Things were cheaper- not that long ago

Canuck · Apr 6, 2023

I ran jewellery stores for a national corporation from 1969 until 1990. One day in the 1980s, one of my staff was being held at knifepoint with the demand that she empty the till. I approached her from the back office and calmly removed an 11 inch long Gerber Legendary butcher knife from her hand, booted her in the ass, then all of my 200 + pounds landed on her while the staff phoned 911. It took 3 burly police officers to get the hand cuffs on her. I locked the store until she was dealt with and until we regained our composure. One of the police informed me that a bullet proof vest will stop a bullet, but not so a knife. And next time, not to play the hero! They put the kid in a padded cell for several hours until her drug high diminished, then asked her what she intended to do if she didn’t get her way. “Oh, I’d have killed her”, was the reply. Six weeks earlier, she was in court for similar antics. When found guilty, the crown attorney recommended she be incarcerated for treatment in the interest of public safety. The judge said he didn’t feel that was necessary, and released her, with conditions! Never found out what happened after our episode.

Aroxx · Apr 6, 2023

SC1
You mentioned everything but my balls... my schnutts were swollen for days post-takedown. How about some empathy for the schnutts?

And while you did mention my daughter and current days (and of course I don't disagree) you also omitted two important deets:

1. Back when I was that high schooler and working those two starter jobs very few morons were armed, guns were less prevalent, no one but Bruce Lee & David Carradine knew jackshit about jujitsu or the martial arts and folks with mental illnesses weren't being kicked out of institutions and onto the streets.

2. Lawsuits weren't being doled out like candy. So make no mistake here -- a lot of the current corporate bottom line on shoplifting isn't necessarily "smarter" or even under (but definitely conveniently seen as) the mask of employee protection but in fact a policy birthed out of a fear of litigiousness.

...but to current times, yes -- too much fuckwittery out there to engage over a box of Pop-Tarts (even with the double fudge icing variant) even though we all pay for it in the end.

See what I mean? I more sane policy would have saved yo bawls my friend. To point 1, even back then, you just never know who you're messing with. Fights get ugly. People can easily get seriously hurt. Just not worth it. I'm glad it worked out for you. Point 2, I knew litigation would come up. Even besides litigation, I still think it is smarter. Mitigate a ton of risk for everybody for peanuts in merchandise cost. I've heard in SF it's become rampant because it's gone completely unchecked. Not saying we should do that either. Not looking to get much deeper into this here. Look, I'll be the first to say that a whole bunch of people out there could use a nice swift kick to the head. It's just not my job to do it (unfortunately). Fear of the consequences is sometimes the only thing keeping society in check. Otherwise, everyone would be walking around kicking everyone who disagreed with them in the head. That would be a lot of head kicking.

Just to get back on subject. I'm a tad younger, but I do remember in the early 2000s in my misguided youth we could buy cigarettes for like $3.50 a pack. We'd roll up to the gas station in my older brothers piece of crap 80's Mercury Cougar that had seats like a sofa with maybe $5 in pocket change. Get a pack of cigarettes, put the rest in the tank, hand the attendant a fistful of change and then drive around town doing nothing. Silly.

Marsimaxam · Apr 6, 2023

A lot longer than “not that long ago”… my son found this flyer that showed Disneyland prices back in 1964. Interesting if you extrapolate the 1964 dollars to today’s dollars one can truly see the impact of inflation and simply put… our money is worth less.
For example: Link to calculator https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=1&year=1964

Parking 1964 $.25 equivalent to $2.40 in today's dollars
Actual cost of Parking today is $30.00 Standard
and $50.00 Perferred

Cost of Adult Visiting Park 1964 $4.95 ( 15 rides jumbo)
Equivalent cost is $47.55 in today's dollars
Actual cost is $104.00 to $179.00 depending on season and day of the week.

JwRosenthal · Apr 6, 2023

This is unheard of now

JwRosenthal · Apr 6, 2023

Marsimaxam

A lot longer than “not that long ago”… my son found this flyer that showed Disneyland prices back in 1964. Interesting if you extrapolate the 1964 dollars to today’s dollars one can truly see the impact of inflation and simply put… our money is worth less.
For example

Parking 1964 $.25 equivalent to $2.43
Actual cost of Parking today is $30.00 Standard
and $59.00 Perferred

Cost of Adult Visiting Park 1964 $4.95 ( 15 rides jumbo)
Equivalent cost is $48.04
Actual cost is $104.00 to $179.00 depending on season and day of the week.

I remember the adventure books- basically tickets to go on the rides. They were lettered and color coded. “A ticket” rides were the best ones but you only got a couple of them- so you would have to buy multiple ticket books to get more A tickets and were left with tons of B,C,D. We had a whole drawer of C &D tickets when I was growing up…who wants to ride the damn tea cups, give me the Matterhorn!

Marsimaxam · Apr 6, 2023

JwRosenthal
I remember the adventure books- basically tickets to go on the rides. They were lettered and color coded. “A ticket” rides were the best ones but you only got a couple of them- so you would have to buy multiple ticket books to get more A tickets and were left with tons of B,C,D. We had a whole drawer of C &D tickets when I was growing up…who wants to ride the damn tea cups, give me the Matterhorn!

Actually it was the "E" ticket rides that were the best at the time... thus the expression, "e ticket ride". "E ticket"...The coveted coupon, first offered in 1959, for the most exciting Disneyland attractions in the Disneyland ticket book. The term “an E ticket ride” entered American slang meaning the ultimate in thrills. It worked in reverse with the "A" ticket rides being the least desirable.

See Below Tickets...

sheepdoll · Apr 6, 2023

JwRosenthal
I remember the adventure books- basically tickets to go on the rides. They were lettered and color coded. “A ticket” rides were the best ones but you only got a couple of them- so you would have to buy multiple ticket books to get more A tickets and were left with tons of B,C,D. We had a whole drawer of C &D tickets when I was growing up…who wants to ride the damn tea cups, give me the Matterhorn!

You mean E tickets. I still have a lot of A Tickets. I might even have a D ticket somewhere.

One evening I got to spend basically alone in Disneyland (until I got bored) There was a mix in party on the island, which I did not have access to. This was after the tickets were scrapped. I rode the fancy stuff over and over. Sat Backwards in the Pirate boat on one trip through.

Another time we were on Space mountain when It broke down, and had to be evacuated off the catwalk.

Have not been to the park since 1990 or so. Every sq foot is now rated by how much profit it generates. I liked it when it was family owned.

I did get the music rolls used on the merry-go-round. A lot of the antiques and old props were sold off. The MGR band organ was replaced with a fiberglass copy made by an acquaintance friend. When he died I got the rolls. They are recuts from the 1950s and 1960s. No collector value as the collectors want the ones from the 1920s and 1930s. The masters still exist at a museum in North Tonawanda.

Disney really stopped being disney after the 1984 bankruptcy and the Paramount execs took over. Although it took another decade for them to f**k everything up.

JwRosenthal · Apr 6, 2023

sheepdoll
You mean E tickets. I still have a lot of A Tickets. I might even have a D ticket somewhere.

One evening I got to spend basically alone in Disneyland (until I got bored) There was a mix in party on the island, which I did not have access to. This was after the tickets were scrapped. I rode the fancy stuff over and over. Sat Backwards in the Pirate boat on one trip through.

Another time we were on Space mountain when It broke down, and had to be evacuated off the catwalk.

Have not been to the park since 1990 or so. Every sq foot is now rated by how much profit it generates. I liked it when it was family owned.

I did get the music rolls used on the merry-go-round. A lot of the antiques and old props were sold off. The MGR band organ was replaced with a fiberglass copy made by an acquaintance friend. When he died I got the rolls. They are recuts from the 1950s and 1960s. No collector value as the collectors want the ones from the 1920s and 1930s. The masters still exist at a museum in North Tonawanda.

Disney really stopped being disney after the 1984 bankruptcy and the Paramount execs took over. Although it took another decade for them to f**k everything up.

Yes- E ticket, I was just talking about this recently with someone. Last time I was there was probably around ‘84 so my recollection was of that era

pdxleaf · Apr 6, 2023

rendo
Stupid question, but what was the process of filling the tank back then using a credit card? Did you have to go inside and have them swipe your card first, then fill the tank and go back inside to sign the slip?

Going back a bit more to the gas crisis of 1973, we had perhaps the first shock about how dependent we were on gas. Long lines of cars with odd and even days, depending on the number in your license plate. I was in 11th grade and worked part time at a gas station to get around the long lines.

As for your question about paying, nearly everything was cash or check. There were lists for bad check writers. If you went to a grocery store, a manager would come over to initial the check after the clerk wrote down your phone number and driver's license number. When I finally got a credit card, the clerk would call a phione number to get an authentication number, which could take a minute or longer. People behind you just waited. You'd try to figure out who in front of you was paying with cash and might use a check or a card. You'd see that checkbook come out and groan.

People would lose their bleeping minds if we went back to that. Sure beats the story about walking a mile to school (which I did) uphill both ways.

JwRosenthal · Apr 6, 2023

rendo
Stupid question, but what was the process of filling the tank back then using a credit card? Did you have to go inside and have them swipe your card first, then fill the tank and go back inside to sign the slip?

The way it went at the time of that 1990 transaction was that you would pull up to the pump, note the number of the pump, then walk into the station and hand them either cash and say “$20 on #11”, or hand them your credit card and say “fill up on #11”. If you were paying cash and wanted to fill you would hand them say two 20’s and then go back in and get your change, or with a card go back in and they would know the total on their computer and run your card.
Yes, pay at the pump is more convenient- but I don’t recall ever saying “goddamit, they are making me walk in there twice!”.

neilfrancis · Apr 6, 2023

Back in the day it cost £3-5 to rent x1 VHS movie from Blockbuster for 2-3 nights, plus any late fees.
You can now enjoy gazillions of films 24/7 for £12 a month on Netflix.
The 'value' of money is disintegrating, but some things are 'cheaper' ?
The price/value of some neo-vintage 'nice' watches from the 1990s have only recently surpassed their then retail prices. (And many still have not.)
I don't 'get it'. But money/fiat is likely utterly screwed on a medium term perspective, I think.
This will not end well.
Buy gold, and then just wait for it to be confiscated by you Govt. ; )
Happy Easter, if you're celebrating.

SC1 · Apr 6, 2023

JwRosenthal
This is unheard of now

That coupon, sans Melts ~ which didn't exist yet ~ it was all Regular Roast Beef and/or Beef & Cheddars, was my High School days.

I don't eat that shit any longer but there is an Arby's not far from our house here that I regularly drive by and just this morning the sign read, "Three Regulars 4 $9".

rcs914 · Apr 6, 2023

It wasn't even that long ago that Disney was still reasonably affordable. I happened to find this on my dad's computer from a trip he arranged (that I wasn't invited on, no I'm not still bitter) in 2009:

So at that time in 2009, 2 adults and 2 kids was $656.

Last year, for 2 adults and 2 kids with 5 day parkhoppers with Genie+ I paid $2000 for the tickets.

SC1 · Apr 6, 2023

Well after reading all this depressing shit I can say this with absolute conviction -

Jenny, from Forrest Gump, is still a complete drag as a human.

Taddyangle · Apr 6, 2023

In 1990 I was in college and I recall Wednesday was 0.25 cent hamburger day and Sunday was 0.35 cheeseburger days at McDonald's. On Wednesdays I brought my own slices of cheese.

JwRosenthal · Apr 6, 2023

Taddyangle
In 1990 I was in college and I recall Wednesday was 0.25 cent hamburger day and Sunday was 0.35 cheeseburger days at McDonald's. On Wednesdays I brought my own slices of cheese.

Yup! And Kentucky Friend Chicken (not yet” KFC”) had the chicken biscuits (sliders? Some mini sandwich) for 3/.99

Tony C. · Apr 6, 2023

rendo · Apr 6, 2023

pdxleaf
Going back a bit more to the gas crisis of 1973, we had perhaps the first shock about how dependent we were on gas. Long lines of cars with odd and even days, depending on the number in your license plate. I was in 11th grade and worked part time at a gas station to get around the long lines.

As for your question about paying, nearly everything was cash or check. There were lists for bad check writers. If you went to a grocery store, a manager would come over to initial the check after the clerk wrote down your phone number and driver's license number. When I finally got a credit card, the clerk would call a phione number to get an authentication number, which could take a minute or longer. People behind you just waited. You'd try to figure out who in front of you was paying with cash and might use a check or a card. You'd see that checkbook come out and groan.

People would lose their bleeping minds if we went back to that. Sure beats the story about walking a mile to school (which I did) uphill both ways.

JwRosenthal
The way it went at the time of that 1990 transaction was that you would pull up to the pump, note the number of the pump, then walk into the station and hand them either cash and say “$20 on #11”, or hand them your credit card and say “fill up on #11”. If you were paying cash and wanted to fill you would hand them say two 20’s and then go back in and get your change, or with a card go back in and they would know the total on their computer and run your card.
Yes, pay at the pump is more convenient- but I don’t recall ever saying “goddamit, they are making me walk in there twice!”.

Thanks for the education. I was 10 years old back in 1990, but about 5,000 miles away from the States. My dad would pay in cash to the guy who pumped the gas for him.

I still see people paying with a check at the grocery store sometimes. I have a hard time making sense of how resistant people are to change, even when it is more convenient for them and less annoying to others behind them. But at least the cashier doesn’t have to call the manager for approval.

SC1 · Apr 6, 2023

JwRosenthal
Yup! And Kentucky Friend Chicken (not yet” KFC”) had the chicken biscuits (sliders? Some mini sandwich) for 3/.99

You've got a Friend in the Colonial.

TimeODanaos · Apr 6, 2023

The Father

hi tech from 80’s

OK, so, um... how do you make calls with that?
(Just asking for the kids)