The Christmas season just gets more and more absurd. Isn't this (especially) the season where we're supposed to display peace and love for all, just like Jesus did? Apparently Walmart didn't get that memo.
In their headlong chase for the Almighty Dollar Walmart has decided that Black Friday, that absolutely insane first official day of the Christmas shopping season....the day after Thanksgiving....will now begin at 8 pm ON THANKSGIVING EVENING! That's when they will open the chutes and let the cattle stampede in. So much for letting their "valued employees" spend the day with their families.
I contrast that (here in Dallas at least ) with Weir's Furniture. They are closed EVERY Sunday. The Weir family is very religious and they close for that reason, but the bottom line is they allow their employees to spend their Sundays doing whatever they want. It's their time for family, church, football, picnicking, or whatever. Here's my point: people know that if they want to buy a sofa or chair or bedroom furniture from Weir's they'll have to buy it on Saturday or Monday, but NOT on Sunday....and their business hasn't suffered a bit. If fact, many big-name furniture stores have come and gone in the past 64 years, but Weir's is still here.
I can't think of one thing that will be in Walmart at 8 pm on Thanksgiving Day evening that won't still be there at 7 am on Black Friday morning. Quit being such dicks, Walmart, and let your people have the day off.
Rant over. Now go out there and have a nice weekend. ;)
S
Why is it only furniture stores that are always having a "Going out of Business sale" and never go out of business?
ReplyDeleteOh, and you are right on about the black friday crap!
Every year "Black Friday" gets earlier. I've only ever gone to that stuff like once and I didn't buy anything. I did get a cheap pair of headphones I think broke two days later.
ReplyDeleteOnce place I lived there was a pizza parlor nearby and their ad said "Closed Sunday--the Lord's Day." I was like, "Really? How does a pizza place manage to stay in business when it's closed on Sunday?" I mean they don't open even for the Super Bowl? That's like pizza Black Friday. Anyway, I don't think you should let religion get in the way of making money. That's not the American way.
I hate the craze over Black Friday. I like to stay home and decorate, bake cookies and spend sometime with friends and family. There is no reason to go get crazy with greed and shop like some homicidal maniac. The worst part of the season is the traffic, it brings out the worst in people too. It should be about sharing, caring and giving of yourself. Sadly a lot of people are homeless or suffering economically, it wouldn't hurt to offer someone a meal, donate warm clothes or blankets to shelters.
ReplyDeleteIn the "olden" days so many businesses were "automatically" closed on Sundays and we learned to function just fine, didn't we? And businesses still made money and paid their bills and paid their employees (and probably valued their employees more than present day employers value their employees). I knew of a florist where we used to live that struggled with opening on Sunday, decided not to. They got plenty of business the other six days and honored Sunday as a day of rest. This past year I decided not to spend money on Sunday unless absolutely necessary. I managed to get all my shopping done the other six days and I don't think any of the businesses I shopped at suffered.
ReplyDeleteI work Friday mornings and rarely take time off so I'm avoiding any type of Black Friday sales, no matter what time they start. I like Nitrous' comment to help the homeless; we all need to do more of that I do believe.
betty
Go buy from mt friend Bob at the Plano Weir's store. He is an elderly gentleman who really loves people. Also while you're there, check out the "Attic" (actually the second floor) for tons of fantastic not advertised specials.
ReplyDeleteI am in so much agreement with you on Black Friday now Thanksgiving Evening. We boycotted Best Buy (big hairy deal) and now Wally World? That'll be hard to do. Maybe next year Black Friday will begin the day after Halloween?
Would you believe (sounds like Don Adams) that when I managed a mall jewelry store I had older employees who begged for holiday shifts? They didn't want to be home on the holiday,alone.
ReplyDelete8:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving? That doesn't even give you enough time to digest the turkey and the sweet potato pie.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone is on the couch being a slug instead of showing up at Walmart!
over here in Germany we used to have VERY strict opening hours....for ALL stores. And even today, all normal stores are closed Sundays and all official holidays. If you need some food stuff or such, you can only shop at a tourist store or gas station shop. Most stores close on the other days at 8 pm, 10 pm max. In the "old days" (until the 90's) stores closed on Saturdays at 2 pm (and today still on Christmas and New Years Eve) until Monday morning (usually 8 or 10 am).
ReplyDeleteSo, check this: Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, Christmas Day (25th) stores are closed all day as well as the SECOND Christmas Day (26th!). Three days in a row no shopping!
Since some German states have different holidays, there is often a mass shopping spree in a neighboring state on days where they are open and in your state they're not (with the accompaning traffic jams lol).