Author Topic: black friday  (Read 679 times)

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Offline buffermop

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black friday
« on: November 24, 2011, 10:43:26 AM »
What the hell is this advertising frenzy over black friday? Seems that Santas has magical power that he can sell everything from toothbrushes to cars. Greed runs rampid this time of year  in the retail business. Didn't anyone tell the ad agencies that there is a recession going on? Amazing how much stuff on sale has already flooded the market.( toasters,cars,electronic crap) Getting up at 4 am in the morning to go shopping? No thank you! God bless America

Offline Spanky

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Re: black friday
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2011, 11:42:58 AM »
Agreed! I work parttime in a local chain store and we opened at 6am today. there were about 40 people waiting at 545am when I got there... THey wanted one of the few tvs we had on sale.... it is absolutely INSANE!

 
I bet you guys were crazy busy K... we're planning on getting mobbed tomorrow. Stop over if you have time. We've got some good sales going on. :)
 
 
 
Spanky

Offline Old Fart

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Re: black friday
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2011, 11:44:01 AM »
Me? I slept in. I'm not about to go out there and get mauled by some old lady that wants the same pair of house shoes that I do just to save $1.29.
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Offline PowPow

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Re: black friday
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2011, 12:45:51 PM »
I am going deer hunting in the morning. It occurred to me that the shoppers are going through the same thing I am, getting up early to stalk a trophy. My concern is that I have to drive near the Galleria to get to the hunting spot, might be a traffic jam at 5:00 am.
The difference between people who do stuff and people who don't do stuff is that the people who do stuff do stuff.

Offline oldandslow

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Re: black friday
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2011, 01:40:42 PM »
You couldn't drag me out in that mess. I have things around the house that are needing my attention after being one armed for 7 weeks. The real sales won't be until December 26 th anyway.

Offline Old Syko

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Re: black friday
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2011, 03:39:24 PM »
If all the businesses counted on me this time of year they would all be locking their doors in the morning instead of opening them.  We can buy whatever we want but unlike most we just don't want much.  I can't understand how all that plastic flying around for the next month is a good thing.  If you ain't got it in cash right now why on earth would you want to blow up a piece of plastic?


I won't be hunting tomorrow but I will be setting a new bullet trap up I just completed building and trying to fill it with lead.   ;)

Offline Victor3

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Re: black friday
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2011, 01:04:34 AM »
 Many big retailers now have a policy that if the price drops within a specified time period in their store, they'll refund the difference. If you know something's gonna go on sale, buy when it's convenient, go back and get your refund later.
 
 Even with small places, if they advertise a 10% discount on a certain day in the future when you'll be out of town or something, they'll often sell it to you today at that price if you pay cash (saves them some $$$ over credit). They just want to make the sale. Doesn't really matter when. Don't be afraid to negotiate with the manager of a smaller outfit.
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Offline magooch

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Re: black friday
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2011, 02:56:11 AM »
It's 5:50 a.m. on Friday and my wife just got home after staying up all night while attending various Black Friday sales.  These sales actually started Thursday (Thanksgiving) evening.  Nothing is sacred any more.
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Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: black friday
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2011, 03:32:00 AM »
I don't see how this is much different from the Deer Opener, Fishing Opener, Trout Opener, Grouse Opener, and Small Game opener. They are all institutions here. The only comment I have about the Christmas season is that it's stretched out to begin in after Labor Day now. I was at a WalMart back around September 1, and they already had two aisles of Christmas decorations. It takes a lot of the special-ness out of it when it's protracted so long. But who am I to judge. I don't complain that the open water fishing season is about five months long in this state.
 
As for being comical, just try going to an all-night restaurant at about 4am on the deer opener. Guys wearing camo (including camo face paint) come in for coffee and a big breakfast. I don't see how camping in a parking lot is funnier than that.
 
I do see the trend to having stores open on Thanksgiving. It would be nice if we could preserve just a few holidays so that people can have a day off that can be dedicated to focusing inward to family, God, and self. But then again, I felt the same way when stores started opening on Sundays back in the 70s. Today it's normal for stores to be open Sundays.
 

Offline Brett

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Re: black friday
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2011, 11:08:41 AM »
Wally-World was selling Emerson 32" HD TVs for $188, 40" $249.  I picked up a Philips Home Theater in-a-box System w/ bluray player for $178 at midnight last night.   I lost a little sleep but I could not have touched a HTS for that price any other time.   I would not loose sleep for bedroom slippers but for big ticket items such as electronics or appliances..  you betcha. 
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Offline myronman3

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Re: black friday
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2011, 01:35:50 PM »
some of these "people" are complete animals....just to save a few bucks.  i will gladly pay more and go on a day when sane people shop.  and to be honest, there aint much of anything i need out there that i anticipate going shopping for anyway. 

Offline Spirithawk

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Re: black friday
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2011, 01:42:08 PM »
My daughter and I actualy went to the sale at Wal Mart. She was home on leave from the Navy and wanted to get me a lap top. We got it but it was as much pure luck as anything. People were crazy and inconciderate as hell. It was our first Black Friday experience and definitly our last! We did have an edge though. My son, the Certified Executive Bodyguard,  showed up and stayed with us till we were out of the store.  ;D

Offline The Hermit

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Re: black friday
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2011, 02:04:17 PM »
I'm baffled. I read online of folks getting stabbed and even one lady shopper using pepper spray on other shoppers to get a waffle iron. Stupid me. I thought Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Christ.
 
 
  The Hermit

Offline gypsyman

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Re: black friday
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2011, 06:38:07 PM »
Hate to tell you guys this, but it's not just the big box store's. I had a gun show in Birch Run,Mich. this past weekend. When I drove by the Cabela's store in Dundee,Mich at 6 in the morning, the 20+ acre parking lot was filled. They were parking in the grass, as far as I could tell. They had to start getting there by 4am I would think. gypsyman
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Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: black friday
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2011, 01:33:25 AM »
On the lighter side of this, it's good to know that  a lot of people have disposable income enough to go shopping en masse.

Offline oldandslow

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Re: black friday
« Reply #15 on: November 28, 2011, 03:45:13 AM »
On the lighter side of this, it's good to know that  a lot of people have disposable income enough to go shopping en masse.

My wife and daughter braved the crowds to go to Walmart for some kind of gadget for the newest addition to the family. My son works for a national retailer and they pulled him off his regular job and put him on the door greeting people. Well to keep the post short, Black Friday was kind of a bust here. They all said store traffic wasn't much increased from an ordinary Friday.

Most here should have some disposable income as the employment situation in this area is very good.

Offline mdwest

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Re: black friday
« Reply #16 on: November 28, 2011, 05:20:52 AM »
What the hell is this advertising frenzy over black friday? Seems that Santas has magical power that he can sell everything from toothbrushes to cars. Greed runs rampid this time of year  in the retail business. Didn't anyone tell the ad agencies that there is a recession going on? Amazing how much stuff on sale has already flooded the market.( toasters,cars,electronic crap) Getting up at 4 am in the morning to go shopping? No thank you! God bless America

personally Im not a "black friday" kind of guy.. I hate shopping malls and crowded places 365 days a year.. add in the mayhem and bad attitudes displayed by many Christmas shoppers, and I'd rather do most of my gift purchases online these days.. I refuse to participate..
 
that said.. stating that greed runs rampant in the retail business this time of year is a bit of a misnomer..
 
the reason its called BLACK friday.. is this is the day when many retailers actually come out of the RED for the year and begin to show a profit.. its the first day of the fiscal year where they get into the BLACK..
 
if you dont want them to make bank between November and December 31st.. dont expect them to be available for you to shop in their stores in February and March...
 
many retail establishments litterally make their entire years profit in the 4th quarter.. and take losses  or barely break even in quarters 1, 2, and 3...