Stores have RUINED Black Friday!
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
November 19, 2012 8:46pm CST
Black Friday started at 4am on Friday after Thanksgiving Day and went all day long. People would wait for hours in line for those door busters and sales. It was tradition for many...fun for alot!
This year,,,first Walmart and Kmart started it with haveing "Black Friday" start at 8pm on THURSDAY! Walmart employess hate it and have walked out as they have to start (some of them) working at 3pm on T=day and missing their family t-day celebration. Then the store are open literally all night, then all the next day Friday..until closing at 10pm Friday.
Then I now see...as of yesterdays newspaper....Black Friday started TODAY..MONDAY!!!! PEople are lining up outside stores for the door busters tomorrow or the next day...the sales from now to Friday are like they used to be on BF. Sales of only certain items, at certain prices and of course "limited to stock on hand".
I have never done shopping on Black Friday. My daughter nad her daughter do it as a tradition for themselves, but just a few stores that they line up prior. But with it starting a week early and literally going the entire week...Black Friday no longer exists..they have taken a much loved and anticipated tradition away from us.
What's next..Cyber Monday? Well, I hear that is starting on Saturday this year!!!
Why wont' they let the traditions alone? Why do they ahve to change things that don't have need of change...what's next...Christmas is now on December 26 so that they can have last sale day on the 25th?
Do you Black Friday shop? When are you starting? Not me...Nothing I need bad enough to deal with that massive line waiting and crowds and waiting only to be told "sold last one".
3 people like this
11 responses
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
20 Nov 12
I know it is terrible that these stores have started their sales Thanksgiving night. I have no intention to shop on Thanksgiving night or the day after. I will buy a couple of things from amazon because I have some gift cards and the things I will buy are a weaving loom kit for my niece and a pottery set for my nephew. I will do my Christmas shopping the first week in December during the day when the stores are not crowded. I have a list of what I am buying for almost every one except for Randy (he is so hard to shop for). I wish these stores would take into consideration that their employees have families and want to spend Thanksgiving with the family. I think the stores are desperate to get people to shop early because of the bad economy. I know of people who have recently lost their jobs and I am sure that Christmas is the last thing from their mind.
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I don't go either. I do intend to be here on MyLot and on Friday..check out Amazon.com for sales they might have and my quilting stores for sales they might have..and then check back on Cyber Monday, but other than that...I intend to stay IN this holiday weekend!
I can't think why the stores would do this. there are plenty of days left to shop for christmas that they dont have to open on Thanksgiving day. 4am till midnight on Friday is plenty of "Black Friday" shopping time! Or even..stretch it to Saturday... but to force employees to be away from their familys on a holiday..that just isn't right. And to that end...how stupid of them to do this!! I mean, many wont' go as they DO want to stay home with family..they might hit the sales on Friday as always, but many will ignore Thursday. I think more will just not buy as opposed to braving these next couples sale days...I have been watching the last 2 years...and frankly...the sales aren't that great. They do have some good "door busters" but quantity is limited on those so why camp out just to MAYBE get one? And the sales they have from after black friday until christmas...those are often BETTER than black friday ones!
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
21 Nov 12
Is the quilting stores in your area small ones? The one near my parents house is small and last Saturday they had their sale because they wanted to be fair to their employees (they are normally opened from 9AM-5PM, but on Saturday they stayed opened until 8PM for their extended hours). The day after thanksgiving they are opened 9-5 and on Saturday they will be opened 9-6. They are always closed on Sunday.
I will also mylot in between decorating the house and also look at amazon and order things on cyber Monday. I really wish these stores would not have sales on Thanksgiving night.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
The quilting stores are online. THere is NOTHING but Joann's in my town and even down the hill where I used to live...there wasn't a specific "quilt store". These I mention watching for black friday sales or cyber monday...are online. I'll give you links if you are interested. I don't buy fabric online as I just got burned once and just prefer to buy yardage I can see. Charm packs and the pre cuts, those are okay to buy on line but I think more cause Joann's doesn't have much in tha area, I wish there was a physical store for quilting... I know I'd spend alot of time there!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
20 Nov 12
This follows fast upon the horrors of hearing Christmas music in the stores before Thanksgiving, UGHHHH! Well, I have never shopped on Black Friday, nor returned anything on whatever awful day it is that people do that all at once. But some of the internet shopping sites seemed to have extra discounts with coupon codes and store wide sales which they called Black Friday previews or whatever, and so I did order some things online last week. I am a tightwad, though, and buy Christmas cards marked down in January to save and use in December, and that sort of thing.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92481)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I just read something I'm pretty sure it supposed to make consumers happy, but it just made me sad. Books-A-Million is going to be open on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day! It won't be as long as regular work day, but really? They are going to make their employees come in then?
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
21 Nov 12
we even have Black Friday here in Canada. seems that some stores (and even my local mall) are opening early and having great sales. i guess it is because they don't want to lose money to the US (i am an hour from NY state and know lots of people that go down for the bargains.
i agree with you. i read somewhere that Thanksgiving is the day that you are thankful for what you have and Black Friday is the day that you aren't thankful for what you have because you shop because you want more.
it is too bad that the almighty dollar has become such as it is and that people are not happy with the stuff they have and the falicy of trying to keep up with the Joneses.
here in Canada, the 26th is a holiday as well but the last few years, stores have been opening ala Black Friday, where there are deals to be had, etc, so i can see the same thing happening here.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
26 Nov 12
News is trickling in...the stores didn't make as much as they had hoped...why? Cause the sale time was all week instead of just one day..and after paying the expense of having it all week...the profits they made minus the extra expense...would have equaled what they would have made on just plain old fashioned "Black Friday". My daughter went and she got some great clothes at JC PEnny, but other than that..nothing that special that you couldnt get at their regular sales! The big items..are just enough to cause fighting within the crowds!!!
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I have only been shopping once on Black Friday. It was a dreadful day and I vowed never to do it again. Its horrible and I am not into the crowds. The holidays are nothing more now than a financial gain. It is a shame.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
They have gotten that way, haven't they. Holidays just aren't the family get-togethers that they used to be. So much is all about the money, gifts, buying this or that and so commercial that you just say.."what's this holiday?" It is very sad.
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
26 Nov 12
I am hoping that my children realize that it is about more than just getting gifts.... We are working on that.
@Sindelle (824)
• United States
21 Nov 12
Around here they're a few pre Black Friday sales but they're still having Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving. I did hear about the Walmart employees possibly doing a walk out. Quite frankly I don't blame them. Making them work on Thanksgiving is just plain awful. As if they don't already have enough to put up with.
I only went out shopping once for Black Friday. Everyone was mean and nasty. Also the traffic was horrible. I feel like while you may save a few dollars you pay for it in other ways.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I know...the traffic and crowds are just not worth it! And the people are rude and hateful...both employees and other shoppers! Just not worth it!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
You are right. THe whole point of "thanksgiving day" is completely gone now. And yeah, I forgot about that...every year there is some violent situation happening at some store or the parking lot thereof.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
20 Nov 12
I think it's absolutely crimminal to make workers miss their family dinners, so that they can start working early on Thanksgiving. That is a selfish thing for companies to do. Others will miss Thanksgiving in order to go shopping at 8 PM, to get into lines to get into stores and get the newest stuff. At this rate, Thanksgiving is going to become a thing of the past.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I hear ya. Those sales aren't that great..well they are...but you watch the sales after this week...they are just as good, maybe even better!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I do remember when Black Friday started in the wee hours of the morning on Friday morning, in fact, I was once one of those crazy people that stood in line all night long on Thanksgiving night waiting to get a deal from Best Buy. However, that is something that seems to no longer exist.
I will be Black Friday (erg Thanksgiving Thursday) shopping this year, I am going to be one of those people that is looking to snag a deal from Wal-Mart, I'm going to get new bikes for my children again this year.
On the one hand, I don't like that the times have been changed so much, on the other hand, however, I kind of like it because it does mean that I will be able to sleep on Thanksgiving night, I assume that I will be back home before midnight.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
Well good luck to you dorannmwin! I know some enjoy the day. I am not against it..I just dont' do it, but Black Friday was just fine..I just don't think they need do degrade the tradition of a family holiday as they are. I mean...Black Friday starting at 4am Friday and all through the whole weekend....why Thursday too?
Hope you get the bikes you are going camping for!
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I haven't decided whether to go on Black Friday shopping this year yet. I really want to get a couple of items that I am interested in, and some computer items that I really want to buy. On the last 2 years, I went with a friend to Black Friday shopping too. This year, I don't know if I still want to be there.
By the way, because business competition, they will start as early as they can be. So, all the tradition thing will be forgotten. That is the business world; to the make the greatest profit as they can.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
yeah...it is competition. But.. in talking here..it makes me think...they put this stuff on sale and assumably such low prices...are they really making that much money to have to pay the salaries of the employees etc to have the sale? I mean...many of the door busters are a very low price...but they only have "limited stock" so the first 50-100 customers get that sale..and the rest don't...many just go home and others will shop but again..the prices are lower so the stores aren't making that much over regular price or regular sales...so what is the point?
Yes, sadly, tradition is on its way out the door into the past. People these days just dont know what they are missing in not keeping families together and keeping the family functions around the holidays traditional
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
20 Nov 12
I think I've only ever gone out on Black Friday once or twice and it was when I was younger and I'd go with my mom. Now, I work on Black Friday. Last year the mall I work at opened at 9PM Thanksgiving night and stayed open for a full 24 hours. They're doing it again this year. I think it's just nuts that they do this and I wish it would stop happening. I just don't see the point and it basically ruins Black Friday when the stores end up opening early and not even on Friday.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I know...what is the point? 4am Friday for 24 hours isn't enough? And there are plenty of days between now and christmas to shop! They don't need to put themselves through this muchless the employees.
I never went, but my daughter started going about 10 years ago with her daughter. They map out the specific store they want to go to...set their schedule for that and hit the ones they want and then are home by 9am. But this year..she isn't going at all...the stores that she likes don't have the sales coordinating with times etc...so she isn't going to go to one at midnight Thursday, the next one is 4am..and she isn't going to sit in hte car for 3 hours waiting for the next door buster sale!
