Discrimination or not?

[Miriam2940]

Coming from South Florida I have been used to finding cards for the Jewish Holidays everywhere, drug stores, supermarkets. This year Thanksgiving and Hanukkah fall on the same day. I had to pick up something at Walgreens so I went in search of Hanukkah cards. I found plenty of Christmas cards but no Hanukkah cards. When I asked the manager he told me that they had gotten an email that corporate would not be sending Hanukkah cards to "this store". Next I went into Publix, no Hanukkah cards but I was told that the Hallmark lady would be back on Tuesday. CVS- no Hanukkah cards, I did not bother to ask. I found a small selection at Hallmark in Sumter but no gift wrap. I find this very disturbing and, although it is not overt discrimination, I do feel that by omission it smacks of discrimination. Not good

[ilovetv]

Coming from South Florida I have been used to finding cards for the Jewish Holidays everywhere, drug stores, supermarkets. This year Thanksgiving and Hanukkah fall on the same day. I had to pick up something at Walgreens so I went in search of Hanukkah cards. I found plenty of Christmas cards but no Hanukkah cards. When I asked the manager he told me that they had gotten an email that corporate would not be sending Hanukkah cards to "this store". Next I went into Publix, no Hanukkah cards but I was told that the Hallmark lady would be back on Tuesday. CVS- no Hanukkah cards, I did not bother to ask. I found a small selection at Hallmark in Sumter but no gift wrap. I find this very disturbing and, although it is not overt discrimination, I do feel that by omission it smacks of discrimination. Not good

I see how one could sense that. But I'm thinking it might be a simple matter of the stores/card publishers having too many unsold Jewish holiday cards left at the end of the season (maybe didn't sell enough of them to justify the finite rack space the card companies have, for the quick change they do for the next seasons/occasions). I always notice how fast they whisk away everything from Christmas as an example, to get the Valentines and St. Patricks Day stuff out there right away in the beginning of January.

I would shop for the cards online at Hallmark, American Greetings, etc. and it's probably a lot bigger selection and price range.

[rdhdleo]

Just wondering why people think discrimination instead of thinking that perhaps the stores carried the items in mention in the past and they did not sell well. Stores stock what sells and cannot stock everything everyone wants.

[blueash]

Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore.

[TrudyM]

Blame it on computer distribution. I use to be a retail distributor for Macys and I would look at the sales for previous years and decide which store got how much of what. Now that job no longer exists it is all done by computer. A retail buyer or planner picks the criteria that the computer makes the decision on and it is all automated.
It could be that they are only sending to stores over a certain size. The amount of sales and sell through on what are deemed segmented target demographic items is low so the only go to big stores. IE no college themed mdse in non metro areas. Or the other possibility is they have data on the number of synagogues per thousand in the area and only send to those stores that meet a certain criteria.
Example I had data on Mormon tabernacles and sent twice as many white mens shirts to those stores nearby and half the bikinis. Not discrimination just trying to optimize sales and the cost of shelf space.
The problem is if they don't try the items in the store they will never get the sales data that makes the system put the items there. Now that no people do the deciding less chance of them giving it a try.

[njbchbum]

Just wondering why people think discrimination instead of thinking that perhaps the stores carried the items in mention in the past and they did not sell well. Stores stock what sells and cannot stock everything everyone wants.

agreed! if it sells - it will be stocked.

[Mudder]

I usually find Hanukah cards and wrapping paper at the dollar stores. They don't have many, but they have them. Thanks for bringing this up......I'd better go soon and the ones I need. We have quite an ecumenical family.

[ilovetv]

Blame it on computer distribution. I use to be a retail distributor for Macys and I would look at the sales for previous years and decide which store got how much of what. Now that job no longer exists it is all done by computer. A retail buyer or planner picks the criteria that the computer makes the decision on and it is all automated.
It could be that they are only sending to stores over a certain size. The amount of sales and sell through on what are deemed segmented target demographic items is low so the only go to big stores. IE no college themed mdse in non metro areas. Or the other possibility is they have data on the number of synagogues per thousand in the area and only send to those stores that meet a certain criteria.
Example I had data on Mormon tabernacles and sent twice as many white mens shirts to those stores nearby and half the bikinis. Not discrimination just trying to optimize sales and the cost of shelf space.
The problem is if they don't try the items in the store they will never get the sales data that makes the system put the items there. Now that no people do the deciding less chance of them giving it a try.

That is a great illustration!

[ekdk92]

Target in the Villages has Chanukah merchandise

[CFrance]

Blame it on computer distribution. I use to be a retail distributor for Macys and I would look at the sales for previous years and decide which store got how much of what. Now that job no longer exists it is all done by computer. A retail buyer or planner picks the criteria that the computer makes the decision on and it is all automated.
It could be that they are only sending to stores over a certain size. The amount of sales and sell through on what are deemed segmented target demographic items is low so the only go to big stores. IE no college themed mdse in non metro areas. Or the other possibility is they have data on the number of synagogues per thousand in the area and only send to those stores that meet a certain criteria.
Example I had data on Mormon tabernacles and sent twice as many white mens shirts to those stores nearby and half the bikinis. Not discrimination just trying to optimize sales and the cost of shelf space.
The problem is if they don't try the items in the store they will never get the sales data that makes the system put the items there. Now that no people do the deciding less chance of them giving it a try.

That is a great illustration!

It's a great illustration of how grammar can get you into trouble! I believe what Trudy meant was white shirts for men, not shirts for white men.

[BarryRX]

I'm Jewish and I think the insinuation that this smacks of discrimination is not only ridiculous, but dangerous because like in the story of "the boy who cried wolf", people may not listen when real discrimination occurs. I'm not sure whether it is discrimination you don't understand or the concept of a free marketplace.

[ilovetv]

It's a great illustration of how grammar can get you into trouble! I believe what Trudy meant was white shirts for men, not shirts for white men.

Wow. "Shirts for white men" never occurred to me. To me it was "white shirts" for men. Color of the men never came to mind.

Courteous young men in "white shirts" on bicycles is what came to mind.

And I thought the "good illustration" was of the marketing to the particular demographics of likely shoppers in a given place.

[justjim]

Youth at our church in the past sold Christmas cards to make money for some of their activities. Perhaps the local Synagogues could do something similar. Just a thought.

I don't believe the lack of Hanukah cards at the stores you mention is discrimination but no more or less just stocking their shelves with what has sold in the past years. We are a computer generated society---no doubt about it and as another post mentioned ---because of it certain jobs have been eliminated.

[CFrance]

Wow. "Shirts for white men" never occurred to me. To me it was "white shirts" for men. Color of the men never came to mind.

Courteous young men in "white shirts" on bicycles is what came to mind.

And I thought the "good illustration" was of the marketing to the particular demographics of likely shoppers in a given place.

Sorry! I guess it's one of the challenges of just having the written word in front of you and not the whole person.

[ilovetv]

Sorry! I guess it's one of the challenges of just having the written word in front of you and not the whole person.

And probably because of assuming things about people without knowing them.

[graciegirl]

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/publix-earns-f-passover-51502/

I don't want anyone to be unhappy.

[manaboutown]

This is along the line of "press two for Spanish". Why no press this or that number for French, Norwegian or Hungarian?

It is all about the (perceived) market.

In New Mexico in addition to as usual, English, one now finds books in Spanish in book stores as well as various greeting cards in Spanish - but not in other languages. Again, it is market directed.

[mrfixit]

It's a great illustration of how grammar can get you into trouble! I believe what Trudy meant was white shirts for men, not shirts for white men.

..... duz anyboddy know whin duh test fer grammir becomed a requiremint two establish poasting
rights on the inter-webb and rite hear on dis
TOTV inter-webb sight ,tooh ? Me diden't gitz noo memmo bout dat.

........IMHO....2 mee andd mee onley... it matters not even 1 brown rats' a$$ whether or not
duh gramirr wuzz poifect orr knot.....duh pointe wuz done good an gots acrost.

Sum peeple I haz talked at has tolt mee they's know longir wanna poast on TOTV
interrr-web connextion cuz pepples sumtymez hasta critizyse derr
spellink und grammirr.

Theys thinks maybee sum of duh crittisizerz haz nevir fealt sorree four
duh dumm peeples lyke mee .

..sumtimez mee feal not so goot enuf to poast hear inn this inter-webb,
why'se dat ? izz thair bee an undircurant ove bad crap inn mee past ?
Maybee i knot bee smartt enoof , butt peeples sayed mee izz kinda nice-ish to bee uhround.

At leest baybees , littl kidz and puppys' bee nice too mee, and lets mee
bee whom me yam.

[graciegirl]

..... duz anyboddy know whin duh test fer grammir becomed a requiremint two establish poasting
rights on the inter-webb and rite hear on dis
TOTV inter-webb sight ,tooh ? Me diden't gitz noo memmo bout dat.

........IMHO....2 mee andd mee onley... it matters not even 1 brown rats' a$$ whether or not
duh gramirr wuzz poifect orr knot.....duh pointe wuz done good an gots acrost.

Sum peeple I haz talked at has tolt mee they's know longir wanna poast on TOTV
interrr-web connextion cuz pepples sumtymez hasta critizyse derr
spellink und grammirr.

Theys thinks maybee sum of duh crittisizerz haz nevir fealt sorree four
duh dumm peeples lyke mee .

..sumtimez mee feal not so goot enuf to poast hear inn this inter-webb,
why'se dat ? izz thair bee an undircurant ove bad crap inn mee past ?
Maybee i knot bee smartt enoof , butt peeples sayed mee izz kinda nice-ish to bee uhround.

At leest baybees , littl kidz and puppys' bee nice too mee, and lets mee
bee whom me yam.

For me, it's little kids, old men and drunks.

[NotGolfer]

back on topic....I have purchased channukah cards here in the past. I'm thinking it could have been at Walgreens.

[kittygilchrist]

And probably because of assuming things about people without knowing them.

hmm. that seems a bit below the belt.

[aframe]

If you want to be offended... You will be offended.

[kittygilchrist]

If you want to be offended... You will be offended.

:wink:

oops. guess there's no icon for winking.

[billethkid]

I could not find any Easter Island headstone cards either!

btk:smiley:

[rosygail]

We were just at Walmart and I noticed they had Gelt coins and other Chanukah candy available.

[CFrance]

And probably because of assuming things about people without knowing them.

I wasn't assuming anything about you. I misunderstood what you meant in your post.

[kittygilchrist]

I wish I could make everybody in this conversation feel better.
I'm eating homemade chunky borscht and I feel better.

[rubicon]

This thread is a prime example of how sensitized we have become concerning the issues of race, religion, etc. In my view you can blame it on political correctness and the over reach and over extended period of the government regarding discrimination involvement policy etc.. Notice I said "over reach"and "over extended". This issue too often is be used only as a means and method of leverage by its claimers.

When in business I received hundreds of Christmas cards from customers not one had a religious connation, not one. See what I mean

[TheVillageChicken]

It's a great illustration of how grammar can get you into trouble! I believe what Trudy meant was white shirts for men, not shirts for white men.

Had she said "blue men's shirts," would you have explained that she meant blue shirts and not shirts for Smurfs?

[Shimpy]

I'm Jewish and I think the insinuation that this smacks of discrimination is not only ridiculous, but dangerous because like in the story of "the boy who cried wolf", people may not listen when real discrimination occurs. I'm not sure whether it is discrimination you don't understand or the concept of a free marketplace.

Right on! Believe me if there was a big market for Jewish cards they would carry them since sales are their business. S. Florida is a hugh Jewish market but I guess here in TV it is not as evidenced by the lack of Synagogues in this area.

[CFrance]

Had she said "blue men's shirts," would you have explained that she meant blue shirts and not shirts for Smurfs?

No. Had she said "blue men's shirts" there would not have been any chance of misunderstanding, as there is no common term "blue men" as there is "white men." I wasn't accusing anybody of anything; just pointing out how syntax can obscure meaning.

[DougB]

I seen blue men at Universal Studios. Not sure what kind of shirts they wore though.

[DougB]

Coming from South Florida I have been used to finding cards for the Jewish Holidays everywhere, drug stores, supermarkets. This year Thanksgiving and Hanukkah fall on the same day. I had to pick up something at Walgreens so I went in search of Hanukkah cards. I found plenty of Christmas cards but no Hanukkah cards. When I asked the manager he told me that they had gotten an email that corporate would not be sending Hanukkah cards to "this store". Next I went into Publix, no Hanukkah cards but I was told that the Hallmark lady would be back on Tuesday. CVS- no Hanukkah cards, I did not bother to ask. I found a small selection at Hallmark in Sumter but no gift wrap. I find this very disturbing and, although it is not overt discrimination, I do feel that by omission it smacks of discrimination. Not good

I went on line trying to find some cards around here for you. But this thread alone I seen it spelled Hanukkah, Chanukah, and Hanakuh. Jesus, how do you spell it? Why not just buy "Holiday Cards"?

[kittygilchrist]

I went on line trying to find some cards around here for you. But this thread alone I seen it spelled Hanukkah, Chanukah, and Hanakuh. Jesus, how do you spell it? Why not just buy "Holiday Cards"?

Dougb, most Jews aren't into invoking Jesus..
but it was nice of you to try to help.

[looneycat]

Wow. "Shirts for white men" never occurred to me. To me it was "white shirts" for men. Color of the men never came to mind.

Courteous young men in "white shirts" on bicycles is what came to mind.

And I thought the "good illustration" was of the marketing to the particular demographics of likely shoppers in a given place.

hmmm, white men's shirts as opposed to white women's shirts or green men's shirts...would we then assume lizard men or green shirts?

[looneycat]

I went on line trying to find some cards around here for you. But this thread alone I seen it spelled Hanukkah, Chanukah, and Hanakuh. Jesus, how do you spell it? Why not just buy "Holiday Cards"?

heh, the spellings are all attempts to 'spell' a Hebrew word without vowel sounds that drain your sinuses!

[looneycat]

Just wondering why people think discrimination instead of thinking that perhaps the stores carried the items in mention in the past and they did not sell well. Stores stock what sells and cannot stock everything everyone wants.

this and most of the other comments would make sense, had they ever carried any real assortment in the past....but they haven't, so they really have no sales history to go on. That's not a judgement, just pure statement of fact. I was one of the people that programmed some merchandisers out of jobs and can understand that if the local mgrs haven't ordered or requested this merchandise in the past it probably won't be stocked as there is no sales history for the items....they don't stock a vendors crummy Christmas cards if they fail to sell either.

[applesoffh]

Hanukkah cards and wrap are available at Barnes & Noble, Lake Sumter Landing store.

[Dougout]

A few years back I attempted to buy religious Christmas stamps at the Colony Publix. I was told that they do not sell them because "some people would be offended"

I guess that the door swings both ways.

[bike42]

Right on! Believe me if there was a big market for Jewish cards they would carry them since sales are their business. S. Florida is a hugh Jewish market but I guess here in TV it is not as evidenced by the lack of Synagogues in this area.
You are right that TV has a low percent of Jewish residents compared to S. Florida -- but there IS a synagogue; it's on CR101 north of 466, with golf cart path access from Talley Ridge Circle.

[Floridagal]

Went to Hallmark at Lake Sumter and got my Hanukkah cards there. Never had a problem.

[Shimpy]

You are right that TV has a low percent of Jewish residents compared to S. Florida -- but there IS a synagogue; it's on CR101 north of 466, with golf cart path access from Talley Ridge Circle.

I didn't mean that were none, only that a very small number existed that would show that the Jewish population is in proportion small.

[Rango]

You won't find any Chinese new years cards in The Villages either.

[Miriam2940]

Thanks!

[TheCollierCpl]

Ya know, I hate to say this but get over it and don't be so suspicious. We are not Jewish outlive in a 50/50 Jewish neighborhood in Maryland.
What you bring up has nothing to do with discrimination but left over inventory. Since when would npanyone in business NOT carry something that would sell.
Be cool, veg out and get a life!

[mainlander]

Back to the ... ",,, many white mens shirts to those stores nearby and half the bikinis.". Did the stores in question receive the bikini tops or bottoms? :)

[Carl in Tampa]

Back to the ... ",,, many white mens shirts to those stores nearby and half the bikinis.". Did the stores in question receive the bikini tops or bottoms? :)

:1rotfl::MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot::pepper2::loco: :wave:

[CFrance]

Back to the ... ",,, many white mens shirts to those stores nearby and half the bikinis.". Did the stores in question receive the bikini tops or bottoms? :)

That's funny!

[Happinow]

I tried desperately to find Halloween wrapping paper. I'll bet I went to 5 stores and I found none. All they had was orange and black tissue paper. I wanted to wrap some Halloween gifts. I also thought....what if someone had a birthday on Halloween and you wanted to wrap their gift in Halloween paper? Not being able to find this paper doesn't mean they were discriminating against the person who may have had a birthday on that day or discriminating against the Halloween holiday. It's silly that one would think that because they couldn't find the proper Hanukkah card that they were being discriminated against. I wish people,would quit playing the discrimination card.

[CFrance]

I tried desperately to find Halloween wrapping paper. I'll bet I went to 5 stores and I found none. All they had was orange and black tissue paper. I wanted to wrap some Halloween gifts. I also thought....what if someone had a birthday on Halloween and you wanted to wrap their gift in Halloween paper? Not being able to find this paper doesn't mean they were discriminating against the person who may have had a birthday on that day or discriminating against the Halloween holiday. It's silly that one would think that because they couldn't find the proper Hanukkah card that they were being discriminated against. I wish people,would quit playing the discrimination card.

...

[sharonga]

I like "Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore"!!!!!!

[Carl in Tampa]

you won't find any chinese new years cards in the villages either.

我很失望地聽到這一點。
新年快樂。:icon_wink:

.

[travelguy]

if there is no market or a limited market for a particular item you will not be able to find the selection that you think should be available. order via the internet; you will have an enormous selection, much larger than anything you have ever seen in any retail store.

[CFrance]

Also, a tip for ordering over the internet. In your google search, enter "(Whatever type holiday card you want) free shipping." Might as well not pay shipping if you don't need to.