Thursday, March 22, 2012

UNC Press Does March Madness!

Celebrate March Madness the UNC Press way.

Follow the steps for a chance to win a book published by the UNC Press. It's fun! It's easy! Click here!

Cheers,
Charlene Joy

Friday, March 9, 2012

Let's go to Penney's! - Part Two

Last night I headed over to Penney's to acquire a pair of slacks. Totally not at all to check their new pricing strategy. Nah.

Other than a few bold orange squares hanging from the ceiling (I suppose to drive home their new motto of "fair and square" pricing) nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Tons of beige decor and happy salespeople.

The price tags were different though. The prices were... round. $25, $18, $20, etc. The items were divided in two categories: everyday price and best price. For those of us obsessed with sales, there is still the best price rack.

jcp did a good job of creating a buzz in my head. I had to check out the store my family has been shopping at for centuries. After watching the colorful non-Ellen ads that have aired, I'm sad to say that the changes they made aren't radical. Still beige, still my jcp. The price tags freak me out a bit, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. At least they still give you a 20% discount when you use their card.


Conclusion: Mixed feelings. Even though I know I'll be getting "the best deal" when buying a product, there is no longer a sense of satisfaction when you see the price go down from a $32 to an $18, because there is no $32 to begin with.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Let's go to Penney's!

After a month of allowing JC Penney's new IMC to sink in, I have realized it has not sunk in--at all. I keep forgetting I must stop referring to one of my favorite places by its archaic name. Get with it. It's jcp now... jcp... cool modern chic as demonstrated by lack of punctuation and capitalization... jcp.

Who wouldn't like to have Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson, while still maintaining their affiliation with Martha Stewart? I mean, who wouldn't want to have medium length hair and a pixie cut at the same time? What are you trying to do jcp? I am sure it's not me--it's you. I don't even know who you are anymore.

Also, what's with the lack of clearance racks and outrageous discounts? I must now learn how to cope with the concept that awesome prices are everyday prices. The absence of .99 at the end of prices makes me nervous. After decades (all two of them) of accepting the .99 as a NORMAL part of consumerist culture, now I have to adjust to this obscenity. No longer are the days where I could experience a sense of accomplishment for tracking the same sundress for 500 months, where I could savor my victory as I snatch said item with my quivering fingers, as my eyes scan stickers upon stickers of scratched-off prices on the tag, and finally obtain a 90% off discount.

Fellow Americans--the Mayans are right. I am convinced there is nothing left to live for.

What do you think? Yay or nay to JC Penney's (oops, jcp's) new look? Are you thrilled, confused, or (like me) utterly perturbed?