Who Else is Excited About Black Friday?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 9:38am

I'm starting to get emails with all the sales listed and I'm already jumping out of my skin with the excitement of being in line at Target at 3am to get in. I know it's ridiculous but I'm vicious when it comes to Black Friday sales.

Who else has this insane tradition of going from store to store in the middle of the night?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 9:50am

Lately every day is a Black friday

Yesterday at the new J C Penney near Macys Jewelry was 70 % off. They were almost giving the stuff away.

Needless to say .....

Updated On: 11/8/09 at 09:50 AM

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 10:17am

Stay at home .... turn on the laptop ..... great bargains .... no crowds ......

Get in line at 3am????? Damn, I can find more fun ways to display insanity that that.

Updated On: 11/8/09 at 10:17 AM

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 10:47am

Good God, no! I won't leave the house that day, and if I do, I'll stay far, far away from any malls. Buncha crazies out more than usual.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 10:57am

I definitely prefer to get my shopping done before Thanksgiving. There is just something about the holidays in stores where I don't feel like dealing with the crowds. I even hate it when I just have to go to Walmart to buy everyday things.

I went once with one of my sisters and the boyfriend of another sister. The craft stores were empty at 5am. We went into Circuit City, and that was a huge mistake. I think I spent almost an hour on line, waiting to purchase my DVDS. It was not worth it at all. And we went back to Walmart in our area and that was empty at 7:30.

[Marquise]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 11:14am

No. Absolutely not. Especially after last year's tragic incident at Wal-Mart. People just get carried away. I'm also not a big fan of Christmas and it's not because I'm a negative person.

I personally feel it's an over-the-top commercialized holiday. The traditions of Christmas are nice: the idea of giving instead of receiving is truly a beautiful one but the fact that this very idea has been turned into a meaningless, materialistic and opportunistic one is not.

I give to my loved ones freely on any day of the year that I choose I don't need a day on the calendar to dictate to me when I should do it.
Updated On: 11/8/09 at 11:14 AM

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 11:19am

I was watching something about this year's Christmas shopping season. They were saying that there may not be a Black Friday like we know it. Stores are starting sales now or have already started. They have started lay-aways. They are trying to get people to buy now. Also, due to the recession, stores have lowered their stock and they were saying that some of the merchandise/sales that are around now won't be there for Black Friday because if people do shop now a lot of the merchandise will be gone and they, the stores, most likely won't re-stock. And like TimesSquare suggested, they are saying some of the best deals this year will be online.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 11:44am

The sales have already started but stores are still doing the traditional "black friday" thing like they always have. It's tradition for me and my Mother, that's why I love it so much. I fly home for Thanksgiving every year and we always say that this year we won't be insane going out that early but we always seem to do it. Just fun strange money saving tradition. :)

[StockardFan]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 11:45am

I prefer to do my shopping on line as well.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 5:23pm

After 20 years in retail, I rejoice I no longer have to participate in this outrageous escapade.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 5:27pm

Like Joe I spent many Black Fridays working on the other side of the desk being treated poorly by Black Friday shoppers. So glad I don't have to do it anymore

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 5:44pm

"Treated poorly" is such an elegant understatement, Eris. Like saying Atlanta was 'treated poorly' by the union army.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 6:06pm

I don't understand the point of getting to the store at 3 a.m. The last time I went to a Target, there was a line of people at the door when I got there 5 minutes before it opened. Despite that, I managed to get in before a lot of those people because it just became madness at the door. Not to mention I didn't notice them selling out of anything really, and I got everything I wanted.

Also, I went to Kohl's right as they opened, and the lines were long. I went back a couple of hours later and the store was less packed, lines were shorter and I got everything I wanted as well.

I love Black Fridays, but there is no point in going early unless there is some incentive (First 100 people get 50% off coupon).

Last Black Friday, I hit a deer so I am certainly not going early again!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 6:48pm

Haha, Joe. I didn't want to get into stories of being told to go back to school to learn to count because someone gave me the wrong amount of change.

I never worked in a "superstore" like Walmart or Target so it never was as bad as other places. I always worked in "niche" stores so we never had the mad rush. I've actually experienced very fun Black Fridays because the mall never opened as early as the stand alone stores. I always found the closer we got to Christmas the nastier people got. Christmas Eve was often worse then Black Friday as far as attitudes of shoppers go. Black Friday shoppers are often caught up in the excitement of the season where Christmas Even shoppers are frustrated because they can't get what they want and are just ready for the season to be over.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 6:52pm

Oh God, I can't even imagine the horror stories Wal Mart workers would have about those days. I did retail for more years than I can imagine so even those hectic people are treated kindly by me.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 7:38pm

I'm excited to eat leftover pie and watch tv all day.

[Corine2]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 10:07pm

Does B AND H do this? I want a really fantastic camcorder for half price!!!

[saveusmike]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 12:21am

I work at Toys R Us... I am not excited AT ALL!

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 12:34am

saveusmike, I feel your pain. I used to work there, and Black Friday was horrific. I repressed most of it, but I swear by the time my shift ended at 5 PM, I was hallucinating.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 12:51am

I'm really hoping that the economy helps people focus on what is really important during the holidays and not filling up their carts with unnecessary plastic objects.

[singalongsong2]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 1:14am

saveusmike, I used to work there. Black Friday at Toys R Us. Yikes. :::shudders:::

[saveusmike]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 1:54am

Lol hearing the stories from employees about Black friday is very scary o_o

Our boss told us how just last year 2 employees got spit in their face, and one got punched.

People will do anything for these sales its crazy.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 2:11am

Are rubber objects okay by you, Bettyboy?

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 2:17am

Black Friday Stampede

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 10:52am

1) The most frustrating part was constantly hearing that "Black Friday" was the busiest shopping day of the year (Not even close) over and over and over. I had a local Fox reporter who did a "Busiest shopping day of the year" report from my store three years running...and each year I started with "Still not the busiest shopping day of the year Amy! But glad you're here anyway!"

2) The absolute WORST day to work was Christmas Day- We'd open at 9 AM and people would be lined up to START their Christmas shopping. And of course, you'd be out of a hot item and the shopper would explode "BUT I NEED THIS TODAY!"