Any good Black Friday stories?

[OmahaStar]

This Black Friday stuff is all bullshit. There's some *reason* why these loser stores have to open at 4 AM? Or why these sad motherfuckers who line up at ungodly hours can't bloody well wait till the sun comes up?

I'm guessing you're talking about those idiots at NFM?

Yeah, I drove past there yesterday. At 7 pm, they had 30 people in line already, and they didn't even open this morning til 7 am. 12 hours in line? No fucking way. The *only* thing in their ad that was even halfway good was that digital picture frame for 20 bucks. Every other store around had the same thing (or a bigger version) for 40 bucks.

 

[DanCPA]

I got a laptop at office depot!
$349 after rebate (which I already mailed in)
Supposedly it was one of the best black friday purchases available
I was the last person in line to get one
AND I had fun chatting with a rather cute navy medic assigned to the marines while I waited in line!

 

[RoJoHen]

This Black Friday stuff is all bullshit. There's some *reason* why these loser stores have to open at 4 AM? Or why these sad motherfuckers who line up at ungodly hours can't bloody well wait till the sun comes up?

Not sure why you think it's bullshit.

It's the very first official day of "holiday shopping." It signifies the start of the Christmas season. And it's one day a year when lots of stores can move a lot of merchandise, and people are willing to get there early to do it.

Besides, if stores opened at their regular hours, they'd be even more packed and unmanagable! At least by opening at 4am or whatever, they're able to spread out their business.

Stores make money. Customers save money. I don't see the problem.

 

[roliver]

That'd make people think twice next time.

A mob of people does not "think."

 

[Hoser]

I bailed this year. So glad I did, LOL.
Last year I wanted a really nice camera for about 100$ at Meijer. I got there at 4, they opened at six, but the line up was halfway around the store already. Lucky for me the majority were going for the iPod and DS bundles that were on sale. By about 7 I'd scored the second to last camera, some 2gb memory cards and the whole dock package with extra batteries for about 110$. I went to go home but the roads were blocked, apparently a few people tried to run a red to get to the next store with some disastrous results, so I sat in the McDonald's until it was cleared up.
Went home and slept for about 10 hours.

 

[Kryton]

MSNBC is reporting two dead after a shooting at a Toys R Us in Palm Desert, California.

 

[Trekker4747]

I hope to hell that family of that trampeled Wal-Mart employee sues Wal-Mart for millions -for creating a mob mentality and not properly controlling/restraining the mob.

 

[DanCPA]

I hope to hell that family of that trampeled Wal-Mart employee sues Wal-Mart for millions -for creating a mob mentality and not properly controlling/restraining the mob.

creating the mob mentality? IF you have only a limited amount of specials it is possible to hand out tickets... but Wal-Marts are HUGE and tend to have insane amounts of customers that it's impossible to restrain a mob...
I believe the family should get some compensation, but suing for more is likely not the best solution

 

[JAG]

There was no security personnel at the store. There were people lined up for 8 hours and they tried to break down the doors before the store actually opened.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Not sure why you think it's bullshit.

Because these people are sad losers with no lives, who have nothing better to do than line up at 4 AM to save a few measly bucks.

It's the very first official day of "holiday shopping." It signifies the start of the Christmas season.

Christmas is a MONTH away! What's the rush? Why indulge people who are so impatient that they must have everything now, now, now?

And it's one day a year when lots of stores can move a lot of merchandise, and people are willing to get there early to do it.

I see. And stores can't move merchandise on any other day?

 

[DanCPA]

Christmas is a MONTH away! What's the rush? Why indulge people who are so impatient that they must have everything now, now, now?

Because they want to move inventory... they don't want to be stuck with a bunch of left over holiday items
plus, a positive sales report boosts stock price and makes the store even more alluring to shoppers during the rest of the Christmas shopping season

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Christmas is a MONTH away! What's the rush? Why indulge people who are so impatient that they must have everything now, now, now?

Because they want to move inventory... they don't want to be stuck with a bunch of left over holiday items

If they don't think people will continue to buy their stuff *from now until Christmas*, I'm not sure who to feel sorrier for.

 

[JimCasy]

My mom, sister, aunt and 2 cousins always go shopping today, but they don't go crazy about it. They don't leave til like 7am, so with getting everyone together and to wherever in Des Moines they're going it's about 8am when they start. If I'm not working, I usually go with them, but just to hang out with my family. I don't shop much. This year I had to deliver pizzas...much better than working retail like I had for the past five years though. People tipped awesomely today. I made $30 in just four hours!

 

[Trekker4747]

I hope to hell that family of that trampeled Wal-Mart employee sues Wal-Mart for millions -for creating a mob mentality and not properly controlling/restraining the mob.

creating the mob mentality? IF you have only a limited amount of specials it is possible to hand out tickets... but Wal-Marts are HUGE and tend to have insane amounts of customers that it's impossible to restrain a mob...
I believe the family should get some compensation, but suing for more is likely not the best solution

They created a mob situation by attracting large numbers of people with their specials and didn't take measures with either ropes or security personell to contain and order the crowd. They just let a mass group of people gather at a door, they opened them up, and just let the people go.

What do you think will happen when you block hundreds of people behind locked doors on the day before a big sale and then suddenly open them? People push, shove and clamor and turn into animals. This Wal-Mart didn't take precautions for crowd control -something they should've expected and forseen.

They created a mob situation.

They are responsible.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

They're not blocked. People waiting are free to leave the line. Every other day of the year, the doors are closed until some point when they are opened. People aren't trampled those days.

 

[Dar70]

I work retail and its very scary how people react during these sales. Some get very angry when items are gone. Its just not worth it. Many of these items (the hot one this year is HDTV's) will be cheap next year all year. People do not buy theses big ticket items for anyone but themselves. Some people had two 42" tvs in their buggies today. It was limit one but savy couples stood in line seperate to get the tv's than proceeded to walk around together with their buggies with these huge boxes, which the tops of were visible over some of the aisles. Funny and pathetic all at the same time seeing two huge box tops following each other over aisles.

Probably one for the living room and basement.

Heres a video of scary crowds rushing through store doors. Im sure this is what it was like for that poor store clerk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYpOGD0Dlxg

 

[dave_R_treker]

That'd make people think twice next time.

A mob of people does not "think."

sadly true.

 

[DanCPA]

They created a mob situation by attracting large numbers of people with their specials and didn't take measures with either ropes or security personell to contain and order the crowd. They just let a mass group of people gather at a door, they opened them up, and just let the people go.

As happened at plenty of other stores... And as happens on every other day. I'm sure employees know what they are getting into
And was that employee supposed to be where he was when he was hurt?

What do you think will happen when you block hundreds of people behind locked doors on the day before a big sale and then suddenly open them? People push, shove and clamor and turn into animals. This Wal-Mart didn't take precautions for crowd control -something they should've expected and forseen.

Should they have? Since when does people running for the best deals lead to death?

They created a mob situation.

They are responsible.

Once again, we will have to agree to disagree

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And was that employee supposed to be where he was when he was hurt?

It doesn't matter. Even if he wasn't, that doesn't make it any less tragic. It doesn't mean the employee deserved to be hurt, or that the crowd that killed him was any less responsible for his death.

Should they have? Since when does people running for the best deals lead to death?

Excuse me? We've just seen that very thing happen. If the people weren't running, that employee would not have died.

 

[DanCPA]

It doesn't matter. Even if he wasn't, that doesn't make it any less tragic.

If he was told to stand clear of the mob and chose not to, how is that managements fault? Now, I know we all want to run and judge the evil people at Wal-Mart and punish them for their evil deeds... but maybe just maybe this isn't the managers/stores fault, and until facts come out, I would like to err on the side of management.

It doesn't mean the employee deserved to be hurt, or that the crowd that killed him was any less responsible for his death.

The crowd... yes. But how can you prove who is responsible? If there is a way to prove which person acted to hurt this person, then yes, they should be punished. But assuming the company didn't tell the person to fend off the hoards all on his own, I would assume find out who was really responsible rather than punish the business.

Excuse me? We've just seen that very thing happen.

It never happened before, at least not to the best of my knowledge. And even now, we should not expect Wal-Mart to go out of its way to account for every possibility. Forseeable consequences for their decisions, yes... Random acts, no. Businesses can not and should not be liable for EVERYTHING.

If the people weren't running, that employee would not have died.

Yes. And if bars didn't have to stop serving booze at 2am in California, chances are there would be less drunks on the roads at that time... If someone is hit by a drunk driver around 2am, should they file claim against the State of California? Policies are set... If they are negiligent, then yes, the negligent party should be penalized... but because a tragedy happens we should not run to penalize Wal-Mart.