay for birth control for their employees.I suppose it doesnt matter to you, but Hobby Lobby et al were opposed to only one type of birth control out of a large array of birth control products. The method that treats a fertilized egg is the method they found incnsistent with their religious values to not “ end human life after conception.” They were fine with methods that prevented fertilizing an egg which is what the vast majority of current, effective methods do.

This seems an important distinction to me. And that position seems reasonable to me.

Just because I dont personally give a rip about a fertilized egg doesnt mean that others should not. I dont require lock step actions of social control.The Catholic Church is probably a bigger offender in the game of insurance covering free birth control than Hobby Lobby, anyway.

I shop at Hobby Lobby but am alternately horrified/mezmerized by it for reasons that have nothing to do with birth control. All of that cheap crap from China fills my basement and my head with potential floral designs.

[ApatheticNoMore]

No their position wasn't reasonable it was completely stupid. The need to take sex ed 101 because they don't know anything. It's hard to believe that people can reach adulthood with that level of the astounding ignorance about human biology and flaunt it. They should at least talk to an actual doctor or two before inserting foot in mouth. Because there is no difference between how the birth control they don't want to pay for works (at least as far as IUDs are concerned) and how birth control pills work. Noone else is obliged to respect them for being as dumb as a pile of rocks and pretending this stupidity is principal in order to maximize profits at the expense of their employees healthcare. At least the Catholics are more consistent with their natural family planning it seems to me (not the most effective of course, I just said consistent).

No it's not like I would be shopping there a lot, what does Hobby Lobby have that I could possibly need or even want, I haven't even figured out.

[Teacher Terry]

IL: So you are saying that they do pay for other types?

[Alan]

IL: So you are saying that they do pay for other types?

16 or so types of birth control are covered under Hobby Lobby's employee insurance plan. Maybe you'll have to refuse to shop there for other reasons?

[ApatheticNoMore]

How about because it shouldn't be their right as a private for-profit company to determine which type of birth control women should use when this is far better determined by a woman's own needs. Oh but I forgot sexism means that women never know what is a good choice for them but people who wouldn't pass a basic biology class and don't seem to understand human reproduction do. Never mind.

[Teacher Terry]

I looked it up. It is great that they are paying for most types. I am still not happy about not paying for IUD's. The morning after pill is a gray area but a woman could have been raped and then needed it. As my Mom used to say-"If men got pregnant birth control and abortion would be a god given right."

[iris lilies]

IL: So you are saying that they do pay for other types?

Yes.

[iris lilies]

No their position wasn't reasonable it was completely stupid. The need to take sex ed 101 because they don't know anything. It's hard to believe that people can reach adulthood with that level of the astounding ignorance about human biology and flaunt it. They should at least talk to an actual doctor or two before inserting foot in mouth. Because there is no difference between how the birth control they don't want to pay for works (at least as far as IUDs are concerned) and how birth control pills work. Noone else is obliged to respect them for being as dumb as a pile of rocks and pretending this stupidity is principal in order to maximize profits at the expense of their employees healthcare. At least the Catholics are more consistent with their natural family planning it seems to me (not the most effective of course, I just said consistent).

No it's not like I would be shopping there a lot, what does Hobby Lobby have that I could possibly need or even want, I haven't even figured out.

There is that medication popularly known as “morning after”pill, does that count as a method that inhibits a fertilized egg? That one is obvious.

There is one IUD that works in a way that MAY inhibit the viability of a fertilized egg. From what I read of (granted) web -general articles years ago, and at the time anyway, there was no universal clarity as to how it treated a fertiziled egg, at least the medical community was divided. It worked but there was divided opnion about how it worked.

There is another aspect to this that I cant remember details of but it has to do with timing to define what “fertilized”really means.

[ApatheticNoMore]

There is one IUD that works in a way that MAY inhibit the viability of a fertilized egg.

it is my understanding that so might birth control pills if somehow a fertilized egg happened. It's not either of those methods primary mode of action. That's why I said I don't think there is actually any difference between what they fund and what they don't. They have taken pure conjecture and fake news entirely too far.

[Teacher Terry]

Are you going to be a business or be a religion? Boston does not want Chick Fil because they give a lot of money to anti-gay groups.

[iris lilies]

I looked it up. It is great that they are paying for most types. I am still not happy about not paying for IUD's. The morning after pill is a gray area but a woman could have been raped and then needed it. As my Mom used to say-"If men got pregnant birth control and abortion would be a god given right."


I am glad that you at least recognize morning after pill as a “grey area.” I think those who are concerned about that method of birth control are not raving lunatics, but if you read Planned Parenthood media pieces on
hobby Lobby you will see that they make no effort to distinguish between any kind of birth control in this issue to paint all as are raving lunatics who just want to see women barefoot and pregnant.

And also it is not all iUD’s Hobby Lobby objected to, just one type.

To your final point which is basically “someone will be inconvenienced” I have to say, well, yeah. No kidding.

But the big important picture here is that we are NOT talking about outlawing anything. We are not talking about disallowing insurance companies in general to not cover birth control products. we are not disallowing any organization to pay for a birth control product for Hobby Lobby employees of fertile age range (a tiny percentage of the population.)

For practical purposes this is a non issue. For a broad constitutional issue of freedom from government interference to practice religion, it is a big issue.

Edited to add: good god, I jus looked up the cost of Plan B “morning after” pill. It is in the $30 range. The wailing of victims in this issue is completely ridiculous. Women now have unfettered access to Plan B, it is cheap, no dr requored. And still thhe whining goes on.

[Williamsmith]

Are you going to be a business or be a religion? Boston does not want Chick Fil because they give a lot of money to anti-gay groups.

The Supreme Court has already decided that corporations can be the same as “person” for the purposes of the law as it refers to religious freedom. There have been plenty of exemptions made for religious convictions, not the least of which was the opting out of Social Security by Amish sects because it violated their religious objections to “insurance.” From what I know of HL, they don’t open on Sunday...they pipe in religious music.....they don’t sell anything with alcohol in it.... if they are hurting their business model like that just is they don’t have to pay for a few birth control prescriptions, Well seems a stretch to me.

[CathyA]

You know, maybe it's because when I was younger and used B.C. pills, it was never covered by insurance. It seems odd to me that anyone would expect that. It's not that expensive. Seems like it should just be covered for people who are unable to afford it, like on Medicaid.

[Teacher Terry]

The baker that refused to bake cakes for gay people has lost 40% of his business by not making wedding cakes. Not sure if he is required to bake all wedding cakes and not be able to choose. BC is a lot cheaper to pay for then having a baby for insurance companies.

[JaneV2.0]

I'd prefer to pay for my health care and maintain my autonomy. But since insurance companies and Pharma have taken over the industry, that's not possible. i don't understand why birth control--which most women use at some point--should be any more a point of contention than, say, blood pressure medicine.

I believe both Oregon and Washington offer OTC birth control pills.

[ApatheticNoMore]

people may not make the best decisions for them financially or otherwise if paying out of pocket. Even to figure birth control costs over years of use you have to look at years of use, but if it has an high initial cost (say several hundred for an IUD etc.. which still makes it cheap given the lifespan of the devices) people don't always, they just go for what's cheap now, and that isn't just their bone-headedness, in many cases it's simply because they don't have the money up front at all.

So that's kind of the whole point of having some kind of health coverage. So the birth control mandates pretty much enabled women who wouldn't be able to have free choice of birth control to have it without worrying about costs, but again they were absolutely not making sensible long term decisions based on costs before they were merely optimizing short term affordability. So the mandate opens up choices and affordability. Why cover pregnancy and not birth control anyway? That really makes no sense.

[iris lilies]

people may not make the best decisions for them financially or otherwise if paying out of pocket. Even to figure birth control costs over years of use you have to look at years of use, but if it has an high initial cost (say several hundred for an IUD etc.. which still makes it cheap given the lifespan of the devices) people don't always, they just go for what's cheap now, and that isn't just their bone-headedness, in many cases it's simply because they don't have the money up front at all.

So that's kind of the whole point of having some kind of health coverage. So the birth control mandates pretty much enabled women who wouldn't be able to have free choice of birth control to have it without worrying about costs, but again they were absolutely not making sensible long term decisions based on costs before they were merely optimizing short term affordability. So the mandate opens up choices and affordability. Why cover pregnancy and not birth control anyway? That really makes no sense.

The entire costs of IUD insertion including physician’s fees is not cheap, that is true.

I continue to think that the odd focus on women’s birth control products sort of infantilizes women and paints a picture of them throwing ip their hands and crying that that cannot provide this very basic, essential product for themselves. Nanny G, or more like the male dominated Congress have to do it for them. Ick.

[Ultralight]

The entire costs of IUD insertion including physician’s fees is not cheap, that is true.

I continue to think that the odd focus on women’s birth control products sort of infantilizes women and paints a picture of them throwing ip their hands and crying that that cannot provide this very basic, essential product for themselves. Nanny G, or more like the male dominated Congress have to do it for them. Ick.

Anything that will get more women to use birth control is worth a few more of my tax dollars!

[Teacher Terry]

How about men taking equal responsibility for BC? What a novel idea UL!

[BikingLady]

My simple little only personal way of looking at this and speaking from only my own personal experience. How can anyone, whoever they may be, whatever position they hold, say what a person, in this case woman can do with her own body and choices? I for the life of me have never understood why birth control is not available OTC. Condoms are. With all the sides on abortion yelling. Seems like the OTC option would take care of many, but not all of course.

I had to make a choice at 17 with turning 18 in the time frame needed. The choice is something I alone have to live with and make peace with of which I have.

I have always said those yelling sides, IF they took that time to hold the hand of a woman making a choice they may see the other side and give that thought. Guess that could be said for just about every issue out there on choices.

Peace

[BikingLady]

But back to the Christmas Trees and Ho Ho....way to early but money is money. A neighbor who I take once a year to the Hallmark store in a different city ( I buy nothing and only do this for her). She had to go the other day as it was Open House for ornaments. She was upset as there was not as many trinkets as she felt they always had. Yes the selection of crap was lower then other years. I explained Online Shopping was the way to go and most likely Hallmark would have all she needed online. NOPE it was the event of touching and holding the stuff. So she could get the tree up NOW!

[CathyA]

This country is getting just too complicated. :(