Monday, November 19, 2012

Really?




                                               
                                Hurry we must make it to the stores before 8!


Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and with it Black Friday. I personally don't like Black Friday and try not to shop on that day.  I hate the crowds and I seem to catch good sales on other days without getting caught up in that frenzy.

 You've probably have heard there are enough petitions to stuff a turkey against stores trying to get a jump on that day and opening for business on Thanksgiving .  (If you want you can go to Change.org  to sign any number of them.)    As you can imagine, I'm against opening up on Thanksgiving.  To me it 's just wrong.  It's a day to reflect, to appreciate the things that truly matter and if possible spend time with people you care about. ( My father and his wife have passed on and my mother and sister live in another state but they will all be at our table, if only in our thoughts.) It's a shame people have to leave their families behind because they have to work.

In fairness I have to report that Target said on their blog,  A Bullseye View,   "The holiday season is highly competitive, and Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest shopping times of the year. Target’s opening time was carefully evaluated with our guests and team members in mind. Our opening time this year reflects the feedback we have heard from our guests – many prefer to shop following their family gatherings rather than in the very early hours of the morning."   They also state they asked for volunteers and had not forced anyone to work.  But I have to wonder, in this economy, would one feel pressured into working? If they're seasonal workers, probably. Do they feel it would be a check mark against them if they didn't?  Could be, I don't know for sure.  Remember, this is Target's rendition of the facts.

 And who are these consumers, whom they speak of, who are so hell bent on shopping? What, there's no other sales for the next four weeks they can go to? Is cooking and having company not enough that they have to walk for hours from store to store?  And if there has to be one,  why can't Black Friday come a week after Thanksgiving?  What priorities are we accepting and teaching our children if we allow Thanksgiving to be violated ?


I know this is more of a rant  but I just don't get it.


Do you shop on Black Friday? Are you going to shop on Thanksgiving?  If you are tell me what I'm missing here.  Thanks.



A little side note: Small Store Saturday - support the little businesses that are a part of America's  hometown.  Also checkout craft sites or go to craft shows for unique gifts. 

10 comments:

  1. I don't shop on Black Friday, I hate the crowds and the materialistic attitudes that cause people to trample one another for a bargain.
    I HATE the idea of the stores opening on Thanksgiving even more than I hate the whole "black-friday" event.
    I had planned to boycott any store that opens it's doors on Thanksgiving night for the entire holiday season - but the list is growing may too long...the whole tanger outlet center is opening Thanksgiving night *sigh*
    Just sad.
    (and I blogged about this too!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah boycotting all the stores that are open on Thanksgiving is going to be next to impossible. But at least you can feel you did your part in showing your disapproval by doing so.
      Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  2. I'm with you on this, Donna. I admire the stores that put out ads saying, in effect, we refuse to join the shop-on-Thanksgiving bandwagon; it's not fair to our employees and not what the day is about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's great that some of the stores are posting that and personally I would go to them before the others to do my shopping.

      Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  3. I avoid Black Friday and any other high volume shopping day at all costs. In fact, I've already finished most of my holiday shopping because I want to enjoy the season, not be stressed out worried about getting things for people.

    I remember when stores were closed on Sundays as a kid...by the way, they still are in my rural area where I was raised. Not so in the NY metro area.

    I used to love Christmas, and then the fury of buying and doing took over and took away the meaning and joy for me. Then a few years ago, we decided to scale back and focus on what really matters...being together.

    That's what I love about Thanksgiving, no expectations other than making and eating food and being together. My new gluten-free, dairy-free diet may make it a hassle in some ways but I'll get over it. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Scaling back is good and helps keep what's important ahead of everything else.

      Good luck with the diet restrictions. I'm sure it will be a wonderful meal anyway.

      Thanks for coming by.

      Delete
  4. I hadn't planned on shopping on Black Friday nor Thanksgiving for that matter. I reserve standing on lines @ midnight for my Twilight DVD releases. lol! No seriously, IMO nothing's worth camping out in the cold and blowing a whole day to acquire, but I won't judge them either. *shrugs* To each his own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw on TV today that 7 out of 10 Americans will go shopping on Black Friday and will spend the average of $400. I don't understand the pull that day has but as you said to each their own.

      Thanks for your thoughts.

      Delete
  5. Hey Donna!

    No, I won't be shopping on Black Friday, or on Thanksgiving either. I like the family time.

    Friday we go to the movies and the gym. It's a tradition, lol! I'll be shopping on Saturday though, supporting my local stores.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like the family time too and will also be shopping on Saturday.

    You go to the gym? Not a bad idea considering how much I ate. Maybe next year. lol

    Thanks for popping in.

    ReplyDelete