In Las Vegas I always try to avoid the free alcoholic drinks the casinos serve while playing blackjack. I know they're trying to liquor me up so the more cavalier, spontaneous (foolish) person buried deep inside of me will come forth and make me double down when I should be holding, or hit when the dealer is showing a bust card. Impulse gambling. You know, the stupid things that the casinos rely on to build those big, bright hotels.
With Christmas sales down, retailers have caught on to this trick. Two weeks ago Neiman Marcus in Chicago stationed bartenders throughout its four-story store. Banana Republic in San Francisco had a roving bartender offering appertizers and champagne. It was reported on the front page of the Wall Street Journal yesterday that retailers in some communities have created events such as "Champagne Shopping" where shoppers are transported from one retailer to another, enjoying champagne and wine at each stop. By the middle to the end of the trip, the credit cards start flying and the shoppers are burdened with multiple bags of goods they otherwise most likely would not have purchased.
But, alas, unlike casinos where your money is gone for good (and I hope you've seen the famous Albert Brooks movie scene where he laughably tries to present his case to the casino manager on why he should get the money back he lost gambling?), at least shoppers can return their purchases after their hangover subsides, if they're not too embarrassed.
1 comment:
This almost seems like people are being coerced to shop; the alcohol ploy is a little sneaky, and a little more than reprehensible... though the way those malls look this time of year, it might require alcohol to make me want to set foot in them.
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