Blackthorn

I just switched on CNBC and they showed a video clip of a shopping mall in Alabama that was opening at 5:30am this morning. There were hundreds of people lined up at the door like a herd of mindless sheep. As the guard unlocked the door they practically stampeeded into the place. There were three women who were knocked down just inside the door. It was ridiculous. They were four and five across fighting to get in the damn door. It was like there was a fire outside and they were trying to get inside to get away from it.

Why in the world would anyone get up that early the morning after T-Day to go shopping if the crowds are going to be that bad? What is it that you are hoping to get that is so important that you have to knock someone else down in a stampeede to get into the mall at 5:30am in the morning?

Heading off to scamazon.com to do my shopping -- it's probably just as crowded there.

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inharmony

NOT ME! Any shopping I do today will definitely be online

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The Prophet

. . . like a herd of mindless sheep - good call kjroh.

Hate that herd mentality. I think it is contagious.

I'll be home, celebrating Thanksgiving with the people and things I am really thankful for - the wife all weekend, and the kids and grandkids on Sunday.

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f6twister

I stay home. There is absolutely no store visiting on this day unless I need a necessity like TP.

I remember past years where people were actually injured bad enough trying to get into a store that they required a trip to the hospital. Is 40% off on a Spongebob doll worth a trip to the ER?

These people are nuts!!!

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radioguy

i'll be going out later. i love to be out at the malls around this time year. it gets me in the holiday spirit when i hear the music and the crowds and see all the decorations in the store. it's a great time of year.

Shirtninja

The mall I work at opened at 8am and doesnt close until 10pm tonight, but I know a lot of the major department stores are opening at 5-6am and will probably be open until midnight. I hate the mall...

After those couple of beers and all that food I hate there is no way I could wake up at 5am to join those idiots standing in line waiting for the doors to open.

Jesus Pimp

I live in PA and went out around 9 to go to Ikea. I was surprised to not see many people out shopping at the nearby super shopping mall. I'm glad I don't work retail though.

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Zeraph

Crazy people. The herd mentality is crazy, what are they thinking when they trample people?

Manic_Skafe

It's disgusting the lengths people will go to just to have something and in most cases they're going for things they don't even need.....it's just disgusting.

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omega2K4

Capitalism at its finest. OH SHIT, LOOK I CAN SAVE A WHOLE $1.50 OFF A USELESS PIECE OF SHIT I'LL NEVER USE. Its stupid.

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bermuDa

I'll pass on immersing myself in the cesspool of consumerism, i'm staying inside where it's safe today.

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joeyaz

Nope I thought about it for a minute but then realized I didn't really need any of this stuff. I was considering going later today to pickup a couple things but I really don't like the frantic crowds that tend to be out today.

MSD

I tried to save $92 on a new dishwasher. Turns out that sears finally figured out my dad died (in 2002, it took them long enough ) and cancelled the joint account he had with my mom. Too bad, the saleswoman was realyl nice and did everything she could to allow me to use my mom's card. I guess another few months wihtout a dishwasher on top of the 5 we've gone isn't that bad.

keyshawn

nuts ? no.

Dumbass ? yeah.

I got up @ five with my sis [who planned it, etc.] to go to best buy.....She waited in line while I went and got dunkin' donuts [on her dime, not mine ]

Chain smokers and people from a lower socio-economic class seemed actually to prevail a majority of the crowd. [Both my sis and I were getting a bit irated cause they were so many smokers around us.]

BB had a good amount of security, making sure people don't cut in line, etc.
We walked in, she got her dvds whatever; i noticed chapelles show was 10 bucks, and figured its worth that much to me.
10 Mins later, off to circuit city [literally on the other side of the freeway] and I got one of those 512MB sd cards for $30 [that might be a purchase I regret later, who knows]
and chatted to a few of my school buddies who work there. [the CC just open recently, many of the lame shoppers must not know about it yet, not many people at all]
and yeah, thats about it.

I had to work tonight @ the movie theater [which is in a huge shopping plaza, near CC] and gave my shift to another kid - no way i want to deal with the masses of ignorant people anymore than I had to.

/meh

Samalie

For us Canadians, Black Friday isn't today - its the day after Christmas, also known as Boxing Day.

I had my arm broken about 5 years ago going into Futureshop at the doorcrash by someone who shoulder-checked me into the doorframe to get past me and buy shit he didn't need.

I guess its what I get for trying to help my father-in-law score FREE computer RAM, but still. I still to this day wish I knew who that fucker was. I'd still to this day like him to experience a broken arm while 500 people rush past you, knocking into you, etc - regardless of the guy screaming in agony.

World's King

I was out there at 5:30am.


It was pretty fun. I just watched from the sidelines. I only needed one thing. After that I sat back and drank my coffee.

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JJRousseau

Amen. Then six months from now it will fill a garbage dump somewhere.

ARTelevision

I like to get out and experience it for what it is. We went out into the midst of it twice today - just a bit, not a whole lot...a taste of it. I see my own culture as a tourist. And from an anthropological perspective it has as much value as any other more exotic culture - and it is as interesting to me as any other, as well.

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quadro2000

I went to the mall at about 10 AM. It actually wasn't bad, except for Best Buy. The line was moving rapidly, but there were so many people on line that it took me a full EIGHTY MINUTES to get to the register.

The sad thing is that the item I purchased wasn't even on sale. I just wanted to buy it and get it over with. I figured the line would be about 30 minutes, which was fine with me...and the after 30 minutes, I had already invested too much time to leave...

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raeanna74

Yeah I don't understand the thinking myself either. I mean you DO have a whole month to get your Christmas shopping done and you had this whole past year if you plan ahead really. I have 2 presents already and I'm making a third. I make half of my presents it makes it more personal, thoughtful, and I'm not at the mercy of commericalism. Even if I were to buy everything which I HAVE done I cannot imagine the urgency to be there so early in the day and go through such crowding. I don't enjoy crowds that much unless I'm able to be somewhat removed and people watch. Hubby and I went this evening to Menards for a bathroom fan for our house. We got one thing, shopped the wood furnaces and fireplaces, and left. Didn't face big crowds, had 2 people in line in front of us, and came home content. Content - I think that's the key word here. Are these people content with what they have and can find? I think that kind of urgency and blatent greed is so completely opposite to Thanksgiving. How can people be all "thankful" one day and the next heartlessly greedy?? It's unfathomable.

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shortynickel

my wife and her mother were at the mall at 5:15ish and they had to wait like 5 mins outside...they were there for kbtoys opening at 530...she drove by wal-mart and said that half of the parking lot was filled up almost an hour ahead of time...i have been there many times at 6 am but wont be one of those crazys that will do anything for a "good" deal

oh and she was out til 2 or 3, got a hella lot of shopping done from what i hear

Baldylocks2

I got $200 worth of stuff that I needed/wanted for $20 and about 90 minutes of work this morning (about 9am, the only time I stood in line was two years ago to pick up a cheak graphics card).

Definitely worth it in my case.

Halx

I went to the mall to get my watch repaired... I just happened to stumble on a parking spot second closest to the main entrance. Imagine that. So, while I was waiting for the watch, I went to the EB games store and found 3 pretty good PS2 games for $20. Well.. that was my deal.

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warrrreagl

God, what a bunch of wet blankets! The wife and I were out there in it all day yesterday, and we had a blast. It was crowded, noisy, and hectic. So, where's the downside of the argument?

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mosha

i was out there at 530 picking up a wireless route/nic card for $100 off. then hit EBgames and saved another bundle. was worth it to me and didnt really have to deal with too many crowds. Later went to JCPenny and it was CRAZY, at least 50 people at every register waiting to check out, no lie. walked in, turned around, went home

merkerguitars

I didn't do the whole sit in front of the store early thing. Around my area people will get in line 3 hours early, screw that I rather sleep in my nice warm bed than sit on in the Minnesota cold, or if I wanted to compensate for lost mail in rebates I could just work a few hours. I used to do it in the past but not anymore. Bought some computer parts though, from the local computer shop that I do alot of business, best prices without dicking around with mail in rebates, plus better customer service than BB

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la petite moi

At 4h30- 11h00am, I was working...SO BUSY.

lpj8

I went out around 7:30am till 7:00pm with my wife. I picked up a wireless router/network card kit for $20, a couple of video games for $10 each, the seinfeld DVD's for $27 each, and few cds. I definately saved some money, but I wouldn't have gone if my wife didnt sort of force me to.
Of all the places I went, the worse was Cicuit City/Best Buy. The lines were incredibly long, but I happened to luck out because I know someone who works at both stores. I have to admit that getting all the deals I got was sort of a rush. I actually enjoyed it before 11:00am, but after that, it started to suck.

By the way, on my way home from my thanksgiving meal, I drove past Best Buy around 11:30 PM, and there were about 10 people already in line. I guess people really wanted their $200 PC, and $500 laptops.

pcwidow

No way was I going out at 5:30--I'm not even awake then. Went in the afternoon and
the only thing I really missed was a purse I wanted that was $30 intead of $95.
Oh, well..

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Blackthorn

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a grumpy old man but I'm no wet blanket.

I did make my way into a shopping mall at about 6 --- PM ---. That was well after the morning coffee had long since passed. Oh yeah... a couple of Newcastle's had passed as well but I digress. I went into the mall to kill about an hour before seeing the movie National Treasure. I did get a couple of Christmas items so it was productive. The crowd around that time wasn't too bad and neither was the traffic.

5:30am to get an $18 dvd player -- no way. Sleep is much more important to me but again I'm a grumpy old man

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