Black Friday Shopping

[LadyFae]

I don't know if I'll go out this year.  I usually only go out Black Friday with my mom but since my parents' house burned down and their new one isn't finished yet we haven't really figured out what we are even doing for Thanksgiving yet.  Last year was the first year that my mom and I went out starting around midnight.  It was actually fun for me, but I dont' really do much actual shopping, I dont' find the deals to be very good on the things I actually find worth buying.  I really dont' like that some retailers are starting on Thanksgiving night, though, it just isn't fair to the employees.

[Rowan MacD]

I have been informed that Wal-Mart and Target will be open Thursday.  Neither one will be getting any of my business. There are threats of a strike by Wal-Mart employees for Friday if they are made to work on Thursday.  This is the epitome of corporate greed.

Walmart I understand-they only care about the bottom line.
 Target, however, is not a 24 hour operation (at least in this area), and as far as BF deals go, you will still get the money in the door no matter when you open.  I just don't get the earlier and earlier hours.  

[Auryn]

I have never done the whole black friday thing- at least not in the morning. I have gone before around 5pm to get some cheap movies.
The only temptation this year is the xbox 360 w kinect deals, but I think they will have them online on thanksgiving day- which would be awesome.

I straight out refuse to do the whole midnight thing- its worth spending an extra $50 to me to get to stay in bed and not deal with crazy people.

I agree that the whole starting early thing is ridiculous.

[Norfolk]

I have been informed that Wal-Mart and Target will be open Thursday. This is the epitome of corporate greed.

"A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it [...] gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. "

Milton Friedman

[Merlin the Elder]

I wonder, Norfolk....who really wants to go shopping—or work—on Thanksgiving rather than spend time with friends and family?  In my opinion, we're told what we want. Some believe it, and some of us don't.  If Wally World wants to open on Thursday, they should either give combat pay to those who work, and only take volunteers to work that day. Making tens of thousands of people work on a day that they want to be with their family simply blows, regardless.

[Butch]

Merlin, how true!  I will not go out on Thanksgiving for Christmas shopping, and feel it is greedy for some retailers to force their employees to forego their own holiday joy in order for the retailer to eek out a few extra bucks.  I have gone out on Black Friday, but always with a mission and a game plan.  I kinda enjoy going to a certain store for a certain item, braving the crowds, and then moving on to the next objective!

[Norfolk]

In my opinion, we're told what we want.

Oh, really?  By whom?  And what are the consequences if we decide we want something different than what we are told to want?

[Butch]

Oh, really?  By whom? 

By THE MAN!

And what are the consequences if we decide we want something different than what we are told to want?

He's gonna LOWER THE BOOM!

[Rowan MacD]

    If Black Friday specials are such a great deal, then it stands to reason that they will sell just as quickly if the doors open at 9am than 2am.
  It's obvious that ridiculously early opening times are a marketing gimmick, designed to exploit a well  known psychological fact that once a person is in the store after having stood out in the cold, or in a long line, just to find out they are too late to get the special (about 5 minutes after opening), they are loath to leave without buying something.   These 'consolation prize' purchases are usually something they didn't plan on buying at all, and usually they are not even discounted very much, if at all.
     
    In fact, the same 'loss leaders' are available year 'round, if you do your homework, and keep your eyes open.  
    I picked up a 42" flatscreen at Target 2 years ago during their Superbowl Special in January, for $70.00 less than the same TV was going for at Best Buy during their Black Friday Door-buster Special just 6 weeks prior.
 The exact same TV that 2 people got hurt fighting over at 4am when the store opened because they only had 8 units available at that price.  

Shop smarter, not harder.

[Merlin the Elder]

In my opinion, we're told what we want.

Oh, really?  By whom?  And what are the consequences if we decide we want something different than what we are told to want?

Don't misunderstand... some of us have enough of a brain to think for ourselves. But you must admit Madison Avenue has been as effective at convincing people what is good for us as Hollywood has, with all the garbage that they put out on film and on your TV screen. They don't put it on my TV screen because I've chosen not to watch TV since 1997.

I don't celebrate Chri$tma$ anymore, and don't particularly like the holiday$ in general. Any special meaning has been lost in the crass commercialisation of a season beginning in September, and the fight for your dollar.

[Lady L]

As a merchant at a ren faire, people were Christmas shopping in Sept. and not because I was pushing that. My online sales picked up in Oct. when I still had my Halloween banner up. My holiday online sales in Nov. are improving, but not as good as in the past.

As for myself, I make a lot of gifts, so I have to start early. When my boys were children, I did go on the day after Thanksgiving and it was fun. My oldest is 36 and it's different now. When I did go, I went to art/craft and fabric sales. I don't buy electronic stuff for Christmas. Also, we live in a smaller town, so not much selection. I hardly ever go shopping here, they don't have anything I need. Mostly, I order online, these days.

[Merlin the Elder]

Lady L, I look at that aspect entirely differently. People can find things all year long that are perfect for that someone on your list.  But, running into Chri$tma$ decorations in stores before summer is officially over shows me where peoples' heads are...Yes. I am the Grinch.

[Norfolk]

In my opinion, we're told what we want.

Oh, really?  By whom?  And what are the consequences if we decide we want something different than what we are told to want?

But you must admit Madison Avenue has been as effective at convincing people what is good for us as Hollywood has ...

So, what you meant to say is that we are enticed, and sometimes persuaded, rather than being TOLD what to want.  If this is correct, then are you criticizing the enticers or those who have succumbed to the enticement?

[Merlin the Elder]

heheh... all of the above, my young nobleman.

[Norfolk]

heheh... all of the above, my young nobleman.

And for what, exactly, are you criticizing them?  Having different values than yours, mayhap?