The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Retailers go to great lengths to try to outdo each other, by having great sales and by modifying their hours.
Most stores around these parts opened at 5:00 A.M. this morning. I never understand why anyone would deliberately drag themselves out of a nice warm bed, and go out and brave the cold for the privilege of making a purchase.
And it's not just a handful of people that participate in the annual ritual. These early store opening attract HUGE throngs of bargain seekers. By 7:00 A.M. the parking lots are full.
My wife, who works at a local department store, arose at three this morning to get ready for work. And of course, she went to bed early last night, and tossed and turned with dread and apprehension. She knows that it goes with the territory, and she's a trooper, but that doesn't mean that she likes it!
As for me, I don't feel compelled to purchase fragrance at five o'clock in the morning. But what do I know? I seem to be in the minority in that way of thinking!
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Richard,
Even men, who are not traditionally shoppers, are out in force too. Maybe they need some of that smell stinkum for hunting or something. As for me it is 6am and I am still in my jammies.
Got me, I'm not that much of a shopper to fight the crowds and hope for that 1 item in the store that is priced below wholesale and has 15 people waiting to buy the store stock of 2. .. maybe I'm just older now and don't have patience for that stuff? LOL.
Richard, another good question. My wife makes sure she gets all her shopping done thru out the year so we don't have to get our there today. As for me, it's black coffee and a good AR. Hope you and the family had a wonderful day yesterday.
Question: I'm always looking for ways to improve my posts and I have always admired yours. Do you start off in AR format or write it in word and then transfer it to AR. Thanks for the help.
Enjoy the Day Rich-Charlotte NC
Don...
Hmmm... is shopping for bargains a different kind of hunting? I wonder what time the Bass Prop Shops opened this morning?
Gail...
I can shop on the Internet without the crowds, thank you very much, but I can't get a good cup of coffee that way! lol
No for me. I wouldn't pay less to fight the crowds. On line shopping is the way to go. Click and its at your door a few days later.
Rich F...
I have a ritual for posting that makes it quite simple. I write the post in Word, adding all of the bold text and hyperlinks. I then go to my blog, and copy and paste my tagline from another post depending on whether it is a public or member's only post.
The difference is, a member's only has a subscription button. I paste that, the copy and paste the text from Word. and then add the photos last!
Best part is, if something goes awry, I still have my text!
I am one of the few people that doesn't shop the day after Thanksgiving, but I do build my posts in word. Wordpress doesn't like it, I will add. I have to touch up code in wordpress.
I would much rather order online and pay full price and shipping than be in that chaotic situation that early in the morning.
I am at home, I just can't imagine to be out there on this day of madness. I love people, but too much is too much. Hope everybody gets rewarded and finds a bargain.
Laura J...
I agree, I rarely set foot in a store. My wife, on the other hand, works in one every day so she finds bargains!
Chris...
I just use Word for everything, and what it doesn't do, I'll do a workaround!
Just another reason for my wife and daughter to spend all of our hard earned cash.:)
Richard, our mall was advertising they were going to open up their stores at mid night. A good reason to stay away. I hope your wife survives the long day.
I just don't get it. I did not see any good deals that interest me this year. Then I remember last year a relative of mine went to Circuit City to get a laptop that they had for sale. Well it turns out they only had about three in stock.
Brandon...
Me too. I really don't like crowds all that much anyway!
Anne...
I am sure that they will find a bargain...but at what price? lol
I never understood it either... I shop out of necessity... I much prefer my bed at 5 AM... It is usually my best hour of sleep before I have to start my day!
Richard, we had some stores open at 4am! I've only gone out once for a 6am opening, and it was for a great bargain. I'm too old for that crowd fighting after eating so much yesterday!
Make a nice dinner for your lovely bride today!
Richard, I am a shopper BUT wild horses couldn't drag me into the stores today. No bargain is worth the aggravation of fighting the crowds, finding parking, etc. Not to mention that its really cold that early in the morning.
My wife and 16 year old got up at 5am and went to the mall. This is the first time they have done this and they are having a blast!!! I think it's more fun since they aren't looking for anything specific!
Richard, great minds think alike.....I can't get good coffee here either.
Thanks for the tip on the blogging. I've been known to lose everything...and there goes my train of thought, pulling out of the depot....ADHD. Your poor wife! (see what I mean?)
Neal...
Do they really need much of a reason?
Michael...
And the worst part is, the employees are day shift employees. It's an accident waiting to happen
Carol...
Now that would really irritate me if I went to all that trouble and didn't get what I wanted!
Richard - I don't even get up that early for golf or fishing anymore. I wouldn't even consider it for shopping. My mother used to drag us out for the Black Friday (it wasn't called that yet) and day after Christmas sales. That cured me of ever wanting to participate voluntarily.
HI RW, I did it one year, that was enough for me. We went to Wal-Mart and got a DVD player that I gave to my nephews 3 months later and it didn't work. Never again! KM
My sister in law is up and at the mania that is the Friday after Thanksgiving. I avoid it as much as I can.
Richard - I went shopping on black Friday a few years ago and realized it wasn't worth the aggravation.
Remember the old tag live from ABC Sports..."the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat?"
I think that applies to Black Friday Shopping. The thrill of getting that item you were looking for (or not) at a good price, and beating others to it. I'll pass! I'm still in my sweats and it's 10am! We are going holiday shopping of sorts....to look at bank owned homes!
Now, the day after Christmas, I do get out. Only because I have a tradition of buying dated Hallmark Ornaments. Have done that for about 15-16 years and have quite the tree when they are all up. (Altho I've not even put up a tree for the past few years!)
Shop On!
Hi Richard. I am not a big fan of shopping period. My wife is going out today with her mom.
I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.
Ken
Richard: I'm with you! Like your wife, I used to have the pleasure of arising at 3am to get ready for Black Friday. I was working the jewelry counter at Macy's. I can tell you right now, the "Doorbusters" there are not worth the money. 1 carat (total weight) diamond stud earrings for $500....they look like they were cut from lumps of Kingsford Coal. I'll stay in bed. Like Dad always said, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."
Richard, I am with you my man. If you haven't read my post this morning, check it..will give you a good laugh :)
Richard, retail has crazy hours. Over the last few years it is bordering on insanity.
My wife went a couple years ago to Walmart for a cheap laptop. She waited for hours to be one of the first in line. When they opened the doors everybody push, she fell down and they ran right over her, stepping on her, jumping over her.
Luckily she clawed her way up and managed to get her cheap laptop. Then you have to watch out for people taking the stuff out of your cart. Sounds like a tradegy just waiting to happen, I stay in bed.
She went out again this year also. She finds it fun and exciting? I don't get it.
Richard, Minority thinking seems right on here. Besides, theres so much more excitement shopping on December 24th. I thrive on the pressure.
Any person who braves the throngs of shoppers on this day as an employee of a store or shop should come home to a wonderful quiet dinner with candle light and good food and be able to relax for the rest of the evening.
Consider it combat pay.
I avoid the stores today the best I can. And I prefer my bed at 5am thank you. I once attempted a few years back to go get something specific (can't even remember what it is now lol) and I didn't make it past the front doors. I find bargains other ways. ~Rita
Richard...I am with you. Although my wife and her sisters and daughter go out into the mania, they wait until a civil hour!
Richard...I am with you. Although my wife and her sisters and daughter go out into the mania, they wait until a civil hour!
I tried to video my journey last night and will attempt to edit it and put it on my blog soon. On 2 hours of napping this morning, I know I'm gonna shut down soon wether I like it or not!
Richard, I refuse to be a part of this craziness. I am at homme in the comofrt of my room, typing on my notebook. The stores and crowds can wait. I applaud the courage of yuor wife. God bless her
Hope you had a great thanksgiving
Bo
Richard.
This may be the last year of the traditional Black Friday. I look for stores to be open Thanksgiving evening - many already are for online orders. :)
Steve
Diane...
That's what I say! Why leave all of that comfort!
Laura G...
I'm making her turkey chili, of course!
Stacey-Ann...
I'm with you! I have to really want something to walk into a store on a regular day!
Richard S...
As long as they are having fun doing something together, that's all that matters!
Suzanne...
I also save my blogs in Word format so I have them just in case!
Hi Richard... I guess for me it all comes doen to the fact that their is a price that I am willing to pay not to be inconvenienced or hassled. With many places offering free shipping online, I can shop from the convenience of home without getting up at 4:00 A.M. or having to fight for a parking spot or wrestle over the last stocked item that I went for. And of course I save gasoline and not driving reduces automobile emmissions, so it makes me an environmentally savvy shopper too! :)
The reason is so I have an excuse to stay at home and not get caught up in the lunacy.
Richard, I'm not sure why people do this anymore. It's not like the stores won't be having a sale again tomorrow, and the next day, etc. I hope you had a lovely day yesterday.
Big Mike...
Ah, the things we learn from our mothers! lol
Kristin...
None of these sales are too good to be true on the Internet age. If people enjoy it, I hope they have great fun!
Terry...
It's not my thing! So I'll stay home, thank you very much!
Robert S...
If you are one of the people that really enjoy shopping it would be a blast. I am not one of those people!
I cannot think of a thing in this world I want badly enough to stand in line with all those folks! When I was in school and worked retail occasionally, I admit I LOVED it the hustle and bustle, but being there as a customer? Not for me!
I can't imagine the bargains are that great to warrant getting up into a store by 5 AM. I think it's kind of nitty, My wife works at Macy's and was up at 3 AM this morning so she could get to the store before the hordes fill the parking lot.
Thom...
No tree? Come on now, you gotta show those ornaments off!
Ken...
A lot of mothers and daughters enjoyed doing this ritual together!
Chris Ann...
My wife does fragrance, which is RARELY on sale, so I don't know wht she needs to be there at 5 A.M.
Jer...
I think I featured that one! lol
Gary...
According to my wife, they had a huge morning, whih is good news!
What about the ones who camped out overnight just to be among the first to get into the stores?....You will never catch me doing something like that!
That is just crazy... Camping out over night. I don't think I need something that bad.
Good Morning Richard... I used to go to those early morning mad dashes to pick up "bargains", but no more. People act like a heard of cattle stampeding into and over people just to save a buck... Humanity at its worst... I stay away and buy at my leisure...
~~ Michael...
Black Friday be damned! My Walmart is open 24/7 but closes at noon on Christmas Day. No need for me to put any extra effort into it.
Another great post from the famous Richard Weisser. Please keep posting I injoy your post very much.
Edward
Richard,
I feel sorry for the folks who work retail. Being open so early in the morning is ridiculous. AND the stores that are open on Thanksgiving Day are really bad. I won't spend a DIME in one of those. The people working for them deserve at least that day off!!
I did it one year. It was chaos and my sister and I were like nuts poking fun at everything. People were so serious. Nothing is that good of a deal to get up in the middle of the night. I always thought about the people that had to work! Ah, your poor wife!