Black Friday

Sherri - posted on 11/29/2011

Nothing taken personally Lisa. I am quite aware everyone sees things differently. I also do agree with Carol on the fact kids don't need a house full of gifts that will end up in a landfill within a month of buying them. My experience though is most people or at least a lot I know don't do that anyways. Although I tend to not judge what others buy simply because my tastes for my kids may be different.

Minnie - posted on 11/29/2011

Oh, don't take it personally, Sherri. One man's junk is another man's treasure and all that, you know.

Celeste - posted on 11/29/2011

Well, I got my twin boys a bike and my daughter rollerblades during Black Friday. Rest of my shopping was online!

Carol - posted on 11/29/2011

Junk is in the eye of the beholder but alot of it comes from China :) I got that idea Sherri, that why I kept targeting toys. I can under stand getting things like electronics on black friday, but to buy senseless toys for kids, my 5 yr old nephew got an ipod AN IPOD!What 5 year old actually needs that? I can understand getting that for a teen, but i don't think your 13 or 14 year old is like ' OMGZ mom I wants a barbie doll! with a dream house!" Like the ipod, young kids don't need a ton of toys, and alot of advertisments are for toys. Years and years ago, before I was born, they didn't have toy advertisment during the year, only near Christmas. I avoid the toy aisle in Walmart, Target etc. My kids already like candy, at least they can eat that, i don't need them fighting over toys again.

Sherri - posted on 11/29/2011

Oh and Carol some of our differences also may be that your kids sound very young mine are not. My oldest two are 14 & 13 yrs old. I don't think a wooden car would be much fun for them, no matter how long it lasted.

Teresa - posted on 11/29/2011

Junk is in the eye of the beholder.... just like in the junk food thread. ;)

I refuse to ever go 'crazy' for just stuff (and yes, shopping at insane hours or w/ insane crowds is completely crazy to me.. of course, I hate shopping and crowds period). I've never done Black Friday and never bought any of my kids expensive stuff... or expensive stuff on sale and this will be their 11th Christmas w/ zero complaints so far. ♥

Of course, I do still buy some cheap crap at Walmart (just about everything we buy comes from there), but otherwise... I agree w/ Carol.

Sherri - posted on 11/29/2011

And I am proud to say neither am I.

Carol - posted on 11/29/2011

Yes, to each their own and I'm very proud to say that I am not alone in this view.

Sherri - posted on 11/29/2011

Wow your view kind of makes me sad Carol. But each to their own I guess.

Carol - posted on 11/29/2011

Sherri I can under stand buying kids a few items. But a majority of shoppers, who dont have large families will buy their kids things they truely dont need. On Black Friday, we went to walmart and bought car mats, and thats it, they werent even marked down but my husband had to have them for his work truck. We didn't buy or kids anything so i guess that would mean my kids aren't having a Christmas because i didn't get them cheap toys. I can understand buying clothing, and electronics, but to come out with cheaply made toys, sorry I would rather spend a few extra dollars and buy my kids something my grandkids will be able to play with and most likely my great grand kids. Black Friday is nothing but a marketing scheme by big corporations that sadly this year they proved they don't care for families as sales started at 10 PM Thanksgiving day. Sorry that I won't bend to the wills of the media and go out and buy the hottest toys for my kids when they can use their imagination because they are influenced by marketing techniques and their peers. Christmas has no meaning anymore thanks to marketing, and neither does Thanksgiving holidays have becme nothing more than a buy fest and here in America we have to have the best and greatest things even thought we are drowning in government and personal debt, we are being over taxed, yet people who have a hard time providing food with out assistance ( im not say you Sherri, but there are people out there that do this) to their families will go and buy their kids something they won't have to give to their own children. Sorry i would rather spend my money to provide for my children, give them the food they need and make them something or pay extra to give them less items, but something they can pass down to their children. I'm still young, it wasn't that long ago when i got excited cause of all the junk under the tree, but as an adult i relized that all the stuff my mom and dad bought i had nothing that i could give to my kids from my own childhood because it was all cheap and made in China. M kids still have a toy given to them from last Chrsitmas, it has been dropped, thrown, tossed down stairs, dropped on concrete and its still together, they drag it with them every where and it cost my mother in law a whole 5 dollars. Its made of wood cheap wood but after all its been through, it shows no wear and tear, and a similar item in a regular store would cost 35 dollars and last half the time with the same punishment. So yes, i boycott black friday and buying my children things they don't need. I would rather buy American handmade from Etsy, pay a ton of money, and it last for years, and my kids can be proud they are able to share their favorites with their own kids rather than satify an insatible need to buy buy buy because we think we need to have the best out there, no longer are we happy with the minimum, we will go into debt to give off the air of having it all.

Starfish - posted on 11/29/2011

I despise Black Friday, and yes, I'd like to see it done away with. If they want, it can be conducted wholly online, that'd be awesome. All the rush, all the deals, none of the physical assaults, pushing, name-calling, etc. And there's always Cyber Monday as well, which is nice.

But it's ridiculous as is. Stores amp it up, too. They'll advertise a TV or something at $600 off, but then they'll only stock 2. You think people aren't gonna be agitated? People that have camped out on the street all night waiting for things like that? They're inciting this mad dash for materialism, and it sadly inspires the worst in a lot of people.

Sherri - posted on 11/29/2011

Wow I am so glad I don't live where some of you live, it is sad.
@Carol we never buy things on black friday just to buy them and if we did not shop on Black Friday and get the amazing deals my 3 kids wouldn't have a Christmas at all. So for some and I would venture to say most it is about being able to get the few items for your kids that otherwise you would never be able to afford. Do my kids need it probably no but 364 days a year they get nothing they want only things they need it is literally the only day of the whole entire year they get a few things they have pined all year for and have waited so patiently and eagerly for.

Jen - posted on 11/29/2011

Hey, it's all part of the celebration of Christmas right? There's no real war on Christmas, everyone's too busy beating each other up on Black Friday for stuff stuff stuff.

Carol - posted on 11/28/2011

Black Friday should be banned, just for the sake people dont spend money on crap they dont need. People are rude and violent and for public safety yes. In West Virginina a man had a heart attack and no one even stopped to help him, they would walk over him or go around just to shop. Thats disgusting when a persons life if less valuable that somethign that has been there all year and will be there next year and so on.

Sherri - posted on 11/28/2011

Hmmmm so every single thing people buy on Black Friday is junk Lisa?? I would so have to disagree wholeheartedly on that one.

Minnie - posted on 11/28/2011

I've never shopped on Black Friday and I never will. If I want to waste my money on junk I've got Amazon and Ebay.

Sherri - posted on 11/28/2011

Walmart does not offer every black Friday sale on line that they offer in the stores. I bought my kids a trampoline and saved $100 in the store on Black Friday. Was in and out of there in 1hr.

Jeannette - posted on 11/28/2011

Tracey, all of the stores have black friday sales online, as long as they have a website where you can shop onilne. Every store I've ever ordered from sends me emails weeks before..get ready for black friday! I start buying well before black friday, so by the time it gets here, I am almost done. My daughter wanted me to buy her a jacket on black friday, but I couldn't do it. The whole mentality of that day makes me unwilling to shop on that day.
Also, my daughter (and a couple of others) have told me about gottadeal.com. They post black friday ads a week or more before black friday. I do not know what the site is like to navigate, but my daughter and supervisor like it.

Jeannette - posted on 11/28/2011

I think black friday should be banned for the sanity of the public. What better illustration of 'sheep' mentality? Yeah, we need to kill it.

Becky - posted on 11/28/2011

I almost never go out for it. We did got to Walmart at 10pm Thanksgiving this year for a video game . . . what mayhem!!! The lines to the check outs alone are enough to dissuade me! I have no desire to stand in line for an hour for one or 2 items that are $10 or $20 off normal price.

We had no injuries in our areas, but I'm sure there was enough pushing around etc in lines.

I like the idea that some retailers have gone to offering deals online also. That will save hassle for me if we had been looking at any large ticket items.

Tracey - posted on 11/28/2011

Do any of these stores have online Black Friday sales?

Amy - posted on 11/27/2011

I never go out. I have kids. lol. I fear for their safety. Honestly, I live in a small town. There's not much of a big crowd to deal with if i DID go. But, I'm just more of an online girl. I think about the people I want to shop for and get them something accordingly. I don't buy something because it's cheap and then figure out who gets it.

Celeste - posted on 11/26/2011

Emma, it's the Friday after US's Thanksgiving. Stores have HUGE sales, and mark down merchandise, like *really* low.. I would say marked down at least 50%. I think most people go for the big ticket items, like TV's, computers, large toys. They usually open super early. This year, some stores opened at 10pm, while others opened at midnight. Others open around 4am.



I went, as I mentioned in my previous post and it wasn't TOO bad. I only wanted three things, which were marked down 50% and I got them. Everyone was nice, gracious, polite, no knockdown drag out fights, thank goodness.





Here are some websites those of you who aren't familiar with Black Friday:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Frida...(shopping)



http://www.theblackfriday.com/what-is-bl...

Stifler's - posted on 11/26/2011

What is black friday? Flocking to the shops for sales is a foreign concept to me. No way. They invented eBay for a reason.

Good Day! - posted on 11/26/2011

As far as I know, there haven't been horrible fighting, trampling or anything of the sort HERE. Probably because LSU's biggest game day is on black Friday and everyone in town is also focused on the game. I've never participated by going to the stores. But I usually stay up and snag a few online deals. This year I spent around $150 and got Jacie's present, presents for most of the kids I have to buy for, and some clothes for the girls. I called it a night around 1 am, shut my laptop, and went to bed. It's been fine for me.

I do dislike the crazy consumerism that is the spirit behind some black friday shoppers. Going to snag a few deals for Christmas? Sure. Going to fight to the death over some crap you don't really need? Nada.

Sherri - posted on 11/26/2011

Yup I had the exact same experience at Walmart Celeste. They allowed us to wait inside the store and everybody helped everyone load the heavy stuff in their carts and everything. No fighting just tons of cooperation is all I saw.

Kathleen - posted on 11/26/2011

I do like the idea that this year Walmart stayed open all night, and started their sales at 10p so there was less running people over. I wish though there were better deals this year. Not many were sooo great I had to jump out of bed anyway. The few I saw, I knew would be the sale price again between now and Christmas, so i'll just pick it up later lol

Celeste - posted on 11/26/2011

I'm not sure if it should be outlawed because of a bunch of jerks. Maybe be organized a little bit better at some stores Or, maybe some strict rules and if you don't follow these rules, they kick you out? But, not everywhere had crazy violent people stabbing each other.

I had a great Black Friday experience. I went to Toys R Us to get a few things. The line was outrageous to get IN the store, but I spent that hour just chatting with fellow shoppers. Once we got in the store, sure it was busy but people weren't a-holes.

Sherri - posted on 11/26/2011

Hell No. I love love love Black Friday. It is the best.

Kathleen - posted on 11/26/2011

I don't even deal with it anymore. This year was a big one due to safety. I'm 9m pregnant. NOT going to happen, i'd rather enjoy my sleep. I prefer shopping online, or better yet home/small bussiness shopping. I support the local, small, and home bussiness, and it's a lot safer than trying to brave the stores. Many of them even have Black Friday Deals.

Meredith - posted on 11/26/2011

I worked at the Walmart in wainwright on a boxing day and yes its busy but no where like what ppl go thru on black Friday, like I said I never had any urge to shop a black Friday sale, but hearing horror stories from friends who work that poor day and other stories I just can't fathom even attempting to want to go, ppl are rude enough everyday I don't need to deal with an even worse level of rudeness.

Rosie - posted on 11/26/2011

i hate black friday, everything about it. i've worked in retail for 15 years and it makes me sad seeing the things i've witnessed-all for a cheap product. i hate that i'm a part of the gross consumeristic attitude that causes people to turn into crazy assholes. i hate that people NEED to be able to buy cheap stuff cause we have such crappy economic policies. i swear if we had universal healthcare we wouldn't feel the need for such cheap things...medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy.
i hate that businesses make their employees get up at ungodly hours, or hell, even before they've slept, so that they can make more money. who cares about the workers? i havn't gotten paid an extra cent in my 15 years of working that day even though i work my ASS off.
i could go on and on with everything that is wrong with that day, but after witnessing someone breaking another person's arm,running so fast that your pants fall down and you trip-only to get up and try to run with your pants down still, people being trampled to death (saw that on tv not at my store) and people getting in fist-fights over place in line, spraying pepper spray to keep others away from the x-box's, and i'm sure i've heard about guns and knives being used that day in the past., noone will EVER convince me that black friday is a good thing, or necessary. EVER EVER EVER!!!

Amanda - posted on 11/26/2011

I live in Canada, but I get many american news channels. It happened all over USA. As for our boxing day sales being like Black Friday sales, our sales are no where near as close as USA deals. Never in my life have I seen a waffle maker on sale for 2 dollars. Thats insane. If I didnt fear being killed on black friday, I would shop in USA for this holiday shopping. I dont shop on boxing day because we have sales all year around, that it isnt worth dealing with the crowds, tempers, and just plain rudeness. But then I also just finished my christmas shopping today, and I will not enter a mall, walmart, or zellers again until mid Jan at least LOL.

Becky - posted on 11/26/2011

I don't know if it should be banned, per se, but maybe stricter controls should be put on - ie. someone handing out those $2.00 grills, one per customer, instead of leaving them in a bin and allowing a free-for-all. And people who participate in riots like that should be charged.
Hope, the sales would be like our Boxing Day sales, but I have never seen people behave like that here!

Hope - posted on 11/25/2011

Ok it is like our boxing day sales.

Ashley - posted on 11/25/2011

In Canada this year they had a version of Black Friday in some American chains up here. I went to the Toys R Us sale and got alot of great stuff for 50% off but the store was hardly crazy. I watch the news from the states and I have to laugh (but sad laugh) that people will go to such lengths for a sale.

Meredith - posted on 11/25/2011

Stores in the states have outrageous deals on items and they are usually great prices the day after thanksgiving and thy usually open the doors t like 5 am and have these deals for a few hours. I know this year alot of places opened at midnight for the start of the deals. Ppl get absolutely CRAZY trying to get things, last year a poor security guard got trampled to death

Hope - posted on 11/25/2011

What is black friday???

Meredith - posted on 11/25/2011

Its really sad what some will do to others for those deals, yeah they are great deals, and if ppl want to deal with the crowds all the more power to them, but definately not my thing

Good Day! - posted on 11/25/2011

Where do you live? Nothing of the sort happened here...lol.