For as long as I can remember, shopping the Friday after Thanksgiving has been something I have always taken part of. It seems that it’s just a part of the Holiday season or something. I am not very ‘anal’ about it though, as I am not out the door, standing in line to get one of 50 DVD players for $3.88. No, I am a casual Black Friday shopper. I get up, shower, eat some breakfast, and I’m out the door around 10:ish.
The last few years, I have noticed that stores are competing with opening time for Black Friday shoppers. I think the term is called “the creep”, as the opening time continues to creep earlier and earlier. I can remember hearing some stores opening at 5:00 a.m., and there were lines at the door to shop. Crazy, I thought. Why would anyone need to go through such extremes to save a few bucks?
Now, this year, I think the big stores are a bit out of control. I heard that Walmart and Target were now opening on Thursday (YES, Thanksgiving) night! Seriously? The first thing I thought was ” those poor employees”. They get to spend a few hours with their families, and that right back to work, to serve those greedy bastard companies.
Then, I read THIS story about some Target employees pushing back to their employers. I think it is GREAT! First off, I would never get out on Thanksgiving night to start my Christmas shopping. I think it is just the opposite. I am contemplating boycotting those stores that are so greedy to force their employees to work on such a recognized holiday. I will either shop at their competitors or buy online instead. There is no reason for this foolishness, seeing as the reports I have read state that there will be no recognizable increase in sales opening the night before, but just to generate interest. I call BS either way. I will not be shopping there this year.