Boycott Black Friday?

[Dawson Leery]

http://occupywallst.org/forum/black-friday-boycott/

"Black Friday is coming up, so I propose that we have a nationwide general strike of consumerism on the one day of the year that is all about mindless consumption. Corporations rely on Black Friday to boost sales figures, so they are going to expect us to flock to their stores and buy their products. I say we give them a nasty surprise.

We have a golden opportunity to hit the big corporations where it hurts, and I don't think we should pass it up. Let's take a day that is all about consumption and make it our own, and let's make it loud and clear that we will not support the corporations that destroyed our economy and undermined our Republic.

What do you guys think? How should this Black Friday Boycott work?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z27DH_arTW8

[Warpy]

1. I always avoid corporate retail on Black Friday

and that includes the supermarket.

However, there's a big art show I usually go to.

Somehow, I think supporting local artists is a little different.

[Zorra]

2. I don't ever buy anything on Black Friday but this is a good idea. nt

[Renew Deal]

3. I guess I already do.

I don't show up at Best Buy or Target at midnight for "cheap" stuff. I'd rather go to bed with a turkey hangover and pay full price. :)

[dtexdem]

4. I thought that Black Friday was recover-from-turkey day.

Who'd want to go out shopping on a day like that? ;-)

[TBF]

5. I'm with you -

We cut our holiday budget in half this year. Not because of economic necessity, but because we decided it was just overboard. This year the kids are getting a few of the toys they really want, and I am looking at etsy, ebay etc... to buy homemade, used items, etc... Gift cards or cash for babysitters, teachers, etc... Homemade cookies for neighbors.

I don't want anything to do with their retail blitz, I bought what I wanted (mostly on sale and online) as I found things the past few months.

[MADem]

6. I have never shopped on that day. I always thought it was an invented theme, one that

made Valentine's Day or Grandparent's Day look like organic expressions of regard.

Who needs a bargain that badly? Wait until January, you'll get what you want plenty cheap!

[redwitch]

7. Shop small independents stores.

Go to lunch at a locally owned restaurant. Buy American made or fair trade goods. Help out the little guys if you can but don't lump them in with Wal Mart. Some of us need those stores to do well. 99% here.

[Dawson Leery]

10. +1

[HappyMe]

12. I agree.

I try to do that as much as I can.


edited to add -
I do have to go get a few necessities from a big store though.

[lunatica]

8. I have no choice which is why OWS speaks for me

Although I've never shopped on Black Friday. Never did buy into the bullshit corporatist brainwash. Haven't done Christmas since the early 1990s.

But if I did shop on Black Friday I sure wouldn't be able to this year.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. So should I wait until the BF sales are over and pay the corporations full price?

[Sherman A1]

You should

do whatever is best for your situation.

[RevStPatrick]

11. Adbusters, which organized OWS...

...has been promoting Buy Nothing Day for years now:

http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

[Sherman A1]

13. I have shopped Black Friday in the past

I am usually in and out of Office Depot (or Max) (replaced a printer for $30.00 last year) or Radio Shack within a few minutes then back home for breakfast with the spouse. Skip Best Buy, Target like the plague as they are simply insane.

I know I won't go anywhere on "Black Thursday" as I really enjoy Thanksgiving and will not spoil it for myself or anyone else.

[RoccoR5955]

14. It's called Buy Nothing Day.

Here's the website: http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

It's another Adbusters campaign that has been going on for many years now.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

15. I totally agree with the sentiment- however-

For those of us that are broke as a joke- this day will have some of the best deals of
The year. Practice consciencious consumerism of course, but if your kid needs shoes, this (and after christmas) may be the best time for that

[Staph]

16. I've never been to a Black Friday sale.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is reserved, in our family, for pigging out on turkey sandwiches and watching the Mountaineers slaughter the Pitt Panthers.


(Oops, my apologies. I'm not supposed to be a college football fan anymore. Too many evildoers in the ranks!) ;-)

[lbrtbell]

17. I never buy on Black Friday

And I will continue the tradition this year.

Solidarity! :D

[virgogal]

18. Boycotting Black Friday is useless if you just go out another day

and buy the same things.

The answer is to cut down on the purchases.

[dkf]

21. Yup. Boycotting big discount day so you can pay more later is a victory for corporations.

[Lionessa]

19. You can't effectively boycott a day, because refusing to buy something

or from some entity does no good if it isn't sustained until change occurs.

So the only way it would work would be to boycott shopping until things change, not till the new year, or Dec 1st instead of Black Friday, or not the Wednesday before. But to commit to doing without whatever you were going to buy for yourself, your loved ones, your workmates, etc. until change occurs, now that would make a difference.

The only difference this bullshit accomplishes is a bad market report on the following Monday, and a better than expected report sometime later in the week or month.

[onethatcares]

20. damn it, just stop buying the crap they push everyday

as often as you can. Just say to yourself, I don't need that Iphone or piece of junk tool they're selling.

to have our economy depend on Xmas sales sucks so bad I don't have words for it.

Do you really need to go to Macys or Nordstroms, Walmart or the Dollar general?

[tosh]

I always do anyway so I'm in!

[belcffub]

22. I'll be boycotting while surrounded by nature

deer season opens up this weekend :) always spend black friday in the woods... enjoying the sounds and beauty of nature... and maybe getting a deer

[msongs]

25. does "getting" - blowing its brains out with bullets? nt

[belcffub]

28. head shots are really not good form

and should be avoided... I try to blow the heart out... if I am off by an inch or two the deer will still die a quick death... with a head shot if you are off death can be slow... and yes bullets provide for the most humane and least painful death so I choose to use them...

[Faygo Kid]

23. Always do. I wouldn't get caught up in that mess if you paid me.

That's supposed to be "fun?" Like a root canal. A hearty walk, a little football, and leftovers. That works for me, although this year we will visit my brother and his wife on "Black Friday."

[DesertFlower]

24. i won't go anywhere near a store on black friday.

crowds, traffic jams, etc.

[Carolina]

26. Absolutely!

Boycott the mega chains and corporate stores and say you support OWS.

Small locals, however, will get my business unless they are rightwing!

[elocs]

27. If it makes you feel good, go for it, because such a boycott will have no noticeable effect.

To have any chance of being effective a boycott must be local and focused. Boycotting Black Friday is like throwing pebbles into the ocean and expecting a noticeable result.

If I have something to buy on Black Friday I will and nobody will be able to tell the difference.

[HopeHoops]

29. I hide in the house on that day.

:yoiks: :scared:

[hobbit709]

30. To boycott would imply that I have a choice about spending money.

when you're broke, you don't worry about giant sales on toys.

[Arkansas Granny]

31. I have never gone shopping on "Black Friday". There may be a few

good bargains out there on that day, but it's mostly an advertising gimmick and I'm not playing.

[City Lights]

32. I never shop on Black Friday.

Can't handle the crowds.

[cbdo2007]

33. I'll hoping to save a ton of money buying clothes for work on BF.....

so I can't afford to boycott it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. Sabotaging the economy will do wonders for President Obama's reelection campaign

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mod mom]

35. How about shop local/small shops. As a former retailer I know how folks

depend on business for their livelihood.

[aikoaiko]

36. if I'm going to buy 10 gifts for Christmas, does it matter if I do it on that Fri or another day

:shrug:

[smirkymonkey]

37. I never, ever go into any stores on that day. I would rather stab

myself in the eye with a pen. I hate the crowds, the greediness, the commercialism. My family has cut way back. Not because we can't afford it (well, I owe on a massive student loan, so I really can't) but because we just don't care about "stuff" so much anymore and see the holidays as a time to get together with family, enjoy our traditional meals and treats and watch the kids get into the spirit of everything.

I guess we have just become less acquisitive as we have become older. I think that should really become the underlying goal, but avoiding Black Friday is a start.

[Imajika]

39. Dumb idea, won't work...

Most of the people that will sign on to this are the ones that didn't want to shop on Black Friday anyway. The few that put off shopping to the next day won't be missed. It just won't make a noticeable difference and is a complete waste of time.

If someone is going to spend 1000 bucks on xmas shopping, what difference does it make what day they do it? And if they are going to spend money, why would they not want to take advantage of discounts available on Black Friday.