The Economy

Hushpuppies
Hushpuppies sum up the economy pretty well. Every southerner knows good hushpuppies. While much older, the popularity really came out of the all-you-can eat fish camps. While you waited for the main event, baskets of hushpuppies were brought out to the table so everyone would fill up on hushpuppies and not eat as much seafood. That was a pretty smart business model. Fill your customers up with a few pennies worth of cornmeal, and they didn't cut into your profit margin on dollars with a shrimp.
Several years ago, my wife and I went to a new seafood place that opened locally. As we sat there, we never got hushpuppies. I finally asked and was told we could order some off the appetizer menu if we wanted. WTF? The owner/manager/whatever - NOT local (yankee) - came around and asked how we liked the place. I unloaded about the hushpuppies. He said they couldn't just be giving out hushpuppies because they'd have to raise prices on meals. OK. Fine. We have have never been back, and I have made it a point to tell every tourist who asks, "Don't go there."
So, how much has a few cents worth of hushpuppies cost that business over the years? They are still open during the summer months, so not enough to matter I guess, but I don't know any local who go there during the off season.
Fast forward to this week. My wife and I are club members at a local winery. We eat at the bistro about every other month. We don't even need menus because we know what we are going to eat and which bottle of wine we will order to go along with it. The place has always brought out a small basket of its artisan crackers with your bottle of wine. Well, Wednesday, no crackers. I asked about it. The server said they no longer did that, but we could order some. I balked, but my wife said bring them. We ate. The owner, who I know, came in. I got his attention and mentioned the crackers. I told him tack on an extra quarter to each bottle of wine or meal, and no one would be the wiser because we don't look at the menu or prices, anyway. Bring me a half dozen crackers. Your customers are happy. But when my check comes, and I've been charged $12 for a basket of crackers and some cream cheese, I sure as heck notice.

 

I have bought three used cars in my life. The first one I bought was for $750 in 1981. The transmissions tarted to grab while I was driving it home. The bought the second car from the Lutheran church. I bought the third one, brought it home and took the family for a spin. I stopped for gas and the manifold blew.

I buy new now.

 

Increasingly, online shopping is happening on smaller screens. More than half of all online sales on Black Friday -- 57.6% -- were on mobile screens, according to Adobe. That's up from 55.5% last year.

Golly, who'da thunk? It's 100% for me.

Last time I used a big screen for personal use was when I filed my income tax return.

 

I lucked into finding a 2009(!) Civic with only 16.5K miles last January. A 15-year-old car with barely 15 months of driving on it.

Last time I had an odometer reading that low was 1999.