Spencer's Gifts in the Mall? Huh??? WT....

[CathrynRose]

Has anyone been to a Spencer's lately?

My fiance and 11 y/o son walked into one yesterday while Christmas shopping - and were SHOCKED! Now I remember this place when I was a kid. I remember them having a "dirty" section - the area you werent supposed to go by, but you would kinda strain your eyes to look!

Okay - well I walk in last night, and was I mean... it was *BAD*!

F-words all over t-shirts, ummm, how shall I put this "breasts" all over the place, wee-wee's were in full force, as well.

I dont get it. Are they allowed to sell to any age? I just dont understand how it can be RIGHT there, for any eye to see?!?! There's no age limit upon entering the store.

My fiance said - it's almost like a porno shop, and I think he's right.

 

[shortbun]

Thanks for the warning! Sounds bad.

 

[RadioNate]

I was in one at Halloween. I remember that it was THE store to shop at when I was in Jr High.

Now I can't imagine they let Jr High students IN.

I was surprised too.

 

[phisigprincess]

I agree - it seems like it's gone progressively downhill. Now you can't find every day stuff - it's most drugs and sex. I'm not sure how they get away with selling it to minors.

 

[Christine]

Yes, I know what you mean. I've been in there a few times and was shocked. My 11 year old son is mortified to even go in there, especially with me.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I remember when I was a kid (probably around 10-11), we could go into that aisle without a problem. Around 19-20 I noticed that they'd put signs up that you had to be 18 to enter that aisle. We don't have any stores around here anymore, though, so I can't say what they're like. I actually thought they'd all been closed.

 

[amy4bruce]

They've been this way for years. I imagine that a significant number of complaints to the mall would get them to lose their lease, but, since DD7 does not go into a store without DW or me, and we don't go into Spencer's Gifts, I don't let it bother me.

I can't control anybody else (except for DD7), nor would I want to, but it is my personal rule that I don't wear a t-shirt that I couldn't wear in front of my mother.

 

[TheGoofster]

I used to work in a mall right next to a Spencer's. They did have some bad stuff, but it was always tucked away in the back of the store. Most of what they had was some pretty cool gizmos.
Now I won't let my son (or me) anywhere near a Spencer's. Even the stuff in the window is pathetic.

 

[Jpgirl]

Ummm Spencers started out as a druggie store. Waaayyy back in the late 70's that's where one would go to get pipes (not for smoking tobacco either) and of course ya gotta have a lava lamo or a fiber optic lamp to go with that pipe. Oh yeah they sold papers too-colored and flavored and bongs. IMHO it was NEVER a store to take kids into.

 

[minnieandme]

The last time I went in there was a few years ago, and from what I saw, I will not allow my kids to go in there. The adult items are pretty much out in the open.

 

[cstraub]

It's been bad for quite a few years. I won't support them by buying anything in there. If I know they carry something that I want I leave the store and find it elsewhere or buy it through another store online.

It is pretty ridiculous. I don't really object to the things they carry but it's right in your face to where kids can see it. I like to be able to moniter what my kids see as much as I can. Heck even at the grocery store they have a cover over the Cosmopolitin (sp) magazines! Doesn't make sense how they can get away with it.

 

[CheshireVal]

It's pretty tacky, and I think it's sad that they market to teenagers.

 

[cardaway]

I have noticed the same thing. Surprises me that they are allowed to remain in the malls.

 

[CathrynRose]

See? I thought I remembered the "18 or older only" signs - but I couldnt remember for sure.

Now there is not any signs, and it made me uncomfortable that I was in there, with my 11 y/o. I mean, we left...but I felt like a doofus for even wwalking in the place! Why didnt I know it was a teenage porno shop?!?!

Heck - I recall buying a Lava Lamp there, when I was a kid.....


I knew they had more ... I dont know how to put it...like South Park, and Family Guy, like THAT stuff - but not what I saw.

For instance.... Suspenders with lifelike rubbery breasts on them. right there...at eye level...just "right there". It was ODD!

 

[Jillpie]

I hate it. I have 3 teenage sons and cringe when they want to go in there. But now they can be on their own in the malls, I just hate it.

AND, have you even seen the CALENDAR options out there??? Even worse. Just go into any store with all the new calendars. It should be outlawed.

 

[CathrynRose]

I hate it. I have 3 teenage sons and cringe when they want to go in there. But now they can be on their own in the malls, I just hate it.

AND, have you even seen the CALENDAR options out there??? Even worse. Just go into any store with all the new calendars. It should be outlawed.

I certainly saw some of the calender options at Spencer's last night. Wet White T-shirts, seemed to be popular. There were several different ones.....


Yes - my son goes to the mall on his own too. I just cant understand why or HOW this place is allowed to sell this stuff to minors. I mean, are they? Just the stuff even being on display???

I should do a test. Send my 11 y/o in to buy the breast-suspenders and a wet t-shirt calender.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Heck even at the grocery store they have a cover over the Cosmopolitin (sp) magazines! Doesn't make sense how they can get away with it.

Sometimes magazines are covered b/c it is before their official release date. This happens frequently at our grocery store (magazines are stocked typically by an outside vendor).

They've had covers over 17--soap opera mags...whatever. Doesn't really have anything to do with the cover--just that they stocked it early. Then the covers disappear and then when the new month stock arrives--the same thing can happen again.

 

[cstraub]

Sometimes magazines are covered b/c it is before their official release date. This happens frequently at our grocery store (magazines are stocked typically by an outside vendor).

They've had covers over 17--soap opera mags...whatever. Doesn't really have anything to do with the cover--just that they stocked it early. Then the covers disappear and then when the new month stock arrives--the same thing can happen again.

Not where I live. They are always covered!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not where I live. They are always covered!

Must be pretty conservative..

I don't really find anything wrong with Cosmo covers...

A Vanity Fair cover every once and a while when they do the modest nude shots (meaning the important parts covered by something)...

The only thing I can think of is they don't want to encourage you to put away the twinkie box.

(that's a joke--really cannot imagine the problem with Cosmo--some of the other mags are doozies--especially their whatchamacallit--the little blurbs like..."how to turn your man on" or something of that nature written on the cover).

 

[Nancy]

Ummm Spencers started out as a druggie store. Waaayyy back in the late 70's that's where one would go to get pipes (not for smoking tobacco either) and of course ya gotta have a lava lamo or a fiber optic lamp to go with that pipe. Oh yeah they sold papers too-colored and flavored and bongs. IMHO it was NEVER a store to take kids into.

Yeah, but that was kept in the back of the store with the black lights and the posters (I was a teen/adult in the 70's I remember that stuff).

Then they had the semi-dirty stuff and the really stupid gag items...like "fart in a can"

up front of the store was the regular stuff, jewelry, things to decorate the room, etc. Heck, I was even able to get my kids some NSync stuff there not all that long ago. I haven't been in one in awhile cause it just looked like so much trash last time I went in one.