"Depression" - Page 3 - Orchid Board

Ray · #21 03-14-2009, 10:41 AM

The chemical company I work for laid-off a total of 7 people in its 41 years of existence. In December, 17 were let go. Because of that, I now have three jobs there that should actually be done by 7. If there is such a thing as "job security", I suppose I come pretty close.

On the orchid side - from a vendor perspective - I'm not seeing the reduction I expected. Part of that is probably because I mostly sell supplies, with only a few plants (got a couple of nifty ones out there now), and even in a tight economy, folks still want to keep their existing plants healthy, plus - as First Rays is more of a way to pay for my hobby than a way to support myself - my prices tend to have pretty small markups compared to others.

Bob2741 · #22 03-14-2009, 11:00 AM

I would have to agree with Rays statement Ive always found his pricing fair and honest

Ray · #23 03-14-2009, 11:02 AM

Thanks Bob, but that wasn't meant to be my point.

Bob2741 · #24 03-14-2009, 01:07 PM

I know it wasn't your point but I was my opinion

brush · #25 03-14-2009, 10:00 PM

These are hard time that we are going through . I am also one of the lucky ones to still have a job these days . I still buy the odd orchid when I see one that I like or don't have . It makes you feel good and makes everything like stress and financial woes fade into the background.

peeweelovesbooks · #26 03-14-2009, 10:28 PM

The economy hasn't really affected me. I work for the federal government and the job is stable. The fact that I'm more selective in what I buy is a function of me identifying which orchids I would really love to grow as opposed to what looks pretty. In other words, I guess I've hit the point where I've identified what I truly what to specialize in.

Virgil · #27 03-15-2009, 09:14 AM

Yes times are not as good as they were , It is time for us to swap those divisions, so we can still get new orchids for only the shipping cost,

cb977 · #28 03-15-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virgil

Yes times are not as good as they were , It is time for us to swap those divisions, so we can still get new orchids for only the shipping cost,

Great suggestion!
Trades are a wonderful way to get in some new plants and get rid of some that aren't at their happiest in their current environment.

Remember...we have a great Classifieds forum where trade deals can be made. I've received some lovely plants from my friends here at OB and it always feels good to share my chids with friends

SheilaJ · #29 03-18-2009, 12:19 AM

I've cut back on orchid buying for three reasons:

1. DD is a college freshman this year at a ridiculously expensive private college. So lots of luxuries were cut way back - eating out, new plants, new clothes, etc.

2. Retirement fund looks like manure now, and DH is close to retirement age.

3. I am running out of room, and I don't quite have enough time and energy to deal with the orchids I already have.

Jerry Delaney · #30 03-18-2009, 02:18 AM

My wife & I are fortunate in that we are retired and thus have a fixed, but stable, income source. However, our IRAs look like they have been shot at and hit! We depend upon these to supplement our SS. But, I suppose we should be quite happy that even with the loss in these, they are still worth MUCH more than we took out of our own pockets. While I really haven't let the economy dictate my orchid purchases, I have to watch what I buy due to space availability (or the lack there of). Ray, perhaps one reason you haven't experienced a great drop is that depressed people search for those small things that can help cheer them up even for a little while. I think that during the last depression, they say that sales of things like flowers and ice cream actually went up. I don't know, could that be partly why yours is still hanging in there?