The state of the economy at the street level

[frugal.rock]

Terrible service and employees on way above what they should be getting in wages.

Was at Coles early the other morning, no self serve open yet, only 1 checkout open on side of service desk area.

As I approached the checkout (in full vision of staff member), the staff member walked out of the service area to other checkouts and proceeded to do something on their screens, before casually sauntering back to serve me.

Was no biggie, but just indicative of current attitudes.

At the time, I thought to myself,
"I need to appreciate that I can actually be a customer any more at all".
The customer is now always wrong, and a painful person to deal with... ?

 

[Knobby22]

Was at Coles early the other morning, no self serve open yet, only 1 checkout open on side of service desk area.

As I approached the checkout (in full vision of staff member), the staff member walked out of the service area to other checkouts and proceeded to do something on their screens, before casually sauntering back to serve me.

Was no biggie, but just indicative of current attitudes.

At the time, I thought to myself,
"I need to appreciate that I can actually be a customer any more at all".
The customer is now always wrong, and a painful person to deal with... ?

Go to Aldi, cheaper, checkouts only and good way to take cash out.

 

[frugal.rock]

Go to Aldi, cheaper, checkouts only and good way to take cash out.

Yarp, normally do.
Opening hours are a bit restrictive though in comparison, thus the visit elsewhere.
A bit (restrictive) like some of Aldi's checkouts, the mini ones with no runway after the register... what were they thinking?
I will wait at a checkout that has a full runway after the checkout as some of the checkout operators are just mechanised robots and will push your shite onto the floor in their sit down rush. Most are pretty good though, and they're generally much better than they used to be.

 

[InsvestoBoy]

Went out for dinner in Chatswood recently, lots of people walking around, lots of people eating in every open restaurant. People lining up to get into the Japanese restaurant we wanted to go to.

Wanted to get some Napoli pizza in North Ryde on Thursday night, the joint was booked out and couldn't seat us! Went to nearby Macquarie Centre and it was super busy with people shopping and eating at every venue.

If there is a squeeze on discretionary income from high rates or high inflation I am not seeing it in this area or it is not happening.

Strong urge to buy more stocks.

 

[JohnDe]

Went out for dinner in Chatswood recently, lots of people walking around, lots of people eating in every open restaurant. People lining up to get into the Japanese restaurant we wanted to go to.

Wanted to get some Napoli pizza in North Ryde on Thursday night, the joint was booked out and couldn't seat us! Went to nearby Macquarie Centre and it was super busy with people shopping and eating at every venue.

If there is a squeeze on discretionary income from high rates or high inflation I am not seeing it in this area or it is not happening.

Strong urge to buy more stocks.

What most traders don't realise is that the majority of the public do not bother with the share markets.

 

[moXJO]

Went out for dinner in Chatswood recently, lots of people walking around, lots of people eating in every open restaurant. People lining up to get into the Japanese restaurant we wanted to go to.

Wanted to get some Napoli pizza in North Ryde on Thursday night, the joint was booked out and couldn't seat us! Went to nearby Macquarie Centre and it was super busy with people shopping and eating at every venue.

If there is a squeeze on discretionary income from high rates or high inflation I am not seeing it in this area or it is not happening.

Strong urge to buy more stocks.

Eating out or entertainment is ballistic. Everywhere every week.

Shopping centres not so much. Definite downturn in a lot of stores I was chatting to.

 

[divs4ever]

What most traders don't realise is that the majority of the public do not bother with the share markets.

that is a shame since many are holders via their superannuation funds ( often via ETFs held via those fund managers )

they are being affected , whether they bother to care or not

 

[qldfrog]

that is a shame since many are holders via their superannuation funds ( often via ETFs held via those fund managers )

they are being affected , whether they bother to care or not

Yes they are, but all sheeple .
So they could not care the least..i always have a twisted smile when i see people complaining or being happy for a few dollars a fortnight while their mandatory super is increased year after year and the market is getting smashed by 5 % in a week yet they do not even blink ,..

 

[qldfrog]

Eating out or entertainment is ballistic. Everywhere every week.

Shopping centres not so much. Definite downturn in a lot of stores I was chatting to.

I agree on that people do spend big on cafes small restaurant.forking out 500$ on goods ..a bit different.
I believe it is a mad
burn it while we can spirit.
I do same here

 

[divs4ever]

am managing to start enlightening one or two , but am happy to see some are already quite aware and initiating strategies to protect them and family ( very discretely ) , and effectively cancelling 'Cancel Culture ' , this might end up being the Peacenik's dream ( 'what if we had a war , and nobody came ? '

 

[JohnDe]

that is a shame since many are holders via their superannuation funds ( often via ETFs held via those fund managers )

they are being affected , whether they bother to care or not

The majority of people have no control over what their Super funds invest in, and swapping isn’t much help because as you mentioned most are investing in the same thing.

Which brings us back to my original comment, most people don’t give a rat’s about the stock market.

At street level the consumer is looking at their bank accounts, wages, jobs, street life, friends, and so on.

There is no shortage of jobs, only a shortage of employees, it’s possible to change multiple jobs and ask for a higher wage than advertised.

 

[sptrawler]

The wife and I were in Sydney on Mon Tues this week to catch the cruise ship, seemed a lot quieter than it normally is when we have been there on past trips. Also a lot of shops seemed to be available for lease in the CBD.

 

[againsthegrain]

The wife and I were in Sydney on Mon Tues this week to catch the cruise ship, seemed a lot quieter than it normally is when we have been there on past trips. Also a lot of shops seemed to be available for lease in the CBD.

It is always interesting to look at seek business for sale, I look from time to time to see what people try to offload and how desperate. It will vary by area and state

 

[frugal.rock]

Sydney CBD was a special case of Clover Moore disaster.
Her vision to turn it into some touristy haven with no vehicles has just destroyed the place.
Nail by nail, the coffin was slowly sealed for many businesses.
Slammed by construction works for "Clover's front door" tram system which got picked up by State Government as costs blew out, business's were then slammed by covid restrictions.

Business that failed due to construction works replaced by new business, only to again fail in turn from restrictions.
Tourism locked out.
Sydney CBD became a ghost town.

But hey, at least Clover had her public transport from her front door to Councils chambers. I wonder if she used it, or whether it was just a novel idea and she still was carried around by a driver...??

George St has lost it's life and vibe. What returns in it's place is yet to be seen.
Largely, it's starting to represent a smaller version of some other unnamed Asian city. ?

 

[Knobby22]

I am in Dubai Airport and everything looks good.

 

[Dona Ferentes]

Sydney CBD was a special case of Clover Moore disaster.
Her vision to turn it into some touristy haven with no vehicles has just destroyed the place.
Nail by nail, the coffin was slowly sealed for many businesses.
Slammed by construction works for "Clover's front door" tram system which got picked up by State Government as costs blew out, business's were then slammed by covid restrictions.

Business that failed due to construction works replaced by new business, only to again fail in turn from restrictions.
Tourism locked out.
Sydney CBD became a ghost town.

But hey, at least Clover had her public transport from her front door to Councils chambers. I wonder if she used it, or whether it was just a novel idea and she still was carried around by a driver...??

George St has lost it's life and vibe. What returns in it's place is yet to be seen.
Largely, it's starting to represent a smaller version of some other unnamed Asian city. ?

As part of the jostling between Mz Moore and the State Govt, it ain't worth the hassle. Surry Hills, also part of SCC, is becoming tech / start-up central, and also priced out of reach, and the action is moving to Enmore Rd and Marrickville. Hipsters aplenty.

Kings X is gone off and places like The Rocks are just sterile theme parks.

The Eastern suburbs is athleisure central, closely followed by the Bay Walk. Someone told me in the 1970s that north of the bridge was leafy and devoid of excitement, and I haven't been back to check.

Enmore Road Has Been Classified as a Special Entertainment Precinct for the Next Three Months - Concrete Playground

concreteplayground-com.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[divs4ever]

I agree on that people do spend big on cafes small restaurant.forking out 500$ on goods ..a bit different.
I believe it is a mad
burn it while we can spirit.
I do same here

not me , am carefully accumulating waiting for the full or partial societal collapse , all we really need is for the majority of workers to disassociate from the ALP and unions

 

[frugal.rock]

I am in Dubai Airport and everything looks good.

It's that slick shiny sheen to everything, innit.
Safe travels.

 

[wayneL]

I'm getting absolutely smashed with enquiry and new work (I do a lot of specialized high-dollar stuff). Making a frekin motza, but getting sore, tired and curmudgeonly... partly my reputation is growing in a new place, partly attrition of other guys.
The jabbed x 3-6 keep getting sick.
2 guys have farked their backs up, one seriously in a motorcycle accident.
1 moved down south.

Elsewhere, a new tavern opened within walking distance of my little Ponderosa. They brew their own beer (and pretty doggone good too), but can't get a chef for the kitchen. It's very well supported by locals, even so... most properties well into 7 figures though, so not many hurting for a buck around here.

Nearest shopping centre seems to be doing okay. But must be said the Rose and Crown in Guildford is still pretty quiet.

 

[Telamelo]

Go to Aldi, cheaper, checkouts only and good way to take cash out.

I heard that Kmart don't believe in cash anymore as can only pay by card there apparently !? as an elderly friend of mine is old school only carries cash $ got the runaround/big lecture at a Kmart store the other day for insisting on wanting to pay with cash $

P.S. Says he's never going to Kmart ever again lol