Black Friday

[T-Bird76]

So does anyone else but me think that Black Friday is getting carried away? I got the paper today and was browsing through the countless pull out advertising for this Friday, Sat, and Sun. I'm just amazed that these stores are opening at 4AM, 5AM, etc etc...I didn't even see any great "doorbusters" that would be worth getting up at 3 Am to be at Kolhs for a 4 AM opening. The sickest one of all was the Riverhead Outlet stores....they are open right now and its 12:08 AM in the morning. I just don't see the point in opening at these insane hours...what kind of people shop that early but more importantly what kind of message does this say about our society?

[Steven Holzinger]

It's pretty pathetic. I have to be in at 4:30 am this morning to make sure we're good to go for a 5 am opening (I work at a Sears back in the hardware dept). Honestly we really should just open up at 8 am like usual and make these people wait even longer out in the cold for their bargains!

[nwafan20]

I actually never went to sleep last night.... At about 10 PM me and some buds headed out to a local strip mall which has "Midnight Madness" tons of sales, and free energy drinks! After that we went to my friends house and hung out till about 3AM when we headed out to Circuit City, got in line, and got our incredible deals! By that time (4:55) it was 5 minutes till Target was opening, walked over to there, got in line, and got even more amazing deals! A $179 all-in-one printer for $39 (I got the last one) and a $175 500 GB external hard drive for $65, etc. I finished up all my Christmas shopping and treated myself to a few things.

All in all, I think it was worth it. Half of the fun is being with friends, suffering together, and surviving 28 hours now on just Mountain Dew, No-Doz, energy drinks, and Taco Bell fire sauce. We got our great deals, we had fun, and I don't need to worry about Christmas shopping anymore. I don't see why you guys' think it's so bad.

(P.S. it was my first time going out on Black Friday)

[mirrodie]

incredible deals...suffering together....surviving....

Sounds like fun :wink:

[cancidas]

don't know about you guys, but my xmas shopping was done as of two weeks ago. now i can take it easy for the next few weeks and only stress out about finals...

[Steven Holzinger]

I plan on doing most of my shopping online anyway... can't stand waiting in line in the stores anymore!

[hiss srq]

I am trying to do most of my shopping online with a few extras on the side. I thought about going out shopping this morning but I did not get home from the airport untill 230 in the morning from the late night shift in the tower.

[moose135]

...I did not get home from the airport untill 230 in the morning...

Hell, you should have gone straight to the stores, who needs sleep?

[Mellyrose]

I've done most of my Christmas shopping online as well (before Thanksgiving), and there are assorted items I'll have to hand-pick in stores.

I've never gone shopping on Black Friday, and didn't plan on it either, but yesterday Phil and I decided to go get some Christmas decorations (halfway through the day....nothing like this "doorbuster" insanity) and we wound up saving a ton of money. The crowds and lines at MIchaels Arts & Crafts Store were honestly no worse than I would expect on a typical weekend day, so I'm definitely glad we went.

People who get up early to wait in line and deal with other wackos like themselves just to save money are insane. I'd ABSOLUTELY wind up murdering someone or getting arrested. Don't even get me started on Phil.

[NIKV69]

Mel is right if you want to save money go shopping December 26th. I had to go to Best Buy last night (not by choice) to get something I needed right away for my desktop. Though the parking lot was murder the inside was fine and the lines moved very fast. Didn't have the real thick crowds black friday used to have. I think with the dominance of internet shopping we may never see the crowds on any of the busy shopping days. Too many just click and ship and wrap. So easy.

[PhilDernerJr]

Last year Mel and I didn't have much of an Xmas set up at our place (we relied on my parents as we had just moved into our apartment that month), and it makes much more sense to buy Xmas decorations for NEXT year right after Christmas.

[mirrodie]

People who get up early to wait in line and deal with other wackos like themselves just to save money are insane.

Careful, that might be offensive to Matt/nwafan20. :wink: :wink:

I'll stick to online shopping, thanks. I may not be rich, but my peace of mind is more valuable than money saved while shopping in a zombie state and dealing with completely inconsiderate people who come out in droves.

Phil, one of the perks of the Judeo-Christian alliance formed is that I will not do Xmas decorations. And my mother has tons of them she wants to put and asked me to put up.

So check this out. I told her to give all these decorations to my neighbors across the way.....they get to put them up and take them down and we enjoy them.... win win ! :mrgreen:

[Mellyrose]

Funny thing is, I have turned into a Christmas freak. Every inch of 100% Jew in me loves it. I was the one who said "Let's get a real xmas tree this year" (our first tree actually). I'm really excited. My parents (and rabbi) would be ashamed.

[mirrodie]

Yes, that is also a very interesting thing I've noted with my Jewish lady.

She sings Christmas songs, usually starting in July.

And makes me watch movies, like White Christmas, last night, with Bing.