"Socks It to Me" - Commentary by Tony Seton

Socks It to Me

Whatever gene it is that induces people to prowl malls, I didn’t get it. I don’t like shopping, unless I’m in a foreign country. If I could I would never go shopping, but would buy everything on-line where I already purchase not only books and music but toiletries and shoes. I ordered three pair of slacks from Land’s End and they arrived on my doorstep three days later.

The other night, however, because I was early to a dinner date, I went to Macy’s on my quadrennial excursion to buy socks. Now that I know what’s out there, I’ll be able to get my socks on-line, too. The experience was instructive. Not only did it reinforce my preference to shop electronically, but it also gave me a glimpse into what’s happening in the world of major store retail.

Of course, that might be a very broad brush, since it is one store in one chain in one shopping center on one evening. On the other hand, this is an upscale mall, with a Nordstrom’s at the other end, which suggests that traditional retail may be in for some turmoil.

The first thing I noticed was that on this Wednesday evening at 6:15, there were very few people in the store. I walked through the cosmetics department and saw a half-dozen clerks at different counters working on each other’s make-up. Wending my way unacknowledged through otherwise empty aisles, I found the men’s department -- a rather large expanse -- empty, too. I quickly decided what I wanted and then looked for a clerk.

Finally, I spied a young woman with a shawl around her head who rang me up. I confess that after being put off by the fact that there wasn’t a male clerk in the men’s department, I was also irked by this woman wearing her religion. It is a form of separatism that undermines the very idea of a one nation under many gods. I feel the same way about yarmulkes, turbans, and pendulous crucifixes.

Also, she didn’t know her store, insisting that they didn’t carry men’s cologne. I got the same answer from another clerk and I headed for the exit back through the cosmetics department. Where I found the men’s cologne. Which I didn’t buy because the only clerks in sight were too busy talking with each other than to greet the only customer within a fifty yards.

Maybe there is no meaning to be derived from the experience. At least I like the socks.

And that’s SetonnoteS...I’m Tony Seton.