Graywings wrote: I think we all sort of knew that the home-town stores like Marshall Fields in Chicago, Hechts in Washington, DC, Kaufmann's (or was it Hornes?) in Pittsburgh were owned by conglomerates. But speaking as a shopper, I think it was a mistake to homogenize them as Macy's. It felt like we were losing part of the city's identity. I'm pretty sure most people don't know and it's evident if you listen and read to what they say and write. Who cares what a store is named? So, basically it would be okay to shop at Field's even though it's a 100% Macy's store? Where was all of this clamor when the discount mass merchandiser, one small step above WalMart, Target owned Field's for over 10 years? Why weren't people crying then? Oh wait, they left the name alone. So, even though you were shopping in a glorified Target/Dayton-Hudson store that wasn't anything close to the original Marshall Field's, it was okay because they *called* it Marshall Field's? Got it. People with handouts about bringing Marshall Field's back in front on the State St. store are laughable and silly at best. How exactly are they going to accomplish that? I'd love to meet some of these retail geniuses. From their website: Our group continues to work hard to restore this icon's distinctively Chicago quality, service and culture, as well as the name "Marshall Field's." What? There has not been a Marshall Field's culture in Chicago for at least 30 years - where have all of these brilliant business people been?

DD and I went to Penny's today to get her some maternity clothes. We did notice lower everyday prices throughout the store. The same exact clothes were priced higher elsewhere and Penney's had the basic tops pretty close to the Burlington outlet prices. DD told me a client told her that Penny's was losing business with the $10 off coupons and "sales". Everyone waited for those and didn't shop there the rest of the time. They are trying to rebuild customer loyalty on everyday value instead of jacking up the price and lowering it for "sales" like Kohl's does. I hope it works for them. Their quality is much better than Kolh's. As someone who really doesn't like to shop I dislike Macy's store layout so I don't shop there any longer. I used to like it a couple of decades age before they turned the stores into a house of mirrors.

JC Penney's is KILLING ME LATELY!!!!! So much I want!!!! I just exchanged DH's pants yesterday & they have white marble urn lamps that I want sooooo baaaaaaddddddd! And 2 more pillows for my bed. Oh & the duvet that I mysteriously stumbled across on-line. AND my new baby bedding.

No, I don't even know for sure that I want to order anything from them. I was in the store today and didn't see the lamps I saw online. It just got me to thinking. I know some stores offer free shipping when you order in the store - Coldwater Creek, Lands End. I don't know about the free shipping code for Penney's. Was that in another thread?