Black Friday (weapons, economy, Walmart, elect)

[subsound]

Are Black Friday sales becoming more and more agressive, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/bu...t.html?_r=1&em, or is it just the economy in its state now that's causing it?

I know when I went to Costco this weekend it took only a few minutes before people began trampling and shoving to get in and get the deals. There was a large number of people who didn't care there was a line, they were waiting by the door and just jumped in when the store opened. They got kicked out to the back by the employees, but there were at least 20-30 people.

[SCGranny]

I worked as a Wal Mart dept mgr for several years, quit six years ago - and the violence, rudeness, and hysteria were as much a part of the (unadvertised, undocumented) insanity of Black Friday then as they are now. It is simply an exacerbation of how many people behave every day of the year - talking on their cells, rude to cashiers who ask required questions, using their carts as weapons to break into lines, shoving their carts over and around others, letting their dogs wander around in the stores peeing on everything and becoming nasty when they are asked to leave, acting as if the stores' employees are mere servants to their ever-grasping desires.

Now that I no longer have to work it, I refuse to get out of bed until a reasonable hour on Black Friday - and then I sit in my robe at my computer and order what I want online, coffee in hand.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

I worked as a Wal Mart dept mgr for several years, quit six years ago - and the violence, rudeness, and hysteria were as much a part of the (unadvertised, undocumented) insanity of Black Friday then as they are now. It is simply an exacerbation of how many people behave every day of the year - talking on their cells, rude to cashiers who ask required questions, using their carts as weapons to break into lines, shoving their carts over and around others, letting their dogs wander around in the stores peeing on everything and becoming nasty when they are asked to leave, acting as if the stores' employees are mere servants to their ever-grasping desires.

Now that I no longer have to work it, I refuse to get out of bed until a reasonable hour on Black Friday - and then I sit in my robe at my computer and order what I want online, coffee in hand.

Very well stated!

I, too, do almost all my shopping on-line as well.

[subsound]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

Very well stated!

I, too, do almost all my shopping on-line as well.

Same for most, but Costco has such a good warranty program for electronics. Plus enough off a new TV to buy it and a theater system for the same price.

Never going to a theater again if I can help it, but that's another topic.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by subsound

Never going to a theater again if I can help it, but that's another topic.

I know. With big flat screen TV with surround sound one can have a better theatre at home. Oh yeah, my popcorn tastes better, too.

[subsound]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

I know. With big flat screen TV with surround sound one can have a better theatre at home. Oh yeah, my popcorn tastes better, too.

Oh yeah, and don't have to deal with the weirdos in the theater

[andreaspercheron]

I don't know what it is with these stories. I've been alive almost 40 years, have been out shopping on black Friday and yet, I've never experienced any of this crap happening. Is it certain locales? I mean, I live in a nice area, the people are all excited to be out shopping but no one is getting crazy about it. I just think that in some impoverished areas you are going to have more of these incidents that happen. The one at Walmart was especially bad, the poor guy got trampled and left for dead and then people got mad when security closed down the store! These people are animals.

[elvislives]

Black friday is American consumerism at it's worst.
What a totally stupid concept it is..

[Moth]

Originally Posted by elvislives

Black friday is American consumerism at it's worst.
What a totally stupid concept it is..

Agreed. I cannot imagine the level of a mind that would wait in line for hours and in the cold to...go into a store and spend money.

[subsound]

Many people do more to get a lesser bargain then stand in line for hours. I remember as a kid my parents spending a couple hours Sunday morning clipping coupons and debating what they need to save anything they could on groceries. Add that up every 2 weeks and it really is a significant hunk of time, more so then Black Friday (though in your robe and fuzzy slippers).