Jump to content

Are you for or against Thursday/Thanksgiving store openings?


rwking75

Recommended Posts

I am against it.  I have worked retail for years....I personally think that the EARLIEST stores should open up is midnight. Even with a midnight opening, most retail stores management and employees would have to be there around 10PM...maybe 9PM to change signs or something.  This year with the openings being so early, I REFUSE to shoo my friends and family out early just so I can go shopping.  I think that's terribly rude.  BF shopping now is more about just hanging out with my best friend than shopping.  So we will probably head out around 8 or 9.  Whatever is there is there.  I'm  not going to ruin my holiday for it.  And with the earlier opening times, it makes me want to spend less because now I am starting to see that I can just sit at home and order online.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont' like it. It cuts what should be a family holiday short. Even if i don't go everyone else goes so what's the point of not going. It also makes it drag on. Sometimes we have to wait between stores because of the different opening times.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have Thanksgiving dinner at our house and with such little family still alive I won't be going out that evening. I'd much rather spend the time with family because you don't know if they'll be around for the next. Now with that being said if they have to leave early ;) then all bets are off! rofl

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Absolutely against it.  Thanksgiving is the ONE holiday in our country that is non-sectarian,  focused entirely on being grateful for what you have.   It is, to me, the purest holiday... Christmas without the greed.  

 

However, American enterprise has managed to find a way to inject the greed into this one day of the year designed for appreciating what one already has, by forcing us to go out to get MORE.  

 

I vote with my wallet  and stay home.  And, I sympathize with both the store employees who have no choice, and the shoppers with budgets so tight they cannot afford to take this stand. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The earlier they keep moving opening times on Thursday, the less likely it becomes that people will go out on Friday. People will go out for 4-6 hours on Thursday and be done instead of all day Friday like it used to be.

 This is exactly why year after year Black friday seems to be loosing the magic that it once held for me, how far are these stores going to take it? Pretty soon it wont be black friday anymore but black Wednesday or thursday...seriously... :no:

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 This is exactly why year after year Black friday seems to be loosing the magic that it once held for me, how far are these stores going to take it? Pretty soon it wont be black friday anymore but black Wednesday or thursday...seriously... :no:

 

It already is Black Thursday,  So few stores are waiting until Friday it can hardly be called Black Friday anymore.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would not say we are sheep following.  Most people would obviously prefer that the sales NOT start on Thanksgiving - however I will maintain my same statement - many people cannot afford to not shop when the sales are offered.  If the best price on the Xbox One is going to be during the Thanksgiving sale then I need to be out at that sale buying that Xbox One.  Because the $50 I save will be $50 more in my budget to buy my kids another gift they would like.  The more I save the more I can get what my kids want for Christmas.

 

I spend my whole year telling my kids to either work and earn money for what they want or to wait until Christmas.  Christmas is the time I will buy them what they want pretty much unconditionally (within my budget).  I need those sales to buy the gifts I want to buy them.  It is unfortunate but necessary for many, many people - and stores KNOW it.  That is not sheep mentality - that is just necessity.

 

Also I would complain more if restaurants or movie theaters were closed on Thanksgiving.  But they are not - people still eat out and employees there need to cook for them and wait on them.  People still go to movies and people still have to sell them tickets, make their popcorn, start the movies and clean the theaters.  I guess those employees don't need to be home with their families - but retail employees do?  Seems kinda the same thing to me.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I strongly dislike the Thursday store openings! Thanksgiving Day should be about enjoying family gatherings, football and food. I loved the fun of going out early in the a.m. Friday morning after an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day to shop for all the deals. We would get in lines, do our shopping and then have brunch. Now with so much on Thursday, a lot of the fun is gone plus there are twice the people crowding in the stores at the earlier times. It doesn't mean better sales as a lot pick it up only to ditch it at the register or around the store. So many of the stores have multiple sales all through the night which I don't like either because we live about 40 minutes away from where we shop so it is hard to hang around all through the night for all the different hours of the sales. With the old way, all on Friday, most of the sales would be at 5 a.m. with a few late ones at 10 a.m. which was perfect. 

I agree with you 100%. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for what we have and the people we have to share it with. Making employees work on Thanksgiving so stores can make some extra money is just not right. I used to shop early Friday morning as well, now it just isn't the same for me. Rather do all my shopping online like Cyber Monday.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Against it.

 

I don't like the whole being open on Thanksgiving day thing. With so many stores offering up things online early now and me not needing to get any of the crazy door busters last year, it was the first one that I did not go out super early on a Friday for. I kind of liked it. That and also using some of the cash back websites to save even more was a plus.

 

I mean even the name "Black Friday" just call it the "Thanksgiving Week Feast of Savings" or something. And how about instead of "Door Busters" they could be "Server Crashing" deals?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No way. The clerks are forced to work instead of being with family. Family are forced to give up that quality time to rush to stores luring them with not-so-great deals on merchandise that is sheer commercialism, lacking true value. Black Friday is enough insanity, don't damper a day of gratitude with that nonsense.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't mind the opening at 10 p.m. on Thursday.  it's just moving further and further up.  I actually do most of my shopping online.

 

But for all those who complain about the stores (i.e. Walmart) making low income people work on Thanksgiving, I'd like to point out that this year my son has a different job than walmart.  He now works at the Hard Rock Casino - and he works the 3-11 shift on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day.  While he will get paid more per hour - which will help with the student loan debt - it's ridiculous that a casino is open on Christmas Day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No one is forced to shop on Thanksgiving.  It's a choice.  Your family and friends won't actually die if they don't receive that pile of expensive toys under the tree Christmas morning.  In fact, a lean Christmas might even build some character for kids these days....something this generation (and the last) sorely needs in my opinion. 

 

And employees are "forced to work" just about every other day of the year as well.  I don't hear people complaining about being forced to work the third Tuesday of June every year.  You want a paycheck?  You gotta show up to work when you're scheduled.  I'm pretty sure all jobs these days offer vacation days.  If you want the day off, use a vacation day.  If you don't have the seniority to do so, believe me, I know it sucks, but you either find a new job or work it and climb that seniority ladder as best you can.  I had to work my share of holidays before I was able to get into salaried positions doing data crunching.  And even still, I've had to cancel a vacation here and there due to the demands of work.  And I can't remember ever having a vacation in the last 10 years that I didn't have to log in remotely at least a couple days to take care of business.

 

In most things, this included, I fall back on a free market preference.  If the store wants to be open, fine.  If the employees don't want to work for the company because they're open on Thanksgiving, then that's OK too - they can quit.  There are many employees who rely on that holiday pay to pay for things that are more important than presents.  If the customer doesn't want to shop on Thanksgiving, then they can choose not to.  But let's be perfectly honest here.  The stores are only open because the people line up to spend their money.  If people stayed home, the stores wouldn't bother being open.  It costs a lot of money to pay all those wages and the electricity and everything else for a store to be open and if the revenue wasn't there to support it, then the store wouldn't be open.  Blaming the stores is misdirected.  If you want to blame anyone, blame the throngs of people who are all too willing to bail on their "precious" family time and fight the mobs for "deals".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have actually been thinking a lot about this. I dont mind going out on thanksgiving day. Part of the tradition of our family is that all the ladies go shopping together on Black friday anyway, so its not like it eats into our "family time." I do think its disrespectful of the companies to expect their employees to work over the holiday, though. I dont think it will stop me from going out, but at this point it depends on the deals. If they arent amazing ill be suggesting we stay home.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am against it. Not only is it taking families away from each other on Thanksgiving but it's really no longer, "Black Friday." Gone is the thrill of staying up to go out at 3 or 4am to catch those must have deals. It's so weird to me how Black Friday is really a Thanksgiving Day sale :no:

 

BTW, I will be shopping online. Also, I'll be working this Thanksgiving but I am a RN.

Edited by buttaflye
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still against it.  I know other places are open on Thanksgiving and other holidays but I feel some of the specialness of BF is now gone and won't be back.  In the age of electronics, quite a few people are opting to shop on line.  I have ordered everything I needed so I will not go out.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't like it. I like to enjoy the holiday without either rushing off early or feeling like I have to choose getting a good deal over spending the evening eating, visiting, and playing games with friends and family. We don't get together to do that very often because of our busy lives, but I can/have to shop all the time. I really don't want to shop on holidays too. So this year, since what I want to get is available at Game Stop, I'm shopping there, since they start at midnight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm for it but they need to make it worth the time put in to shop, 5 or 10 dollars off an item its not worth it, start saving $100 and upwards per item yep don't matter when, that's when a sale is worth it.  Or some that I've seen go way and above that and 50% off higher end items most definitely 2 am on thanksgiving ok I'm game for that type of saving.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Totally against it. Thanksgiving is family time and a day to be thankful not to rush dinner and then push family and friends out the door. There was nothing wrong with it starting around 5 a on Friday (hence the name Black Friday....not Gray Thursday) as the saying goes if it's not broken don't fix it! Retailers have comment that it's what customers want but I personally don't know anyone who likes it and I know a lot who refuse to shop it. I am getting there. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am for it but as I live in Mass it doesn't matter unless I want to drive an hour or two to NH.  it is confusing here because towns do get to decide when stores can open and if you want to go out after midnight have to check the hours. I also feel family time can be anytime also. I find it funny that most people say they are against it but are shopping anyway. LoL :Happy Holidays to all

Edited by pattiv
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I personally don't care...Thanksgiving isn't a big family holiday for us but e still won't go shopping. It sucks for the retail workers but it comes with the job. It should be time spent with family but these places are businesses. Other things were open on Thanksgiving before retail was. There is money to be made somehow.

 

There is nothing we can do to stop this train now that stores have got a taste of Thanksgiving shopping. We are at that transition point like when most stores were open on Sunday but some weren't. Same goes for Thanksgiving. Just as pretty much every retail store is open Sunday nowadays, the same will happen to Thanksgiving (save for some stores with specified policies like Costco). Thanksgiving will turn into a watered down holiday that feels like any other weekend day with extended sales.

 

What I didn't like this year is all these "BF Preview sales" or "Early Access BF sale" etc over the top nonsense along with different start times. What a mess. BF isn't special any more, they have turned it into some generic gimmick where they can create "additional" sales to give the illusion you are saving tons of money around Thanksgiving.

 

I remember when leaked BF ads were a huge deal and you really felt like you got a scoop (maybe done on purpose? Who knows) and now companies email you them directly and now everyone is a BF shopper.

 

Bleh, I becomes less interested in the sales every year. The only thing I want this year is the Old Navy 50% off everything sale which I will buy online.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 I think its crap. The sales ads arent that fantastic this year. I usually have 6-10 items a store we want, but this time, only 1 or 2. Add on ridiculous times. meh.

 

Truth be told, last night at 4pm, there was a line at best buy. I asked what they were waiting for .. the 50' tv. I laughed and said, Id be at walmart for the same for 18 bucks more and not miss dinner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...