The Dollar-and-a-Quarter Store

After paying for the take-out lunch, I wandered into the Dollar Tree next door to while away the next 15 minutes. I hadn't been there for several years and was surprised to see that they finally breached the one-dollar price point. Dollar Tree had raised the price of everything to $1.25:

Dollar Tree Inc. is raising prices for good, the company announced on Tuesday, moving its price point higher by a quarter from the eponymous dollar...

The company said the higher price point is a permanent move, and not the result of “short-term or transitory market conditions.” Moreover, the $1.25 price point allows the company to offer a wider range of merchandise, including items that had been discontinued at the $1 level.

I picked up two packages of five 9x12 mailing envelopes. The total was $2.50 for 10, a bargain.

The shelves aren't chained or locked.

The checkout lines, with everyone masked and distanced, were busy. The customers chatted with the cashiers; they seemed like regulars.

I didn't notice any of the chained and locked shelves that are ubiquitous in San Francisco stores. The paucity of security measures probably was due to the Redwood City crime rate being lower and the low per-item value of goods for sale. It wouldn't be worth the time to steal a shelf of anything, then list it on eBay.

Though you are probably not in its demographic, dear reader, Dollar Tree's business model meets the needs of millions, and Dollar Tree is not saddled with the high marketing and security costs that plague upscale establishments. May it thrive another 35 years.

Who Needs eBay?

The 1967 VW now gets about one unsolicited offer per month, usually from an aging boomer who remembers the good parts of the Sixties.

Investing lesson: if you can hold on long enough, an asset can eventually recover and may even turn a profit. In this case it took 40 years.... © 2014 Stephen Yuen

They Know Too Much

I never told eBay my age nor have I, to the best of my recollection, done a search for hair restoration products or services.

That said, I am in the correct demographic to receive a Minoxidil promotion.

Well, it could have been less flattering: my inbox is blessedly free of ads for little blue pills, senility remedies, and long-term care insurance.

It's probably just a matter of time, though, because they know too much.

iTunes Sale on eBay

With only a moment's hesitation I clicked on an order for some $50 iTunes gift cards that are on sale for $35 each (4 maximum) on eBay. The gift cards can be used not only for music but also for videos, books, and apps. Your humble observer spends much more on apps and iBooks--more than half of the amount for business--than he does on music and videos and will easily consume the gift card purchase in the coming year. Even if he doesn't, they make welcome presents for anyone under 30, and even a few over-30's, too.

The Game Wasn't the Attraction

The cheap seats have a good view of the Bay.

It was a forgettable game in which the Giants never seriously challenged the lowly 6-15 Padres in a 5-3 loss. The home team did give the crowd a few things to cheer about--home runs by Buster Posey and Angel Pagan and continuation of Pablo Sandoval's hitting streak to 20 games--but eleven (11) hits allowed and two errors caused the groans to prevail.

What we usually do on uninspiring days like these is enjoy the food, the view, and each other's company.  The three hours passed quickly.

Giants baseball is not an inexpensive outing--one can easily drop $20 on a hot dog, soda, and snack, plus at least $30 for the ticket--but last night the pain to the pocketbook was partially alleviated by the orange beanie that the first 20,000 fans received.

The price on eBay is $36 (and climbing!)

We'll add the beanie to our growing collection of Giants junk paraphernalia. (We didn't even unwrap ours, so its value should be enhanced by at least a couple of bucks.)

The most interesting speculation in our group concerned the gathering of seagulls in the 8th inning.  How did the scavengers know that the game was ending soon? Could they tell time? Could they read the scoreboard?

It turns out that someone has already researched this phenomenon:

the conclusion is that the 7th inning stretch is what cues the gulls to prepare for a feast.  The commotion of 40,000 people simultaneously standing and singing is the tip off. Gulls are very good at recognizing predictors for when food is going to become available. They have learned that the 7th inning stretch means that people will soon be clearing out of the stadium, leaving behind a plethora of half eaten, (and luckily in our ballpark) gourmet food.  

We learned something new about our feathered friends and received a valuable piece of headware.  It was a worthwhile evening after all. © 2012 Stephen Yuen

Weary of Pizzazz

Although California is among the bluest of blue states (Obama over McCain 61%-37% in the 2008 general election), Republicans are harboring hopes for 2010. The Chronicle quotes George Will:

"Although California is a blue state, it has had Republican governors for 30 of the last 43 years," he wrote. "The Republican revival nationally might begin here next year."

It’s no big secret why some may feel this way. After the Inauguration our problems weren’t solved; in fact they’ve gotten worse. Unemployment is over 10%, $20+ billion in State budget deficits have necessitated visible cutbacks in services (government offices are closed on Fridays), and individuals have taken huge hits to their net worth in real estate and financial assets. (Admittedly, the stock market recovery since March has improved investors’ mood to sour from panicky fear).

Unlike the Federal government, California can’t print currency, so further government expansion as a solution to its problems has hit a brick wall. Meanwhile, the private sector is shrinking as higher taxes and regulations have caused businesses to flee the State.

The high hopes of last year’s young and inexperienced dreamers have been tempered, if not dashed, by the real world. More government hasn’t made things better, and the party most closely identified with big government is dominant today but extremely vulnerable if conditions don’t improve.

However, generic conditions aren’t everything, we live in a personality-driven world. My personal tweet-takes on the candidates:

Jerry Brown (D) – State AG, former Oakland Mayor. Linda Ronstadt,‘70s tenure as Governor “Moonbeam.” Jesuit training, Lawyer. 2 years younger than John McCain.

Tom Campbell (R) – Business school dean, former Representative, socially liberal, economic conservative.

Gavin Newsom (D) – San Francisco Mayor, handsome jet-setter, 1st marriage to celebrity reporter, 2nd marriage to billionaire’s daughter. Gay-marriage advocate.

Steve Poizner (R) - State Insurance Commissioner, billionaire high-tech entrepreneur.

Meg Whitman (R) – ex-CEO of eBay, billionaire.

Republicans Poizner and Whitman have had outstanding success in business but lack a well-developed public image. In 2010 this may be an advantage to an electorate weary of pizzazz and eager for a resume with results.