A week before Black Friday, people are already in line.

[sufrommich]

I did the Black Friday thing once a couple of years ago to buy a television at Target( altough I waited for the store to open), the absolute insanity wasn't worth the bargain,I 've never done it again, I'm convinced the sales are better closer to Xmas.


"A check of the calendar shows the day after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," is still a week away. But don't tell that to Lorie and Ryan Davenport of St. Petersburg.

On Wednesday, they set up a large blue tent at the Best Buy store near the Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg, prepared to camp out for more than a week to snag some electronic deals.

They've already been rewarded. Today, Best Buy presented Lorie and her friend, Tina Thain, with two iPads while recognizing them as the "first family of Black Friday." The store usually gives the first people in line gift cards, but say they believe this group is the first campers in the nation."

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/nov/18/182224/st-pete-couple-in-line-a-week-early-for-black-frid/news-breaking/

[marmar]

1. That's just stupid. The endless mindf**k of consumerism.

nt

[msongs]

2. also buy nothing day. celebrate that instead lol

[asdjrocky]

3. We're doomed. nt

[Desertrose]

4. Mind games & stupidity...bad combination.

Except if you want a nation of consumer drones...

[malaise]

6. Since you need to buy

sheets and towels, underwear and new clothes at least once a year, why not hit the best sales. My experience is that the best sales for the best underwear, clothing and sheets and towels are on Black Friday.

[uppityperson]

12. That is a good idea, use their sales to get what you need, not just what you may want

I made the mistake yrs back of stopping by a mall on Black Friday and came out wondering wtf I'd gotten into. Didn't know about it before I went in.

Though I buy new sheets and towels only about once every 5-10 yrs, good time to get what you do need.

[sufrommich]

8. Or Christmas presents at a bargain. That's the whole point

of sales this time of year.

[malaise]

5. We did it last year during a family reunion

and we had a lot of fun because we planned the shopping - we left all the men at home. Different sisters went to different stores and all the meet ups with the others worked out perfectly. The lady at Macys treated big sis and I royally, but I was suspicious when she offered us the office. A few DUers gave me a telling off for that.

If it wasn't for the pat downs I'd fly up next week. If you're not shopping for toys and electronics, it's fun.

gr

[sufrommich]

7. I had an Aunt that did it every year, it was the highlight of her

year.Personally, it's too chaotic for me.

[malaise]

10. It must be chaotic if you're lining up for hours

for some specific item but we never do that. Big sister and I live overseas so we go for clothes and underwear and give the other sisters our bedding lists. When we're finished we all go out for a nice dinner.

[sufrommich]

11. Sounds like a fun get together for you and your sisters.

:-)

[malaise]

13. We have great reunions

One day is allocated for shopping. The young adults and kids plan an outing or a home event for half a day and we follow instructions.
Everyone cooks at least one dish for the big meal. We laugh a lot, talk about old times, have a family meeting for the two generations following us to hear their plans and needs, and drink a lot of wine and spirits. :D
Family is very important to us.

[sufrommich]

17. My family is the same. Big ol' extended family and very close.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving. :toast:

[blondeatlast]

22. I used to love it too, even when I worked retail. Now, with the advent of the

war on the poor clerk's choice of mindless, breezy sendoff (Happy Holidays v. the wingnut inssistence on Merry Xmas), I think banging my head against the wall might be more fun.

Sad.

[Posteritatis]

26. I can see the appeal on a social level

Embracing the madness can be fun at times, though what you're describing is pretty different from pitching tents days in advance to save fifty bucks on an item or whatnot. The whole phenomenon isn't as overblown in Canada as it is in the US, though, which probably makes it easier for me to have some patience about it.

[TheMightyFavog]

9. Meh. I did most of my shopping at this anime/gaming convention i'm at this weekend.

I'm lucky my old man's a big Monty Python fan.

[Skittles]

14. it's a testament to American consumerism and greed

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Buy! Buy! Consume!! Isn't that what got us into this recession/depression?

[WCIL]

16. Working in retail, I HATE Black Friday

Our store is opening at 3AM this year, so most staff has to be there at 2:30. The lines are too long, everyone is tired from being up for hours, and there are never enough of the deals for everyone who wants one. It is honestly like being a room mother in a Kindergarten class - "She's butting in line", "He has two and the limit is one", "But I waaaaant it!". My daughter was told last year that she ruined a woman's Christmas because she couldn't find a stocking with a J on it.

I predict that either this Thanksgiving or next we will be open Thanksgiving Day in our pursuit for that extra dollar.

[sufrommich]

18. You have my sympathies, I imagine it's a nightmare to be

on the other side of the cash register.

[Initech]

19. I don't work in retail and I hate Black Friday.

I really cannot imagine what it's like for those that do.

[Speck Tater]

20. Among my extended family we all draw a name from the hat and each buys ONE gift.

And we all have Amazon.com wish lists so nobody has to spend more than 10 minutes online and all the Christmas shopping is done.

The only exception is the young kids who still get loads of loot from their parents and grandparents, but even that just takes a single quick trip to the mall.

[sufrommich]

23. We tried the Amazon wish list one year, we had a couple of

problems. If you find the product somewhere else and buy it,there is no way to show the item as "bought" on the Amazon list. We also had some family members who shared the same name as other Amazon users, we had some laughs over the gifts that were given because of that.

[SoCalDem]

21. Actually, some of the BEST sales are AFTER Xmas

when the stuff that no one had money to buy, go on sale:)

especially if you shop online:)

[sufrommich]

24. Yep, I always check the day after. nt

[Dreamer Tatum]

25. Just assume they're all in line to buy the newest piece of shit from Apple, and all will be well.

I NEVER EVER EVER EVER see anyone railing against "consumerism" when someone here brags about standing on line for the latest shiny toy from Apple.