Shopping on Thankisgiving..yes, no...maybe

Marie5656

Marie5656

SF VIP
Location
Batavia, NY
So, we are at the time of year again where the big issue of when to start Black Friday shopping, and stores that open on Thanksgiving for sales. I read an article last year that if a smart, informed shopper did their homework they would find that just because it is a Black Friday deal, does not make it the BEST deal. They really need to do their homework.
Is it just the thrill of the hunt. My husband sent me to a hardware store ONCE on black Friday to get him a drill he wanted. I told him never again.
Do you shop on Thanksgiving? Would you care if the stores all closed, like they did back in the day? I have two cousins I have over for Thanksgiving, they are brothers, and single, and the rest of their family is out of state. They go down on Christmas. One of them works for Walmart. So for the past two Thanksgivings he has had to work until 6PM, and has had to miss most of the day, and come out after. He feels bad as he feels he is putting me out because he knows I make a big deal of cooking. Do I wish he did not have to work, so he could come earlier and enjoy an earlier dinner and football? Sure. Would I tell him not to come? Never.
But are retailers that in need of money that they cannot give their staff the day off?
OK, rant over, stepping down off the soap box
 

No, I don't shop on Thanksgiving Day. It's my favorite holiday of the year and I'd rather spend it at home.

More stores are starting to close for that day, this year. https://www.theblackfriday.com/stores-closed-on-thanksgiving-day.php And, they should close that day, IMO. The employees deserve a whole day off before having to work Black Friday, which starts for them in the wee hours of the morning.

I shopped once, on Black Friday, and purchased everything I was after, very cheap. But, watching how some people acted, while shopping, was like watching rabid dogs pouncing on the merchandise. It was insane! One woman even tried to lift stuff out of my cart. I exchanged words with her and she backed off quickly.

Holidays are becoming way too commercialized. Christmas stuff has already been out in the stores for well over a month already.
 
I stay home and keep an eye on the pie!

I grew up with the blue laws, I really feel that it is better to have non-essential businesses closed on Sunday, holidays, etc... I think it brings people closer together and allows for some real rest and relaxation. That's just me, what others choose to do is up to them.

I also agree that Christmas and many other holidays have become too commercial and the season should definitely be shorter.

and another thing, when you give a greeting to someone just spit it out loud and clear. Merry Christmas!

 

and another thing, when you give a greeting to someone just spit it out loud and clear. Merry Christmas!


And Shalom and a Happy Holiday to You as Well...no offense intended, it's okay. But I can't imagine wanting to go out at 5am to fight a mass of other shoppers looking for bargains that might not exist anyway. I used to work for Home Depot and by 5:30 people would be like goldfish plastered at the windows waiting for the doors to open.

To me that is insane. I pick up bargains all year long so by the holidays I just have to gather some wrapping paper and I'm done.
 
I never shopped on Thanksgiving or holidays either, never on "black Friday". From all I hear you can get similar bargains online or in the days around these holidays. I don't care if people work on holidays, I never worked retail but usually had a union job and holiday pay was welcomed by many, always went by qualified seniority. These days I don't even shop on weekends, and steer clear of the mall traffic (both people and cars) during the holiday season.
 
I spend the night before Thanksgiving preparing ahead of time for the big meal on Thanksgiving Day. I'm too exhausted to think about shopping! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and love having all the family around for a wonderful dinner. I have done the Black Friday a couple of times in the past when I was much younger but now there is nothing I am willing to fight the crowds for. I am mostly an online shopper now. I have to say, since I have retired my husband and I really enjoy shopping or going for lunch early in the week when everyone else is at work.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I never shopped on Thanksgiving or holidays either, never on "black Friday". From all I hear you can get similar bargains online or in the days around these holidays. I don't care if people work on holidays, I never worked retail but usually had a union job and holiday pay was welcomed by many, always went by qualified seniority. These days I don't even shop on weekends, and steer clear of the mall traffic (both people and cars) during the holiday season.
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My dad worked every holiday he could. He got paid for six hours no matter if he was only there for fifteen minutes, at double-time-and-a-half. It usually took him no more than one hour to do what he came in for, so the whole thing was a win-win situation.
 
I won't be shopping on Thanksgiving, or on Black Friday. (a) I no longer buy any presents for anybody (b) I am not a glutton for punishment. So on T-Day I'll be at our Community Center with all the other old timers. Beats sitting home alone.
 
I don't shop on Thanksgiving or Black Friday either -- it is just too crazy for me. I do know a couple of folks who LOVE that holiday pay, though. I guess it's up to stores whether they stay open or not. I do very little holiday shopping any more. My family has dwindled down to almost nothing, and those of us remaining have "don't buy for me and I won't buy for you" deals. Sounds kind of grim, but it is really quite freeing.
 
Butterfly said:
I don't shop on Thanksgiving or Black Friday either -- it is just too crazy for me. I do know a couple of folks who LOVE that holiday pay, though. I guess it's up to stores whether they stay open or not. I do very little holiday shopping any more. My family has dwindled down to almost nothing, and those of us remaining have "don't buy for me and I won't buy for you" deals. Sounds kind of grim, but it is really quite freeing.
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Years ago, the family decided to go with drawing names for Christmas presents. Wouldn't you know it? Two years in a row I got the brother-in-law that made me nauseous just thinking about him, never less having to go shopping for him. I tried to trade off, but nobody else liked him either. Now we don't exchange presents.....just buy gifts for the kids. What people do within their individual families is their choice, but no buying for siblings, cousins, in-laws, etc. across the "general family".
 
No Black Fridays for me either. I buy the "big gifts" the first week of Nov and finish up shopping the first week of Dec, and I do at least 75% of my shopping online. Since I have a new grand-baby I get to make two gifts this year; a blanket and a stuffed animal. An elephant I think.
 
Hmm, I remember when the big department stores in the city allowed for a little extra shopping by staying open on Thursday evenings until nine on the weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas...
 
BlunderWoman said:
I never ever ever shop on crowded days.
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I'm with you on that. I never shop in crowds and most definitely rarely ever set foot in a mall. I understand that not everyone celebrates the same holidays (I don't celebrate Christmas, for example), but I think it's a good idea to give employees the day off for the major holidays. I wouldn't feel put out in any way if a store was closed on Thanksgiving.
 
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