Evolution: from old-fashioned gum ball machine to eye candy, not to mention a fast revenue- generating cover for a mall spot that's in need of a open store front. Just one of the sights I saw on a recent visit to the Gateway Mall.
It's really fascinating what one can buy from a retailer these days -- when I was young I would absolutely have gone bananas in a modern office products store; there wasn't any such at the time. Similarly, the idea that you can stop at a mall kiosk to whip up a custom decal or bumper sticker still amazes me.
Perhaps these tigers are at a discount because of recent bad news from the San Francisco zoo; more likely, Walgreen's is merely trying to move leftover Christmas merchandise off its shelves.
But if I were looking for a trend declaration, this is it. I saw these land-line phones for a mere $2.50 the same week that both the daily newspapers I read featured a wire service story about cell phone families outnumbering land-line homes for the first time. All I could say about the cheap, cheap phones is, "Qwest must be subsidizing this product!"
Evolution: from old-fashioned gum ball machine to eye candy, not to mention a fast revenue- generating cover for a mall spot that's in need of a open store front. Just one of the sights I saw on a recent visit to the Gateway Mall.
It's really fascinating what one can buy from a retailer these days -- when I was young I would absolutely have gone bananas in a modern office products store; there wasn't any such at the time. Similarly, the idea that you can stop at a mall kiosk to whip up a custom decal or bumper sticker still amazes me.
Perhaps these tigers are at a discount because of recent bad news from the San Francisco zoo; more likely, Walgreen's is merely trying to move leftover Christmas merchandise off its shelves.
But if I were looking for a trend declaration, this is it. I saw these land-line phones for a mere $2.50 the same week that both the daily newspapers I read featured a wire service story about cell phone families outnumbering land-line homes for the first time. All I could say about the cheap, cheap phones is, "Qwest must be subsidizing this product!"
$2.50 phone with digital caller ID? You can't even buy a phone cable for that much!! I'd say that they are definite being subsidized by someone. :) Good find!
ReplyDeleteThat gumball machine is amazing. Never seen one like it. Here in Germany, the digital carriers give you a free phone when you sign up. Of course it is not the latest model.
ReplyDeletetombo -- I suppose they might have been a bankrupt company close-out...but, still, just $2.50?
ReplyDeletesteve -- likely the $2.50 phones aren't the latest, either. Maybe Walgreen's got them from FreeCycle.
granny j..the gumball machines and the $2.50 phones made for some interesting pics, and I am always amazed at all the different places and objects that you are able to find to photograph! I always wonder what I will see each time I drop by! :)
ReplyDeletejan -- variety is the spice of life. I'm always amazed at what I found out in the local world if I keep my eyes open.
ReplyDeleteThose exact same tigers are all over the place round here at Christmas too, the Republic of China muat be flooding the world with them.
ReplyDeleteLucy -- if so, the price should be down to that $2.50 the phones are going for...
ReplyDelete