Do You Shop On Black Friday?

[AndyC]

I'm never really all that aware of sales. I usually start out wanting to buy something, then see if anybody has it on sale, and then get it from wherever makes the most sense. Black Friday, Boxing Day and whatever else don't interest me. In general, I try to avoid big stores and malls as much as possible from early November to mid-January. I hate driving and parking in heavy traffic, I hate long lines, and I hate crowds. I get what I need from local stores, or I order it online.

If I need to get something from a department store during the Christmas shopping season, I'll take advantage of holiday hours. I've driven 45 minutes at 3am to a Wal Mart that was open 24 hours for the holidays. Best Christmas shopping experience I've had. Just me and about a dozen other misanthropes with the store all to ourselves.

[Mr. DS]

Last year I went to Walmart on Black Friday evening but it was mainly just to get a few items for the house.  I've never waiting so long to buy paper towels.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

There was not an option of "Would Rather drink boiling goat urine" So I just picked option #4, I don't need ANYTHING that bad.

[Silverlady]

I have never shopped on Black Friday, but last year I WORKED on Black Friday - seasonal position in retail.  It was pretty awful, but to be honest, the DAY AFTER CHRSTIMAS was worse!   I worked in customer service/returns.  I couldn't wait to go home that day .... 

[Mr. DS]

I have never shopped on Black Friday, but last year I WORKED on Black Friday - seasonal position in retail.  It was pretty awful, but to be honest, the DAY AFTER CHRSTIMAS was worse!   I worked in customer service/returns.  I couldn't wait to go home that day .... 

Wow thats another day to discuss.  Return day.  Actually, I usually always go out on that day to return the crap people got me I don't want.  Yep, I'm pretty shallow. 

[AndyC]

Last year I went to Walmart on Black Friday evening but it was mainly just to get a few items for the house.  I've never waiting so long to buy paper towels.

That's the worst. Stopping to pick up some little household item and finding yourself in the middle of a seasonal shopping frenzy. Used to happen to me when I lived in the city, but not so much now that going to the mall is always a special trip. I used to pull into an insanely busy parking lot and think "Oh crap, I forgot." There's something extra frustrating about shopping in a crowded mall when you're not part of it. I wish everybody who is just doing their regular shopping could have an armband marking them as non-combatants, and all the Christmas shoppers and bargain hunters would have to clear a path.

[InformationGeek]

I have never shopped on Black Friday, but last year I WORKED on Black Friday - seasonal position in retail.  It was pretty awful, but to be honest, the DAY AFTER CHRSTIMAS was worse!   I worked in customer service/returns.  I couldn't wait to go home that day .... 

Person I know is going to be working retail in the computer department on Black Friday at Best Buy.  She's extremely worried because she works right away at the morning and all the way until 3 in the afternoon.  What I recommended to her was to get a good riot shield.  Hope that helps her.

[HappyGilmore]

I've made it out a couple of times, but I generally try to avoid it if possible.  I generally try to get most stuff before Thanksgiving, hell, usually around Halloween if possible.  And, usually, I generally try to stick to gift cards.  In some instances, the cards are to specific stores/restaurants I know a person likes: Ruby Tuesday, Applebee's, Kohl's, Wal-Mart, etc.  In other cases, I get a general gift card to a specific mall, as the person can use the card in ANY store in the mall, whether it's the dollar store, a restaurant, FYE, GameStop, Hot Topic, etc.  Only time I don't buy a card is if the person requests something SPECIFIC.  I learned it's best this way, as you search endlessly to find 'the perfect gift', only for the person to NOT want said gift, exchange it, and get store credit or cash.

But, the past few years I've actually had to work Black Friday, so by the time I'm done around 4 or so, I don't have the energy to head out.

On a side note, my first job out of high school was working the Lay-A-Way section of K-Mart, hired in November of 2002.  I've never seen such craziness in one location than the lay a way section I worked.  I don't think ANY of us got a chance to take a lunch break.  But the boss ordered some take out from the restaurant across the lot for us for dinner.

[Hammock Rider]

 I've also spent many years in the Retail Trenches and that put me off shopping Black Friday for good. It can be ugly and even nasty and people shopping for Christmas often display no Christmas spirit whatsoever. Besides I'm a pretty leisurely guy by nature and Black Friday shopping is anything but. Nope it's pre-Thanksgiving shopping or the good, ol' internet for me.
 

[Trevor]

There was not an option of "Would Rather drink boiling goat urine" So I just picked option #4, I don't need ANYTHING that bad.

[Chainsawmidget]

I work on Black Friday. 
In a toy store.
pity me.

[Mr. DS]

I used to work for a retail chain who was kind of second in the line of fire when it came to the Black Friday rush.  They specialized in sales on wrapping paper, stocking stuffers, etc.  So when stores like Walmart were dying down, this store chain would picking up the second wave.  Being a part timer I of course caught that from 3 PM on and believe me, people were beyond grumpy by the time they got to the store.  And of course the store I worked for was beyond noctorious for NOT having a single ad item in stock.

[Silverlady]

I have never shopped on Black Friday, but last year I WORKED on Black Friday - seasonal position in retail.  It was pretty awful, but to be honest, the DAY AFTER CHRSTIMAS was worse!   I worked in customer service/returns.  I couldn't wait to go home that day .... 

Person I know is going to be working retail in the computer department on Black Friday at Best Buy.  She's extremely worried because she works right away at the morning and all the way until 3 in the afternoon.  What I recommended to her was to get a good riot shield.  Hope that helps her.

The Electronics Dept is the busiest place on Black Friday.  A riot shield is not a bad idea!

[Silverlady]

I work on Black Friday. 
In a toy store.
pity me.

You poor thing ....

[The Burgomaster]

Yes.  My wife and I usually get to the Mall between 5 and 6 a.m. and we are usually out of there by 10 a.m. at the latest.  That's when the crowds start to get heavy, so we leave.  Generally, I don't buy much.  I end up doing most of my shopping online.