For 15th Consecutive Year, Homer Man "Can't Believe They're Selling Christmas Decorations Before Halloween"

"I can't believe it," Peter Clib muttered as he pushed his shopping cart past a 32' inflatable Santa Claus...in OCTOBER. He's making his monthly Costco run, driving from Homer up to Anchorage to load up on Yoshida's, bottled water, nicotine gum and Veggie Straws. "My goal is to get in, and get out," he explained, using his thumb to point behind him to the exit. "I remember not too long ago, you'd see the Christmas lights set up after Thanksgiving...which is acceptable if you ask me. This whole business of putting up Santa and Rudolph next to the Grim Reaper and a giant inflatable turkey is a bunch of nonsense," he complained as he loaded up a giant inflatable turkey in his cart.

Since the mid 2000's, retailers have pushed for a larger "micro-season season" and have been accused of "consumer conditioning" by consumer advocates and retailer watchdogs.

Dean Stein, founder of consumer advocate group Slick Holdings, told us that contrary to popular belief, consumers are actually quite dumb. "Basically, if you put something out on the floor in a retail space, it really doesn't matter what or when, they're going to buy it," he said with a feminine lisp. "There was a widely studied study conducted in 2002 where researchers set out Columbus Day decorations during St. Patrick's Day, two holidays that aren't even close to each other on the calendar, and people gobbled them up like hotcakes. What's even more interesting is women paid 30% more than men did!"

"Oh, I know the study," Peter said as he pushed six carts out to his truck. "As soon as I get home and unload, I'm writing another email to Costco about this."