things 'n things

So, my wife and I schlepped to Linens 'N Things on Sunday to get some linens...and, also, some things. We went because the store is going out of business, a casualty of the tanking economy (and as a result of the store's overall crumminess). We had a decent-ish experience rooting through the spoils at 20% off, but we were bombarded constantly by dire announcements over the PA that coupons would no longer be accepted. This leads me to a story a friend of ours told us.

Apparently, the week before, the desperation markdown was only 10% off. But Linens 'N Things is a store heavily dependent upon the coupons with which they carpet bomb consumers, just like Bed, Bath and Beyond (though, amazingly, we were the only household in North America not to receive BB&B coupons, despite me registering for their horrible newsletter just to try to snag the discounts; ultimately, it's not worth it if you're only able to stomach shopping there once a year). Anyway, when our friend was there, people were trying to pay with their 20% off coupons, but the coupons weren't being accepted because of the going out of business discount...of 10% off. So people were saying (screaming), I came here for a going out of business sale, and the 'sale' you're offering me is less of a deal that than the staying-in-business sale I usually get?

It's a wonder why the company is going under...