It was in the mid-1980’s when my Mother was in need of an alarm clock.
Timing couldn’t have been better inasmuch as I found myself able to get her a birthday gift she really wanted, help her migrate away from traditional analog clocks, and shop at a store that was new to me.
As it happens, this “new” store was called Service Merchandise, and was not new at all. Established in 1934, Service Merchandise was a store that sold everything from “jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics,’ according servicemerchandise.com. As I earlier mentioned, I was interested in electronics.
I visited this chain store and was amazed to see there was little in the way of goods on display. Rather, it consisted of a sizable showroom, peppered with glossy, color catalogs.
Not unlike the Sears Roebuck, and Montgomery Ward catalogs of yore, Service Merchandise’s almost instantly transformed a fairly sterile “showroom” into a land of fantasy of seemingly endless possibilities.
Finding a digital alarm clock wasn’t difficult. One in particular has space-age looking dials plus little black cards with white numbers that flipped to changed to reflect the time. It also had an AM/FM radio and a contact paper exterior that was supposed to closely resemble wood grain; it didn’t.
Still, it was a Panasonic brand device whose reputation was solid and growing.
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| Mom's Panasonic digital alarm clock |
In order to buy one, I needed to complete a paper form, which was handed to a Service Merchandise employee. I was directed to another room adjacent to the exit door where I was supposed to wait for my purchase. In the meantime, I dutifully paid for this clock at a counter. Continuing the austere surroundings that were far divorced from their merchandise catalog.
Eventually my proudly labeled Panasonic box made its way out of an opening, reminiscent of an airport baggage conveyor belt, directly behind the cashier’s dais.
All this stuck firmly in my mind as a quick, efficient way to sell products without boxes damaged by nosy customers, actual items broken by feral children, while eliminating shoplifting altogether.
It was this alarm clock shopping episode that I first thought of when first hearing about today’s world chock full o’ boxes damaged by nosy customers, actual items broken by feral children, plus shoplifting.
In fact, shoplifting is of little consequence due to overly lax laws: refusal to prosecute many crimes, as well as turning a blind eye toward not only property crimes, but also deadly personal offenses. It’s as if Saul Alinsky’s sordid brain has spilled into Earth’s reality atmosphere.
This Leftist turn on society nearly instantly transformed all law-abiding citizens and visitors into potential – no, likely – victims who have little recourse against a new class of conscienceless thugs who now have virtual immunity from trials, much less prosecution.
As of late, retailers such as Banana Republic, Giant Supermarkets, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Macy’s, are shuttering their doors, while Starbucks, CVS, Walmart, and Bed, Bath, & Beyond, are closing their stores in select cities because of lack of police response to fights and thefts in their businesses.
Angst has been continuing for a few years now at Walgreen’s, a chain drug store. Walgreen’s has been the recipient of copious thefts – most of which are brazen – because of their policy of not interfering with criminals.
Along those same lines, a women’s clothing chain, Lululemon, recently announced they, too were excited about giving away free high-end clothing to anyone and everyone with a yen for ‘snatch-and-grab’ property crimes. In fact, two Lululemon employees, who tried to prevent a non-violent theft captured on camera, were summarily fired for not following corporate rules regarding not interfering with miscreants.
Of course all these social and legal gyrations would be rendered moot, if only these woke corporations took a page out of the Service Merchandise handbook.
Only the other day, Walgreen’s announced their new store arrangements to include most of their goods henceforth being locked inside Plexiglas panels. And not unlike Service Merchandise, Walgreen’s retail modifications will require the addition of more in-store personnel to retrieve desired items from their locked cubbies to minimize property losses.
Now seems like a terrific time for retail corporate giants to stop the politically correct hand wringing and conjure up some preventive ideas. Hiring visible, armed security is one thought; another idea is one borrowed from Service Merchandise.
Reinventing the wheel is not necessary since it already exists. Simply use it because it works.
