"Black" Friday

[Karen]

Everywhere I look there are ads for "Black Friday" and it seems everyone is making a fuss about it. Even non-traditional retailers seem in on it!

Do you do a lot of shopping on Black Friday and hit the sales? I never have but know some people get up in the wee hours to do so!

Or do you have to work that day and not even have the option?

Just curious, and it seemed to complicated for a usual poll ...

[pomtzu]

I NEVER go shopping on Black Friday - not worth the hassle to me. My son and DIL used to be avid BF shoppers, but it seems the past couple of years, he has gotten all the super deals that are offered in the stores, on line in the sneak preview and pre-BF sales. So much easier that way, and they both have to work that day anyway.

[Freedom]

In the past - setting up my first apartment, after we bought this house - I will make a list and head out. I am not an early bird, never have been, and that does NOT change on BF, lol. Some of the 'deals' would be sold out by the time I arrived. That's ok.

Past few years it is mostly a non event for me. I may browse a flyer or 2, but that's it. The Target ads this year -- with that ditsy lady going nuts over their prices - seem to be running continually and I am so sick of them!

One of the restaurants we frequent is offering gift certificates, $50 for $25 on BF only, so I will try to wander over there - it is close by.

I do get a kick out of going and sitting in a local mall parking lot and looking at all the crazies! LOL

[chocolatepuppy]

I never went out on Black Friday until a few years ago. I only went to a few places and never bright and early. Not sure if I'll go out this year.

[robinh]

The last time we did a Black Friday, I was standing in a store looking at an item - had it in my hand - and a woman came up, took it right out of my hand and took off. I was so shocked. She said "You didn't want it anyway" and walked away. My only reaction was to say "Merry Christmas" in a snarky way. Never again. I shop on line - it's easier.

People seem to have forgotten the reason for the season. So sad.

[phesina]

Another reason I love CBC:

On a news break today they reported on a study done on people looking forward to holiday shopping. I forget the overall findings, but what stood out was "8 percent said they would rather have a root canal than go to the mall on Black Friday!"

[redbird]

In the past - setting up my first apartment, after we bought this house - I will make a list and head out. I am not an early bird, never have been, and that does NOT change on BF, lol. Some of the 'deals' would be sold out by the time I arrived. That's ok.

Past few years it is mostly a non event for me. I may browse a flyer or 2, but that's it. The Target ads this year -- with that ditsy lady going nuts over their prices - seem to be running continually and I am so sick of them!

One of the restaurants we frequent is offering gift certificates, $50 for $25 on BF only, so I will try to wander over there - it is close by.

I do get a kick out of going and sitting in a local mall parking lot and looking at all the crazies! LOL

What a coincidence, my sister and I were just talking about those Target commercials, we can't stand her either. My sister just mutes her TV when she is on. She makes you not want to go to Target, that commercial backfires, lol.

[moosmom]

When it comes to Christmas shopping, I am a procastinator!! I wait till the last minute.

[catnapper]

I work that day. I can not remember the last Black Friday I had off since I've worked retail since high school.

I don't mind working black friday - I even think its fun and exciting running around hte store.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

i did the whole BF thing once, a few years ago. That's when I realized it wasn't worth standing outside of the mall freezing my butt off at 3AMjust to save a few bucks.

[anna_66]

I always work all day. But I wouldn't get up and go out at 4 am for it even if I didn't

[krazyaboutkatz]

I've never done it and I never will. I hate to shop for most things on a normal day any way. The only BF I would ever do is to shop online. I think some are starting theirs on Thursday.

[sana]

My cousins in America are going to the Black Friday place, as I have heard and we've told them to get some stuff for us. I think we're getting a laptop and a kindle. Not sure.

[pomtzu]

My cousins in America are going to the Black Friday place, as I have heard and we've told them to get some stuff for us. I think we're getting a laptop and a kindle. Not sure.

LOL
Sana - Black Friday isn't a place - it's a term given to the first "official" shopping day of the Christmas/holiday season - and is always the day after Thanksgiving - today - Friday.

The term "black" comes from the concept that the stores will operate in the "black" - meaning that they will actually make money. When they operate in the "red", that means they aren't seeing any profits and claim that they aren't making money thru out the year. So stores have super sales on everything, with the hopes that it will bring lots and lots of people to their stores, and that they will be "in the black" - making lots of money on the products that they sell.

And with these super sales, people tend to go kind of crazy and wait in lines for hours to get in the store and get all kinds of products at super low prices. It's really crazy, but if you like the mob scene and don't mind driving around forever to find a parking place for your car in the mall, then I guess it's not bad. Not my idea of fun tho. Electronics and toys are a BIG attraction that draws people out on this crazy shopping day.

[Alysser]

I went last year to a mall in Delaware (no sales tax) to buy a Macbook. It came with a free printer and was $70 cheaper. Me and my brother were headin' to DC for the day anyway so we were driving through. I haven't shopped full on for BF in a number of years though, but if I do find a good sale on an Iphone 4S at a local store you best believe I'll be checkin' it out.