Anyone Going Into The Madness That Is: Black Friday?

[Tinker Tantrum]

Anyone thinking of venturing out into the chaotic crowds and (potentially) deadly stampedes to get a deal? I was thinking of going to Best Buy for a television but I really don't want to stand in line for hours and hours. Is it worth it to you? What extremes are you willing/not willing to go? Do you expect chaos or are you optimistic and expect everyone to behave in a calm and orderly fashion?

[DeadSuperHero]

I'm working Black Friday from 4 AM to 3 PM. It. Will. Be. CHAOS.

I'm lucky that I'm just a stock-boy at Hollister, and not actually a retail worker. Those people are going to have it the worst.

[LowSky]

When I worked retail, things were crazy, even though it was a bookstore.

My most fondest memory was I was clearing registers and then carrying a large amount of cash, including a small safe and two drawers to the back office when a woman yelled at me to help her. I told her I would be back in a minute and she tried to follow me to the back room yelling that no one would help her. I had to close the door in her face. Which got her madder and she pounded on the door. All that fuss for a book that was on the front table as you walk in the store.

I have on idea why Black Friday sales even exist. If the companies want this kind of traffic, just have the same type of sales during the whole year.

[kurt18947]

NO. Media and marketers do not control my behavior.

[MoonLitOwl]

Nope, I already bought myself my own gifts online.

[weasel fierce]

I'm a commie so no, I will not partake.

[Tinker Tantrum]

NO. Media and marketers do not control my behavior.

I know right? If the world were more rational, then these retailers would be forced to have Black Fridays every month.

[sammiev]

Anyone thinking of venturing out into the chaotic crowds and (potentially) deadly stampedes to get a deal? I was thinking of going to Best Buy for a television but I really don't want to stand in line for hours and hours. Is it worth it to you? What extremes are you willing/not willing to go? Do you expect chaos or are you optimistic and expect everyone to behave in a calm and orderly fashion?

Let me know... I will send flowers! :) but why would someone put them through that?

[lisati]

Wut? Friday 13th already? :D




Just kidding, probably won't notice any difference between this week's Friday and most other Fridays here where I live.

[Dangertux]

Nope I'm doing Cyber Monday from the safety and convenience of my computer lol.

[tersogar]

I try to dance on my terms.

[wolfen69]

I don't need anything, so no, I won't be participating in marketing madness.

[mamamia88]

No because all I would want is videogames and amazon matches pretty much all the deals. and even if they didn't i have pretty much every game i was looking forward too everything else would just be gravy

[cortman]

NO. WAY.

Black Friday's become one of the most loathsome events in the US, in my opinion. People going absolutely NUTS over material stuff. Just stuff. The display of greed and blatant consumerism rather gets on my minimalist nerves...
I found out a good while back that happiness is not in having more stuff or getting better deals on more stuff. I just imagine the rather empty feeling all the black Friday shoppers will have a week from now, when the novelty's worn off, but the credit card bills start coming in.

[Mazate]

no. Way.

Black friday's become one of the most loathsome events in the us, in my opinion. People going absolutely nuts over material stuff. Just stuff. The display of greed and blatant consumerism rather gets on my minimalist nerves...
I found out a good while back that happiness is not in having more stuff or getting better deals on more stuff. I just imagine the rather empty feeling all the black friday shoppers will have a week from now, when the novelty's worn off, but the credit card bills start coming in.

+1

[Redblade20XX]

+1

+2

Couldn't have said it better!

[Linuxratty]

NO. Media and marketers do not control my behavior.

Same here. We exchange gifts t day weekend,so gifts were bought months ago.

[CharlesA]

The only shopping I have done is online.. I don't want to deal with the MADNESS that is a physical store.

[Frogs Hair]

I have never taken part and see no reason to start .

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

Why would I want to stand in line with 100's of other people for hours in the hope of getting one of the 10 in-stock goodies advertised?

I'm not falling for the marketing trick to get me in the store to buy something else when I can't get one of those hard to get goodies.

Furthermore, I'm 63 years old, and one of those crazed shoppers may accidentally knock me to the floor to get to that goody they need so badly. I've been to stores during Black Friday; therefore, I choose to avoid the stores for a day or two.

I can take my time online to get good bargains. Ten medium priced products with 25% savings versus one big priced product with 80% savings. I think I may do better overall at saving money by carefully shopping online.

[skierkyles]

I went out at about 11:30 to the Best Buy midnight opening with a friend, waited in line for about 30 minutes, got into the store. We both got Battlefield 3 (1/2 off, pretty good deal). Left and paid with cash. It was a good time.

Sure if your going to be paying %18 interest on your credit cards over the 3rd led tv you need to have you should probably reconsider, otherwise I don't think it's that big of a deal.

[wolfen69]

I went out at about 11:30 to the Best Buy midnight opening with a friend, waited in line for about 30 minutes, got into the store. We both got Battlefield 3 (1/2 off, pretty good deal). Left and paid with cash. It was a good time.

Sure if your going to be paying %18 interest on your credit cards over the 3rd led tv you need to have you should probably reconsider, otherwise I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Yeah, that's pretty good, but the deals they show on tv are a joke. You are lucky if they have 3 items of what you want. It's about getting bodies in the door.

[donkyhotay]

Anyone thinking of venturing out into the chaotic crowds and (potentially) deadly stampedes to get a deal?

No

[rg4w]

On Black Friday I took a stroll through coastal woods with some old friends.

IMNSHO Black Friday is well named: it is death, a cultural embarrassment. I doubt Jesus would be impressed with how some people celebrate his birth.

[cortman]

on black friday i took a stroll through coastal woods with some old friends.

Imnsho black friday is well named: It is death, a cultural embarrassment. I doubt jesus would be impressed with how some people celebrate his birth.

+1!

[mips]

Is this where people lose all common decency and stampede others to death?

[CharlesA]

Is this where people lose all common decency and stampede others to death?
Yep. I skipped it, no point in even bothering when the item they show on TV (That I would like, not need) only has like 5 or 10 in stock.

[whatthefunk]

I hate Christmas because of this kind of crap. I dont want to have anything to do with it anymore. Amount of money Ill be giving to retailers this holiday season: $0.

[mips]

Yep.

I saw a video once and can't actually believe people behave like that :cry:

[nerdopolis]

No... I don't want to be gettin' down under somebody's Sketchers on Black Friday...

[wolfen69]

Yep. only has like 5 or 10 in stock.

5 or 10? Try 2. Sometimes 1.

[rivenathos]

From what I have seen, there really are not any excellent deals worth the hassle. As usual, I am going to be shopping online from home at my leisure.

[Robertjm]

I had intended to buy all the parts for my new computer at Fry's, but when I saw the ads I checked out Newegg.com on Thanksgiving Day. Saved a boat load by doing that.

What was interesting was that Fry's split their "Door busters" into two waves, Midnight and 6am. Nothing I wanted at Midnight so I got up about 5a and got to Fry's, in Concord, at about 5:45a. It was surreally quiet. Virtually empty store. Grabbed the three items I wanted at 6a, went to the cashiers and was the second in line. Total time in store, 20-25 minutes!

Should be interesting to see what Cyber Monday brings. I would like go get a 1-2Tb SATA internal HDD for around $100, if possible.

Robert

[CharlesA]

Wow. I wonder if the reason it was quiet was cuz it was Fry's and not Walmart.

I've seen some insane videos of stuff that happened at Walmart on Black Friday.

[Robertjm]

While Fry's doesn't get Walmart crazy, they are usually insanely busy. Last time I bought on Black Friday I was in the checkout line for 2 1/2 hours!!!

Robert


Wow. I wonder if the reason it was quiet was cuz it was Fry's and not Walmart.

I've seen some insane videos of stuff that happened at Walmart on Black Friday.

[CharlesA]

Wow, that is insane.