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Phantom gifts are all around us in Natchez
Published Sunday, December 9, 2007
You can’t find anything good here in Natchez. You’ve got to drive to Baton Rouge, Jackson or Alexandria to do your shopping, especially if you want something nice.
How many times have you heard that?
Perhaps at one time, for some items, that may have been true.
But increasingly the global economy is shrinking the virtual distance between the Miss-Lou and the rest of the world.
Today, you can get anything here, usually in a short time frame.
No, I don’t mean ordering books through Amazon.
But speaking of books, lots of people don’t realize it, but our local bookstores can generally order anything that Amazon stocks. But by doing so locally, your tax dollars stay at home.
But what about technology or other specialty items?
Many years ago, it often took months, if not years, before the latest and greatest techno-gadget made it to the Miss-Lou.
But that’s changed lately.
For example, the most sought-after cell phone/PDA, the Apple iPhone can be purchased from AT&T, right there on John R. Junkin Drive.
So news I heard last week should come as no surprise — a local man bought the cream of the four-wheeled vehicle crop and he bought it in the City of Natchez.
That’s right, one of the most rare cars in the world was bought here in Natchez.
If you see a new set of cool wheels cruising the Miss-Lou, don’t think it’s a tourist.
A local man, who prefers his privacy, just bought a 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom, a car worth more than twice the cost of many people’s houses.
What’s that, you say, that’s impossible?
No, you didn’t miss a new Rolls-Royce dealership popping up on the bypass.
In fact, there’s no Rolls-Royce dealership within nearly 400 miles of Natchez.
Yet, the man bought the car as sure as day, and he bought it from a place where most of us would go expecting to buy a Mustang, F-150 pickup or maybe an Explorer — Natchez Ford.
Owner Brad Yarbrough said the sale of the Rolls was rare, but he’s often done similar things for customers.
“This is just an example of what I’m able to do for people,” he said. “We can find people, whatever they want.”
In 2006, the dealership sold a rare Ford GT-40 for nearly $150,000.
Natchez Ford’s General Sales Manager Chuck Smith handled the Rolls-Royce deal this past weekend.
“They only made (the Phantom) starting in 2004,” Smith said. “They’re very rare, very expensive cars.”
Smith wouldn’t disclose the details of the sale.
“It’s a Rolls-Royce Phantom and it’s going to have a phantom owner.”
Smith would not discuss the sales price either, but hinted at the amount of money involved by discussing the value of such vehicles.
“Used, you’re talking in excessive of a quarter of a million dollars,” he said. “New, you’re talking in excessive of half a million dollars.”
Even for seasoned car pros such as Yarbrough and Smith, such a large, single deal is rare.
“This was a first for me,” Smith said.
Rare, but certainly possible.
So as you’re doing your shopping this Christmas season, think about the gifts you need to buy.
Is it really necessary to drive outside of our area to shop?
If a person can get one of the most rare cars in the world delivered here in Natchez, then it’s quite likely you can find something for your little elves without spending your money outside our area.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on December 9, 2007 at 2:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kevin, bless your heart, but for years they have preached, shop at home, and you know something? The ones doing the preaching, why, these are the very ones burning up the pavement going even out of state to do their shopping. Believe me, I know this for a fact. And it burns my, you know what. They are all too goody-goody to be seen in the local stores. But that's all right, we poor commoners realize the importance of shopping locally. We'll keep the doors open. Do you know what? That little day care school you wrote about yesterday that needs help? Well they sell Madri Gras beads, ask around to see how many of these people will go there to buy their beads for the parade. You will find out they much prefer to drive to New Orleans for their beads. That is just a little tid bit of information on how our 'locals shop local'.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on December 9, 2007 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There may also be another factor to shopping out-of-town. If you go downtown Ntz to buy a unique gift (and there are gobs of cool things downtown) the recipient may say, "Oh, I saw this at _____and have been wanting it ever since!" Well, crap I say. Now you know how much I spent!!!!
You're right destiny. It peeves me to hear someone speak out of both sides of their mouth.
Good article, Kevin, as always!
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on December 9, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I try to buy as much as I can in Natchez.Sometimes that is not possible.I would say 95% of our Christmas gifts for 2007 were purchased in Natchez.
Now a request to downtown merchants.It would be so considerate if the owners and the employees, would park someplace other than on Main and Franklin Street, Commerce included too. To whom the shoe fits, 3 cars for you, Darby Short. Personally, I would do a whole lot more shopping downtown if you could ever find a parking place at least a block away.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on December 9, 2007 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
>>KPAGE&OLDERTHANDIRT<< Good going. Tell it like it is. And it was a good article Kevin.
Posted by callitasitis (anonymous) on December 9, 2007 at 7:28 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 4:12 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by firered (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 4:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL I was just thinking the same thing ntzmom. I'm not gonna sit here and take up for Darby by any means but have you ever had to open a business on Main St or anywhere else downtown for that matter? Its kinda scary to do it by yourself so you wanna park as close to the store as you can to get in quick! So that's in defense of myself for parking on Main St! LOL had to throw that in there!
Now about the article... If i could find any clothing here that I like that fit me maybe I would shop local. However, the Natchez Mall does not sell any of the brands I like anymore and its very hard to find something that fits me (I'm tiny) the way I like for it to fit me. So therefore I have to go out of town or resort to ordering from the Internet. BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD... all of my Christmas shopping so far has been done in Natchez!
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 5:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just for the record, the Shorts live in an upstairs apt. above one of their businesses on Main Street and across the street from Darby's.There is no need for them to continue to take up parking spaces intended for customers.That's just my opinion,Maybe I'm wrong.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 6:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh I know that older... and believe me like I said I by no means will take up for Darby as I totally agree with you.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 6:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I also agree, especially taking up 3 spaces.
Posted by darby (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dennis and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for reminding us not to park on Main Street. In our busy life can be guilty of falling into selfish habits, and as you have reminded us, our parking habits have become one of them. How can we expect our customers to walk a block or two to get to our business if we won't even do it ourselves? We will make every effort for not only ourselves, but also our employees to find alternate parking. Thanks again, Darby
Posted by cynthiafleming (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Darby, always a lady...Thank you....
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't really think that anyone needed to be "reminded".
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The price for a new Rolls is a little inflated - The list is $333,000 and the long wheelbase runs $385,000. I have not seen the price of the new convertible but it will be under $500,000. Although the first US one was sold for $2.1 million at a charity auction.
Interesting car - but not pretty - good to see one in Natchez though. All the other Rolls Royce's in Natchez are "original" Rolls Royce's this one is a very expensive BMW made at a new factory in Goodwood England.
Posted by moxiew (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i guess i'm missing something here. then why is it said by so many that shopping out of town is necessary?
just recently i went to 6 different stores to buy glitter. yes, to 6 stores that would typically carry such an item. i was told they were out of it, they don't keep much of it in stock or they don't carry the item. glitter is not an uncommon item, especially this time of year.
there are several items in natchez that are not available.
art supplies is one. there are hundeds if not thousands of artists in natchez and it's rural area.
clothing items are of only narrow venues that one can find in natchez, shoes also.
fabric is another item.
while i do appreciate many things about natchez, shopping here is indeed not one of them.
however, whenever i need to buy a rare rolls royce, a hard to find book or a techinical gadget, i'll do my best to keep my money in natchez. but, today i'm just not in the need for any of these items. thanks anyway.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 7:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear ya mox....I mean Natchez is great for pottery, coasters, fudge, books, even cars, but clothes that our kids want i.e. Hollister, Abercrombie ect can not be found.
MAC makeup is huge, yet you have to go to Baton Rouge for that too.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on December 10, 2007 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought it was Kevin Cooper that was telling people not to shop at wal-mart a few months ago?
Posted by Morticia (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 5:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you firered, I sometimes have to go out of town or shop the internet to find small enough sizes. I do try to stay here when possible to avoid the gas prices and the shipping fees. I did buy all my Christmas presents here. Natchez does offer some unique things especially if you are looking for a gift for someone out of town. Maybe I will open a shop downtown and sell the things I can never find. But I will have a cat that sits on the counter. I do love Abby though, but my dog would lick everyone to death.
Posted by BRUNO (anonymous) on December 11, 2007 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You will usually find that local stores do not carry the most up to date tecnical or computer gadgets. If the do then they are more expensive then the "Best Buys" or internet stores. As for upscale womens's apparel hang it up! Baton Rouge, Dallas or other locations come out on top. Please take the hypocrisy out of buying local, most businesses and people don't. I wish they did take it seriously. No Spin.
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