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Black friday.

soylentgreen

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Occasionally someone comes up with the dubious plan of trying to infiltrate an american custom into our society. Halloween which thankfully has a low response, and now black friday.
Which confused me at first because the word black is normally associated with a disaster. Down south here it usually is linked to the day of a really bad fire that destroys many hectares of land.
And according to a history search the name became popular when a police department coined it in response to the traffic jams and other problems created by the day of mass spending. It is also a day that has brought about the deaths of shoppers through some monumental idiotic need for greed. Retailers on the other hand wanted a more positive outlook so tried to make the word mean something positive as in it was the day they made a huge profit which put their books into the black.

Now i am all in favour of getting a discount on a purchase but a whole day dedictaed by many retailers to discounting that cause traffic jams, fights and even death is a questionable proposition. So can you please explain this american custom to me. Is it worth it? Should i look forward to such a thing or hope that like halloween it remains an american custom.
 
Occasionally someone comes up with the dubious plan of trying to infiltrate an american custom into our society. Halloween which thankfully has a low response, and now black friday.
Which confused me at first because the word black is normally associated with a disaster. Down south here it usually is linked to the day of a really bad fire that destroys many hectares of land.
And according to a history search the name became popular when a police department coined it in response to the traffic jams and other problems created by the day of mass spending. It is also a day that has brought about the deaths of shoppers through some monumental idiotic need for greed. Retailers on the other hand wanted a more positive outlook so tried to make the word mean something positive as in it was the day they made a huge profit which put their books into the black.

Now i am all in favour of getting a discount on a purchase but a whole day dedictaed by many retailers to discounting that cause traffic jams, fights and even death is a questionable proposition. So can you please explain this american custom to me. Is it worth it? Should i look forward to such a thing or hope that like halloween it remains an american custom.

For some, it’s a competitive sport. Been around for years and years. I don’t play myself. The idea of mobs of people standing in line even overnight! to get the specials is my idea of the Zombie Apocolypse. People have been injured and even had a few deaths from being trampled in the crazy mobs.

Others will have to answer if it’s worth it. It would never in a million YEARS be worth it to me.
 
I went one time in my life...my kids were young and they wanted a TV for their rooms...Best Buy had great deals...I got the TV's but never again...I would not go out tomorrow if they were giving stuff away...
 
I went one time in my life...my kids were young and they wanted a TV for their rooms...Best Buy had great deals...I got the TV's but never again...I would not go out tomorrow if they were giving stuff away...

No doubt!! I worked at a Future Shop (Canadian equivalent of Best Buy, until Best Buy bought it and shut it down) on Boxing Day (what used to be / still is our Black Friday, though we've adopted your Black Friday as well to stop people from going over the border...hehe...but I digress). It was one of the worst days of my life, I can only imagine what it must be like to work there.

Thank goodness for online shopping now...so much more civilized - all the deals, none of the trampling.
 
I know there are people who really get into it but there are few things I hate more. Just shop online and eat left overs. Drive into town at your own peril.
 
No doubt!! I worked at a Future Shop (Canadian equivalent of Best Buy, until Best Buy bought it and shut it down) on Boxing Day (what used to be / still is our Black Friday, though we've adopted your Black Friday as well to stop people from going over the border...hehe...but I digress). It was one of the worst days of my life, I can only imagine what it must be like to work there.

Thank goodness for online shopping now...so much more civilized - all the deals, none of the trampling.

I hardly ever go to the shopping anymore...haven't been to the mall since I can't remember when...I buy everything except groceries on line...
 
I hardly ever go to the shopping anymore...haven't been to the mall since I can't remember when...I buy everything except groceries on line...

Me, too! But I even buy groceries that way. Peapod serves my area. Delivery is $6 or $7. I don’t find their prices high because I haven’t shopped price in years. What a luxury. I’ll bet I spend less than ever. No impulse buying.
 
I noticed a recent sign of improvement. Stores with signs saying they will be either closed on thanksgiving day or closing at noon. I have always been torn about people having to work on holidays. On one hand many of them would rather be at home with family. On the other, some folks need the money and working a holiday may mean overtime they need. But we try to prepare to avoid going out after Tuesday.
It has become our habit to take the week off jobs and do some fall chores around the fort. We usually host part of the family for turkeyday. We are today and I'm taking a break from prepping the guest room, dusting and cleaning glass. Got to go and get the fryer prepped on the carport as it's raining and water and hot oil are a less than desired combination.
 
Me, too! But I even buy groceries that way. Peapod serves my area. Delivery is $6 or $7. I don’t find their prices high because I haven’t shopped price in years. What a luxury. I’ll bet I spend less than ever. No impulse buying.

I should try it but I'm a diehard comparison shopper...and I like to see what's new and different...
 
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