TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Boycott Black Thursday

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

I think it's a shame that stores feel the need to be open on Thanksgiving Day. I'm not about to go shopping on Thanksgiving.

Truth be told, I don't shop on Black Friday, either.

I don't start my Christmas shopping or decorating until after Conor's birthday, which is Dec 5.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I would rather crawl naked over hot coals than go shopping on Black Friday.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I would like to thank you for starting this thread. As a former worker in retail, I hated being open on Thanksgiving. And no, we were closed on Thanksgiving when I took the job, so it wasn't something I knew ahead of time. Things change.

One of the great misconceptions, and companies are perpetuating this myth by telling only half the truth, is that employees have a choice of whether or not they want to work on Thanksgiving. They don't. If you work in certain work centers (electronics, logistics, security, management, customer service) you do NOT have a choice. It's all hands on deck. IF you have a decent manager, they will take your "preferences" into consideration. Sometimes. So don't let the companies that are open fool you by saying its a choice. It is only a choice for a very few limited number of people.

Also, many work centers work overnight on Wednesday to get the store set up. They get off at about 10am on Thursday. So their entire day is now shot.

Personally, I became known for being a specialist at "recovery" (getting the store back to normal afterwards). It always ensured I could close on Friday instead of work the opening shifts. Now, being open from Thursday all night through Friday...everyone will probably have to work both days. There will be no way to adequately staff stores if you get one of those days off.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

It's just crazy. I remember when nothing was open on holidays. When I moved to Hawaii I was working at a 7-11. We were the only thing open on Thanksgiving. OMG! Our line was at least 10 people long all day. It was miserable. I'm sure people appreciated being able to get the one thing they forgot (more beer) but I was so drained by the end of my shift.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

Southern_Belle wrote:
It's just crazy. I remember when nothing was open on holidays. When I moved to Hawaii I was working at a 7-11. We were the only thing open on Thanksgiving. OMG! Our line was at least 10 people long all day. It was miserable. I'm sure people appreciated being able to get the one thing they forgot (more beer) but I was so drained by the end of my shift.

I'm really old. I remember when stores weren't open on Sundays.

NAOW · Vette's SS

Nope. I am not going anywhere on Thanksgiving.

I may go power shopping that weekend though. I like getting it done early.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I took call for the weekend. I have an excuse not to join in on he madness.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Southern_Belle wrote:
It's just crazy. I remember when nothing was open on holidays. When I moved to Hawaii I was working at a 7-11. We were the only thing open on Thanksgiving. OMG! Our line was at least 10 people long all day. It was miserable. I'm sure people appreciated being able to get the one thing they forgot (more beer) but I was so drained by the end of my shift.
I'm really old. I remember when stores weren't open on Sundays.

When I worked retail 25 years ago the mall was open on Sunday but Leggetts refused to be open. It was a big fight but Leggetts said if you want us to be one of the anchor stores we are sticking to the closed on Sunday. Leggetts won that fight.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Well, I did it when they went from 6 am to 4 am, and then to midnight, and then to 9 pm. But now, I'm done. I'm going back to 6 am on FRIDAY.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Dilliards is the only department store at our mall staying closed on Thanksgiving.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Yeah I remember almost everything being closed Sunday. My sister and I would play hookie from church and the only place we could go was Dairy Queen.

ed11563 · Guru

Lexxy wrote:
I would rather crawl naked over hot coals than go shopping on Black Friday.

Sorry, the Chinese are using all the coal to make electricity. No hot coals available, unless you want to go there.

smile

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

ed11563 wrote:
Lexxy wrote:
I would rather crawl naked over hot coals than go shopping on Black Friday.
Sorry, the Chinese are using all the coal to make electricity. No hot coals available, unless you want to go there.

Well Ed, I'm still not going shopping on Black Friday & you can't make me! biggrin

JPT · Senior Member

Happily, I will be on a cruise ship somewhere between St. Thomas and St. Maarten, so no temptation to shop on either day. Not that I ever shopped on Black Friday even when we stayed home. I loathe crowds, and all my Christmas shopping for family far away is done in the Honey Baked Ham store (20 minutes, and I am DONE!)

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Southern_Belle wrote:
It's just crazy. I remember when nothing was open on holidays. When I moved to Hawaii I was working at a 7-11. We were the only thing open on Thanksgiving. OMG! Our line was at least 10 people long all day. It was miserable. I'm sure people appreciated being able to get the one thing they forgot (more beer) but I was so drained by the end of my shift.
I'm really old. I remember when stores weren't open on Sundays.

Me too!

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

My plan for that week is to have everything I need done in town done by Tuesday and then I am not leaving the house till Sunday.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I don't think we're going to do any black Friday shopping at all. There is nothing on sale we want. I didn't even see stuff on sale I could buy to donate.

chef · Guru

I don't shop Black Friday. There is nothing I want or need so badly that I feel inclined to set foot anywhere near a store on that day, much less stand in line for it.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I know people who go to these stores just to people watch.

They don't buy anything just take up space and get in the way.

chef · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
I know people who go to these stores just to people watch.

They don't buy anything just take up space and get in the way.

This concept is foreign to me. I can understand going to the mall to people watch. But on Black Friday? Why? I'd rather avoid the madhouse in the parking lot and the rudeness of those who think they must trample everyone to get that TV.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

When S & I first started dating I went to his parents house for T-day. His mom, sisters & SIL were all excited about going shopping at like 4 in the moring Black Friday. They giddly exclaimed that we should spend the night so I could go along with them. I was like a deer in the headlights & felt a panic attack coming on at the mere thought of it. Thankfully he told them the only shopping I did was online. Getting up in the middle of the night so I can stand in line & get jostled by the masses is not how I like to spend my leisure time!

chef · Guru

I heard on the radio yesterday that a store (I think it was Best Buy) is doing a 50 inch TV for $199 for Black Friday. Something like that. The announcer said that people are already lining up. There is no way I'd ever line up for a TV for 2 weeks.

I think the only thing that could make me line up for 2 weeks would be my dream house being built and enough money for my family and I to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Something huge like that. But a TV? Nope!

The 99cents store by me is giving away a 6 foot prelit Christmas tree to the first 99 people in line at 9am on Black Friday.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I'm with you chef! As I see it my time is worth money. At my billable hourly rate I wouldn't be getting a deal at all on that tv.

FNW · Guru

I'm with you guys. I'll let someone else stand in line.

just Czech · Give Me Grand's!

People are nuts.
I went shopping on Black Friday once. I will never do it again. Geesh, the crazy never stops.

My brother, SIL and their adult children go every year. He has a semi, so he parks it in the parking lot of whichever story they are hitting first. They set up chairs in line and take turns on the chairs while the others keep warm in the semi. They are in line by 8 p.m. the night before. That's a freakin' long night!!

Not worth it in my book. But they have a blast.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

chef wrote:
I heard on the radio yesterday that a store (I think it was Best Buy) is doing a 50 inch TV for $199 for Black Friday. Something like that. The announcer said that people are already lining up. There is no way I'd ever line up for a TV for 2 weeks.

I think the only thing that could make me line up for 2 weeks would be my dream house being built and enough money for my family and I to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Something huge like that. But a TV? Nope!

The 99cents store by me is giving away a 6 foot prelit Christmas tree to the first 99 people in line at 9am on Black Friday.

That 50" TV isn't the typical 50" they normally sell. I guarantee its "guts" are cheaper, the remote is cheaper, and it probBly has a pixel burnt out somewhere.

I I would rather pay full price for quality merchandise and allow people time at home with their families.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

No!!!! Target too?

Can I still shop there other days?

flan

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

lilyofcourse wrote:
I know people who go to these stores just to people watch.

They don't buy anything just take up space and get in the way.

These are the people that irritated me. They were always in the way, usually pull employees aside to ask us stupid questions (how many people do you think are here? Are you tired? How long do have to work?) when we could be helping people who were spending money. Also, they took up parking spaces, shopping carts (just to put their purses in) etc.

Shopping isnt a spectator sport.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
No!!!! Target too?

Can I still shop there other days?

flan

The point is to show them that opening on Thanksgiving is pointless, and to make the sales of the retailers that open on Friday be higher, so they lose out on the traditional Black Friday sales. So, yeah, I guess so. I mean, I'm going to Kohl's tomorrow.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Some people are more militant about it though, and want to actually boycott the stores completely. Whatever your conscience dictates.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
No!!!! Target too?

Can I still shop there other days?

flan
The point is to show them that opening on Thanksgiving is pointless, and to make the sales of the retailers that open on Friday be higher, so they lose out on the traditional Black Friday sales. So, yeah, I guess so. I mean, I'm going to Kohl's tomorrow.

Our Targets are always clean. I love their clearance items, too.

flan

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

I don't do Black Friday. I used to as a teen and young adult. That is when I realized that I had vertigo when I was overheated and dehydrated. Every single black Friday I passed out in a store, well 3 years in a row, haven't been back since.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

You just did that to get to the front of the line.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

chef · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
chef wrote:
I heard on the radio yesterday that a store (I think it was Best Buy) is doing a 50 inch TV for $199 for Black Friday. Something like that. The announcer said that people are already lining up. There is no way I'd ever line up for a TV for 2 weeks.

I think the only thing that could make me line up for 2 weeks would be my dream house being built and enough money for my family and I to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Something huge like that. But a TV? Nope!

The 99cents store by me is giving away a 6 foot prelit Christmas tree to the first 99 people in line at 9am on Black Friday.
That 50" TV isn't the typical 50" they normally sell. I guarantee its "guts" are cheaper, the remote is cheaper, and it probBly has a pixel burnt out somewhere.

I I would rather pay full price for quality merchandise and allow people time at home with their families.

Yep, exactly. Yet, people wait in line year after year for the supposed deals.

Nevermind that "while supplies last" can mean they only have one of whatever item.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

They usually only have 3 so unless you are at the front you are out of luck.

wild_blue · Newbie

I don't have an issue with places like Wal-Mart that sell necessities being open. Lots of people work the holiday by nature of their job and they should be able to get food or whatever after work if needed.

But no one needs a big screen tv that bad.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

If they have always been open - not really a big deal. It's the Black Friday creep that is annoying me. They were talking about Michaels. Michaels has been open on Thanksgiving as long as I can remember.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I agree wild blue. It shouldn't be about people skipping dinner to stand in line. Welcome to the board!

WYSIWYG · Guru

I will not shop on Thanksgiving. Not for anything. I would rather do without than be part of the reason anyone couldn't be home with their family on that holiday.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Lawyerlady wrote:
If they have always been open - not really a big deal. It's the Black Friday creep that is annoying me. They were talking about Michaels. Michaels has been open on Thanksgiving as long as I can remember.

But define the bolded. I am not one to go shopping on Holidays, but what "has always been open" nothing has, it's evolved over the years. I have to say when I was a teen, young 20's and worked retail I loved the extra hours because it was also paid at OT rates.There were so many "kids" working that the older folks who had families didn't have to work because we all signed up to work.

wild_blue · Newbie

WYSIWYG wrote:
I will not shop on Thanksgiving. Not for anything. I would rather do without than be part of the reason anyone couldn't be home with their family on that holiday.

Would you also do without medical care and emergency services?

-- Edited by wild_blue on Thursday 13th of November 2014 11:05:13 PM

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
If they have always been open - not really a big deal. It's the Black Friday creep that is annoying me. They were talking about Michaels. Michaels has been open on Thanksgiving as long as I can remember.
But define the bolded. I am not one to go shopping on Holidays, but what "has always been open" nothing has, it's evolved over the years. I have to say when I was a teen, young 20's and worked retail I loved the extra hours because it was also paid at OT rates.There were so many "kids" working that the older folks who had families didn't have to work because we all signed up to work.

Well, I kind of feel if you know going in when you take the job that is part of it, then you can't really say much. But for all the stores to just suddenly decide we're opening, and then the employees don't really have a choice - that sucks.

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

wild_blue wrote:
WYSIWYG wrote:
I will not shop on Thanksgiving. Not for anything. I would rather do without than be part of the reason anyone couldn't be home with their family on that holiday.
Would you also do without medical care and emergency services?

Wild_blue, that is a very good point. There are some jobs that NEED to be done, no matter what day it is or what holiday is celebrated. My issue is with businesses that are not really necessary to have open on holidays that are traditionally family-oriented. I believe it all goes back to the tension between promotion of profit and promotion of family - I could also present that statement better if I hadn't just woken up. smile

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Why are all the Chinese restaurants closed on holidays? They don't observe them!

ed11563 · Guru

Southern_Belle wrote:
Why are all the Chinese restaurants closed on holidays? They don't observe them!

My local Chinese restaurant is open every day, and they deliver. But you just might be outside their service area, sorry.

You could come here and pick your order up though...

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

Southern_Belle wrote:
Why are all the Chinese restaurants closed on holidays? They don't observe them!

I'm pretty sure that there are Asian Christians and Jews. Likely Muslims too. And perhaps there are Shinto, Buddhist or other Holy Days that coincide?