Going to the mall on any given Saturday is a stress-inducing experience. Going to the mall on Black Friday is something akin to slow torture. The thought of the fresh air deprivation, claustrophobic quarters, lines snaking out of doors, the inevitable mall headache and crowds, crowds, crowds, make me want to crawl back into bed just thinking about it. Friends don’t let friends shop the malls on Black Friday. Still, if this is your thing, tell us where you plan to shop and how early you got up to do it. Me, I’ll be the one meandering local shops, picking up one-of-a-kind gifts and experiencing no body checks in the process. To see what local shops are offering deals, go here. To tell us about your favorite Baristaville store and the gifts you buy there, leave your suggestions in comments.
Just please remember that the people working in these stores are exhausted, hot and stressed, just like the shoppers are… and they’re earning a really crappy hourly wage. (said the mother of a p/t mall employee)
So true. I worked at Macy*s Herald Square for a year in college. I’ve worked Black Friday and people are insane. Be nice if you go…
Just heard on the radio that a worker in a Wal-Mart on Long Island, Valley Stream I think, was trampled to death early this morning when stampeding shoppers broke down the doors.
Truly a Black Friday for that poor person’s family.
I cannot confirm it but there are other news reports that a pregnant woman who was trampled at that Walmart miscarried her baby. So much for the spirit of the holidays, whatever that is. What have we become?
https://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html
I cannot confirm it but there are other news reports that a pregnant woman who was trampled at that Walmart miscarried her baby. So much for the spirit of the holidays, whatever that is. What have we become?
https://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html
Before this bums you out too much go watch some adorable puppies.
walmart
Brothers and sisters, the Shopocalypse is at hand! Stop buying before it’s too late! Join Rev. Billy on this Buy Nothing Day.
Thanks for the link, Pokey.
And I quote: The industry’s largest retail group said the incident was rare. “We are not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving,” said Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation.
****
Incredible!
Simply greedy to the point of insanity.
And I quote: The industry’s largest retail group said the incident was rare. “We are not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving,” said Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation.
Really! What a dumb remark. The fact that it happened it all is a travesty. Ellen David needs to go back to PR school. I blame the stores (not just Wal*Mart) for creating this atmosphere of accelerated greed.
Is a $798 flat-screen TV really worth the life of a human being?
Televisions are a lot more
dangerous than most people realize.
maybe not, but that same TV for $199 makes you think twice…
How many of those doing the tramplers were investment bankers or hedge fund managers? The greed run riot has a familiar tone to it.
This type of wild-3rd world aggression against store employees to get a “bargain” is so very opposite of the teachings of major religions. None of this used to take place before they started this crazy 3,4 or 5 AM crunch-crowd mad-house openings. One does not see such at the better stores. Sacks or Lord & Taylor would never stoop to this level, neither would Macys.
We do not participate in this. I buy one nice gift for my wife & our son and she buys one for our son and one for me. We try & keep the “reason for the season” in the fore front, rather than the maxipexils!
Shopped at PARCEL yesterday with my daughter who was in town for the holiday. Quite a fabulous place and the owner couldn’t be sweeter. Of course the best part was speding time with my daughter!(Actually nothing in the world beats spending time with all my children, aand now grandchildren !)
Well, one might find that at Macy’s. They are heading down the food train of department stores.
I went to the dog park.
Spent my Friday strolling Church Street, then headed uptown. Shop locally, people!
I had a great day yesterday. Shopped local, no hassles, charming shop keepers and got almost all my shopping done. Did Bloomfield Ave, Church St. Also visited Nest and Go Lightly. Had a falafel for lunch then continued shopping on Valley Rd and Bellevue Ave. I will do this again next year for sure!
Lisabells, I’m jealous you have all your shopping done. Although I just vegged out and read a good mystery novel Friday and enjoyed every minute of it…