Are you shopping on Black Thursday / Black Friday? Any tips to stay safe in the hectic crowds?
By Robin
@Daelii (5619)
United States
November 22, 2017 7:02am CST
Its one day before thanksgiving. My husband is sleeping and my kids are home from school for thanksgiving break. Funny how the schools give children time off to travel to see family on holidays but now many places are requiring people to work on thanksgiving?
Do you have to work on Black Thursday? I know many emergency personal / doctors/ nurses do not get the day off. They usually however rotate the holidays they have to work or do volunteer sign ups? IS that true for you?
So I hope tomorrow, when people do the mad dash to trample over and possible kill more people in the "Black Friday/Black Thursday" sales they can be thankful for saving a few dollars, if they even really saved anything compared to sale prices out of the Christmas season.
Are you planning to shop at any of the black thursday sales?
I am NOT. Thanksgiving is for my family. I do not mind going to some of the sales Friday, but even that is questionable. It depends on who I'm going with because I really don't want to go through fighting crowds with 3 children.
I went to a few stores last year on Friday and I swear I should have put a suit of armor on my kids and self. People were ramming each other with carts, fighting over toys that literally only had a price difference of 2 dollars from the normal price (and just 1 month ago, the sale price in the flyer had been cheaper!!!).
For the risk of bodily injury to save a few dollars, I really can't see going to toys-r-us or anywhere else like that. Since my husband is working nights these next few days, there is no option to switch off with kids and shop solo!
So do you have any advice to staying safe in the shopping madness? Do you have a plan of action on what items you'd like to buy?
12 people like this
13 responses
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
22 Nov 17
Oh I have seen that kind of sales on youtube 
but I can`t really go to crowded people like that just for little price difference 
For me, It`s the quality and safety of the items are more important than the price
but I can`t really go to crowded people like that just for little price difference For me, It`s the quality and safety of the items are more important than the price 2 people like this
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
22 Nov 17
I have to totally agree with you there! Thats why I try to shop the sales and use coupons all year round to prepare for the holiday. I've been picking up toys all along that I know my kids will enjoy.
I bought an electric scooter for my youngest (its like a car like thing) for ~ 10 dollars. There is nothing like that out there in those sale adds!
2 people like this
That`s more better than any other way 
@Dena91 (16634)
• United States
22 Nov 17
We are about done shopping. My advice to staying safe is go with someone if you can and be aware of your surroundings. I try to avoid the stores on these days because I do not like crowds. I have to work on Friday and I will have to go into a store for a couple things. Hoping it won't be too crazy.
2 people like this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
24 Nov 17
I used to do black friday shopping but I hate it now. I don't like the crowds or traffic so I rather just shop online now. My little sister had to work today (thanksgiving) and has to work black friday and saturday also. She is new so their making her work all these shifts so other people can take off.
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
27 Nov 17
@Daelii That's no good hope the baby will be ok. Yeah she worked thursday, friday, saturday and had to do a double saturday as people called off.
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
26 Nov 17
Thats not fair that new workers have to do the shifts! Most places I heard, everyone has to work at least one shift on those major shopping days!!!
I'm betting some of the people at this mall wished they shopped online on thanksgiving too. Sadly, a baby got hurt in the hectic mess at one mall
Fights shut down an Alabama mall early Thanksgiving night. About a dozen officers were called to Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday because of several fights reported in the mall, WBRC Fox6 News reports.
1 person likes this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
22 Nov 17
Not this year. You would be surprised to know that it isn't as hectic as the media makes it. The craziness is normally at stores like Walmart or Target but if you go to the bigger malls they aren't normally busy and have just a good or even better sales. To be honest you aren't getting a deal anyway because they normally heavily mark the items up and throw in some crazy things to make you think it is a deal. Went to Walmart last year on the night before Black Friday and they had shirts out for sale for $3 and then had ones wrapped up and ready to put out for Black Friday and had them priced at $6... They were the exact same shirts and by the exact same brand but would have cost more on Black Friday then they did on any normal day. Cyber Monday is where most of our shopping gets done. Don't have to fight people or deal with crowds, always get what we want, and there is always a deal and never have to pay for shipping.
1 person likes this
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
23 Nov 17
I worked retail at a large mall anchor store on black Friday. It was CRAZY! The worst was trying to get into the store, so I could clock in to be able to help with sales and things and the lines outside and the people were just darn awful. Like they couldn't even wait for the mall doors to open or the manager to open up the outside wings. I have seen better behaved people waiting to get back stage at concerts. These people were just trying to rush in with employees!
Plus different experiences with different shopping events over the years for black friday.
I totally agree with you about the deals. They really aren't that special. I just checked out some of the craft store flyers in my area. Sets that normally sell for 5 dollars are now on sale for 3.33 for the black Friday (only if you buy 3, for 10). So go there tomorrow or friday, and you must buy 3 to get the "Deal" and you only save 1.67 cents per each one. How is that a deal compared to buying at 5 dollars and using a 40% off coupon to pay 3 dollars and save 2 dollars? The 40% off coupon is the better deal and you can use that any day, without having to shop on thanksgiving????
1 person likes this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
23 Nov 17
@Daelii The big malls here have never been crowded it. It has always been the smaller chain stores that were crowded but then again the big malls here only have a few stores open at first and many of them don't open up till 5 am when most people have left. I have even been to JcPenny on Black Friday and it wasn't bad. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes and got exactly what I wanted. I don't see the point of the crazy shopping frenzy.
1 person likes this
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
23 Nov 17
@CaseyRoss9966 yeah that was so different than when I worked it. Even with people hired to work just that day... we had lines going all another store..50+ each register
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62565)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
22 Nov 17
I work all day tomorrow. And I talked to our manager. She doesn't think we will be that busy. But oh well. And yes I will be going shopping at Walmart once there sale starts. We always get movies at black Friday..
2 people like this
@acrogodess (992)
• Aberdeen, North Carolina
22 Nov 17
Pete gave me $75 to try and score Olivia a chrome book so she can use for her writing. That's his Christmas gift to her but I'll be searching online for a good sale
1 person likes this
@acrogodess (992)
• Aberdeen, North Carolina
22 Nov 17
@Daelii I had a similar offer but it was off a brand new item and they were kind of pricey. My own chrome book was $200, but I know they have cheaper ones out there. Initially I was trying to find her a refurbished one because those are less than $100
1 person likes this
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
23 Nov 17
@acrogodess I just checked my offer an it says I can use it on electronics on ebay! The fine print was a pain to read, but now it has me looking to see what they may have that I could use it on!
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49460)
• Mojave, California
22 Nov 17
I think the only way to safe from that madness is just stay home or maybe go shopping in a small town where they only have 1000 people. 
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
22 Nov 17
I am saving lots of money by not shopping
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19942)
• United States
24 Nov 17
I did some of my Black Friday shopping early this on Amazon and Belk.com. I did some of it earlier in the week too.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Nov 17
The best way to stay safe is to stay home!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
22 Nov 17
I'm about done with my holiday shopping, and what I want I can get online easier than in stores. I do not to the black Friday thing. I hope all who do are safe. I am with you, it isn't worth health and sanity
1 person likes this
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
23 Nov 17
me too! I've been just checking the sale adds to see if there really is anything super special to add to what I'm getting. There is only like two things that has my interest.
The 10 dollar craft boxes at Toys-R-us. And I believe its Michaels that has the embroidery thread normally 53 cents on sale; except they don't show the price its selling for? Just said to low to list. Now if its really a deal worth getting I just might go there and get some to make sure the savings is really worth the time + the cost of gas to get there.
I really was hoping the paint would be on sale but they do have a 40% off entire purchase that kinda makes it a not to bad deal if buying a lot to make it worth the trip.
@Dyvette16 (4301)
• United States
22 Nov 17
I think I’m just going to do cyber Monday this year , I would say to get to the store ahead of time and already know what you want to get so you can go straight to those items
1 person likes this
@Dyvette16 (4301)
• United States
22 Nov 17
@Daelii I can’t forget that one ! I do not like going into the crowded stores
