A friend of my son's just showed up at the door because his mom is
standing in a line at Best Best which is about open...he didn't want
to wait in line and it is very close to my house.
It's fine..it's almost 5 AM, I never went to bed, so I'm up anyway.
What is the deal with this day.... I mean I get that the
prices have all been slashed, everyone wants to get some good
bargains for their Christmas and all. What is the deal with the
hours? Why 3, 4, 5 AM? Who came up with this and why? It doesn't
seem to stop anyone, ya know getting up so early. Still a hell of
a lot of people do it anyway. Is there some reason or origin that
I am not aware of because I don't go out there for this. I did it
once, NEVER again. Any one know the reason?

It's a marketing ploy that has turned into a nightmare! Manners go out the window today! Not that society had much to work with!

oh I realize that..it's like a zoo, brings out the really ugly in most. The hours? Why the hours? People can become jerks at 7, 8 or 9.
So a marketing ploy gone ugly...hummmm, had no idea was so simple.
I feel so silly now..

The initial idea was ok....get 10 or 20 TV's and sell them at cost. Now the big corporations, i.e. Wal Mart, Target... gouge prices and open way earlier. How you close a place that is open 24 hours is beyond me, but Wally World has their sale merchandise wrapped in thin black plastic. They also got an employee trampled to death because of it in New York last year.

A bit like folks in Britain camping out for over a week on the doorsteps of John Lewis',Debenhams, Selfridges and Harrods for the reduction on bone china, the latest craze in toys for their kids etc............. CRAZZZZZY!!!

You do it there too? I did not know that..

With all the stores opening early. It doesn't make any since. People will hit every store if they have something they want. If they were smart one would open later. And get more customers.

It's un bearable now...I can't imagine more people. I haven't done it for years, and it was so bad I never did it again. I'd rather pay more later.
I did send my kid up with his friend to Best Buy to get a new web cam...
have him do instead of me..lol

The rumor is some retailers run in the red until the Christmas shopping starts, and thats when they get into 'the black', ie start making money. The Friday after Thanksgiving is the one day 'biggest sales' day in the year. In part because many people have the day after Thanksgiving off and can do a whole day of Christmas shopping.
So they amp'd up the hype and now we have a 'black Friday' shopping extravaganza.

Did I participate? Yes on one item that was on sale. But I get off work at 7 am so it was really just picking something up on the way home from work.

OUCH...yeah, it's just like that isn't it

I ventured out on black friday about 15 ago and never went again. Some seem to lose their dignity and become greedy. At a toy store I was reaching for a gift and many hands grabbing ferociously for that same gift. I was disgusted to see how some (NOT ALL) grown ups act during this time. Waiting in long lines with SOME impatient rude people, walking in crowded areas where SOME have no regard for anyone but themselves, all for that sale. I'm sitting here contently sipping on my cup of hot tea thanking goodness I'm here and not there.

Was it bad where you went to?

Originally it was a good idea to help out the common folk
who still work on Fridays get a good deal, and still make
it to work. Now the lines are too long at 3pm on Thanksgiving,
so those ones who have lived thru the cold temps and no sleep
will call in sick...Too funny

I get just as good deals buying my Christmas presents online,
and delivered to my doorstep...

Well I'm glad your here and not out there either..I am content sipping my coffee here too. Good Morning Lets sip together..

Please everyone, don't judge and do forgive me, I went to Wal-Mart.
There were a lot of people there. I chatted with one lady, who let me read her flyer with the sales, and the staff was helpful in pointing me into the right location for the product I was looking for. Several check out lanes were open, and I was out of there in about 20 mins.

me too! Cheers to a quiet peaceful day

Trevor, that is how I have done my Christmas shopping for the past 3 yrs. A lot less stressful and some really good online deals

there is nothing in the world I need that badly that I have to get up at 3 am to buy, and nothing my kids need either for that matter. Unless they are giving away cars for free would get up that early. I won't even leave my house and drive on the roads with all the sleep deprived goofs out there.

No michigan man, not judging you. You're one of the few lucky ones. Yay, you passed by the insanity