Thieves at WDW

[Westcoastwild]

Yes it depends on where you live. Where I live such displays of wealth are highly discouraged. Casual clothing is the rule even in high end restaurants. You can barely tell the difference between some of homeless from others that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. You also rarely see fancy cars. Drive down a street with million dollar homes in Seattle and the most common cars you see are Subarus and Toyotas. Unlike Southern California where you Mercedes and BWMs in middle class neighborhoods.

I'll agree with you on the cars, but come on. Seattleites are all about expensive athletic gear and jackets and outdoor stuff. I can walk by a bike rack and spot expensive bikes- my out of town friends think I'm crazy, but collector bikes are kind of the equivalent of rare cars in the PNW.

And there is a difference between wearing Columbia and mountain hardwear and I definitely think seattlites judge each on that too

It's definitely a different type of status symbol but it's still totally a status symbol.

And if you can't tell the difference between the homeless folks clothes and the millionaires clothes, you haven't got high end shopping friends. I'm a little jealous if that's the case. I know way, way too much about what holes or distressed looks are "hip" thanks to my younger siblings. Who knew jeans were a form of artistry...

 

[RedAngie]

Hmmmm, the fact that she's brain-dead enough to leave her wallet, keys, and epipen in it but remembered to take her cell phone with her is a fairly strong sign that the stroller is a status symbol.

Needing to be "rescued" is additional evidence.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Hmmmm, the fact that she's brain-dead enough to leave her wallet, keys, and epipen in it but remembered to take her cell phone with her is a fairly strong sign that the stroller is a status symbol.

Needing to be "rescued" is additional evidence.

It was also the worst day of her life.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I happen to live in what is repeatedly named the wealthiest county in the US, so yes I've seen who and why people buy what they do and for a lot it is about status. There is a lot of competition and making sure you have what your friends and neighbors have. A lot of people buy these $1800 strollers because their friends do. I also see a lot of those that want to appear like they have what others do. The number of knock off Louis Vuitton bags I've seen is funny. The main point of this thread is that the woman who had her stuff stolen took an $1800 stroller to an amusement park, left it parked unattended and with her wallet and keys on it. Some people just aren't very bright. Why would anyone think it was a good idea to leave valuables sitting alone anywhere? No one has a right to steal, but you can make yourself a target for those who do by what you have or wear.

Wow. I didn't know you live in what is the repeatedly named wealthiest county in the US. I'm really impressed by that.

My point is if you are a high wage earner (regardless of which county you live in), you are not going to shop in Walmart for a stroller and if you live and shop in some of the other wealthy areas of the US, it is not uncommon to see expensive strollers because that's what these people buy.

I live in NJ and Florida. I usually shop at a mall in Short Hills and Towne Center in Boca. I'm pretty sure that the people I see aren't short on cash and their handbags are the real McCoy and they can afford a high-end stroller.

I started the thread not because the woman owned an $1800 stroller, but because she left all of her important things in the stroller like a dumb-$$$ and also because theft has been going on at WDW for years.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I am surprised that there are so many people calling a stroller a status symbol!

People buy what they can afford. Why all of the hate? I just don't get it.

What would happen if tomorrow you hit the lottery for $100,000,000. Would you still shop at Walmart or buy a $25 stroller? Or would you shop at a little nicer store and buy nicer things? If someone told me they wouldn't, then I would have to think that they are full of bologna.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I am surprised that there are so many people calling a stroller a status symbol!

People buy what they can afford. Why all of the hate? I just don't get it.

What would happen if tomorrow you hit the lottery for $100,000,000. Would you still shop at Walmart or buy a $25 stroller? Or would you shop at a little nicer store and buy nicer things? If someone told me they wouldn't, then I would have to think that they are full of bologna.

Yep. Exactly. Although I pay good money just to avoid Walmart as it is. mostly because it's much easier for me to reach the indie boutiques then drive a half hour to Walmart, though.

 

[RedAngie]

Beyonce

Arnold Schwarzeneggar

Britney Spears

 

[maxiesmom]

Hmmmm, the fact that she's brain-dead enough to leave her wallet, keys, and epipen in it but remembered to take her cell phone with her is a fairly strong sign that the stroller is a status symbol.

Needing to be "rescued" is additional evidence.

I'd say it is more indicative of a Trophy Wife.

 

[RedAngie]

I'd say it is more indicative of a Trophy Wife.

Very possible. Trophy Wife with trophy stroller.

 

[mummabear]

I am surprised that there are so many people calling a stroller a status symbol!

People buy what they can afford. Why all of the hate? I just don't get it.

What would happen if tomorrow you hit the lottery for $100,000,000. Would you still shop at Walmart or buy a $25 stroller? Or would you shop at a little nicer store and buy nicer things? If someone told me they wouldn't, then I would have to think that they are full of bologna.

Yes and No. would I still shop at Walmart yes. To be honest I like it-although it may be because we have nothing like it here in Nz and they toys and kids clothes are so much cheaper than what we pay for the same/similar things here. But for many items (like strollers and luggage, my own clothes etc) no I wouldn't (and don't already)

 

[eastendlights]

Yes it depends on where you live. Where I live such displays of wealth are highly discouraged. Casual clothing is the rule even in high end restaurants. You can barely tell the difference between some of homeless from others that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. You also rarely see fancy cars. Drive down a street with million dollar homes in Seattle and the most common cars you see are Subarus and Toyotas. Unlike Southern California where you Mercedes and BWMs in middle class neighborhoods.

This may come as a surprise but streets with million dollars homes ARE middle class neighborhoods in quite a few areas of the country.

How are "displays of wealth highly discouraged"? I thought this was the United States of America, home of the American dream, not communist China. It is okay to live in a million dollar home and eat in a high end restaurant but not okay to drive a Mercedes? How does that make sense?

 

[Westcoastwild]

This may come as a surprise but streets with million dollars homes ARE middle class neighborhoods in quite a few areas of the country.

How are "displays of wealth highly discouraged"? I thought this was the United States of America, home of the American dream, not communist China. It is okay to live in a million dollar home and eat in a high end restaurant but not okay to drive a Mercedes? How does that make sense?

The poster has an...odd...view of her town anyway. A city in which a million dollar home is upper middle class btw. But is right about the car thing to a certain extent- it's just that there are plenty of other status symbols particular to the area anyway. An inexpensive and impractical car or high end purses are considered a sign of nouveau rich (so tacky...and probably Californian transplants..sniff).

But there are tons of babies wearing boutique onsies in Seattle being wheeled around in sports strollers that must cost upwards a grand, so yeah, not sure where they're getting the "displays of wealth are highly discouraged" thing from.

 

[amberpi]

Yep. Exactly. Although I pay good money just to avoid Walmart as it is. mostly because it's much easier for me to reach the indie boutiques then drive a half hour to Walmart, though.

I can walk to a boutique to buy a date outfit, if I have to drive, I'll just wear something in my closet.

 

[amberpi]

Towne Center in Boca. I'm pretty sure that the people I see aren't short on cash and their handbags are the real McCoy and they can afford a high-end stroller.

I started the thread not because the woman owned an $1800 stroller, but because she left all of her important things in the stroller like a dumb-$$$ and also because theft has been going on at WDW for years.

Love Boca! I did a contract there and was offered to lead the practice, should have taken it, the weather is just so good!

I thought that was the point of this thread. Who th would leave medication, more or less your wallet unattended?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I am surprised that there are so many people calling a stroller a status symbol!

People buy what they can afford. Why all of the hate? I just don't get it.

What would happen if tomorrow you hit the lottery for $100,000,000. Would you still shop at Walmart or buy a $25 stroller? Or would you shop at a little nicer store and buy nicer things? If someone told me they wouldn't, then I would have to think that they are full of bologna.

Well if I needed one and hit the lottery I'd probably buy the same $300 one I was given now. Like I said up thread. From what I've seen of the expensive ones, they aren't truly any better. People have been sold a false bill of goods. More expensive does not mean better. Sometimes it is. But sometimes it is not. BTW the majority of people that hit the lottery end worse financially because they overspend.

 

[MillauFr]

This may come as a surprise but streets with million dollars homes ARE middle class neighborhoods in quite a few areas of the country.

How are "displays of wealth highly discouraged"? I thought this was the United States of America, home of the American dream, not communist China. It is okay to live in a million dollar home and eat in a high end restaurant but not okay to drive a Mercedes? How does that make sense?

No way you can buy a $1 million dollar house on a middle class income. Yes if you drive a Mercedes in Seattle your status drops. None of the imagine conscious people here would dare be caught in a Mercedes. People would look down upon them and assume they are the "bridge and tunnel" crowd from the suburbs.

Westcoastwild is correct. The imagine conscious here parade around Green Lake on their expensive carbon fiber bike and spandex bike clothes.

 

[MillauFr]

And if you can't tell the difference between the homeless folks clothes and the millionaires clothes, you haven't got high end shopping friends. I'm a little jealous if that's the case. I know way, way too much about what holes or distressed looks are "hip" thanks to my younger siblings. Who knew jeans were a form of artistry...

Yes I can't tell the difference between some homeless wearing some ripped up jeans that should have been thrown away years ago and some self absorbed hipster buying the $425 mud caked jeans at Nordstrom.

Go down and see the crowd waiting in line for a meal at the Union Gospel Mission and compare it with the crowd streaming into the Amazon/Google/Facebook buildings. The homeless at Union Gospel Mission are far better dressed. There was a guy at Union Gospel Mission that would wear a suit everyday.

 

[Westcoastwild]

No way you can buy a $1 million dollar house on a middle class income. Yes if you drive a Mercedes in Seattle your status drops. None of the imagine conscious people here would dare be caught in a Mercedes. People would look down upon them and assume they are the "bridge and tunnel" crowd from the suburbs.

Westcoastwild is correct. The imagine conscious here parade around Green Lake on their expensive carbon fiber bike and spandex bike clothes.

I think the difference is the definition of "middle class". Lots of people in Seattle who make 100-200 grand a year are definitely middle class. Upper middle class, sure, but my father (for example) would not consider himself "upper" class. It's a cost of living thing. You can pay for a McMansion in the suburbs or you can renovate a ridulously small bungalow in a neighborhood like Queen Anne for roughly the same amount of money. I.e. Probably at least 750k.

Whereas my Idaho friends would consider a 200, 000 house a "rich person" house and that buys maybe...a shed...in Seattle? I didn't realize how much my father really made until I went to college with people whose parents made far, far less. And my parents definitely have money/budgeting worries.

All this is doing is making me think that I really do need to find a different area of the country to live in...

 

[focusondisney]

I'm one of those people who think $1800 on a stroller, a purse or shoes is crazy. Only until I realize I have spent that same amount on a 3 night stay at GF's Royal Palm Club. Then I think I am the crazy one. At least the stroller, purse & shoes will last more than 3 nights!

I am smart enough to never leave my wallet & emergency meds where anyone can just walk off with them tho!

 

[MillauFr]

I think the difference is the definition of "middle class". Lots of people in Seattle who make 100-200 grand a year are definitely middle class.

How can you be in the top 5% for income and be middle class? If you classify middle class by lifestyle rather than income then plenty of people in Seattle that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars are "middle class".