Poll: Black Thursday

No. Wait....Hell, no. :) I don't like crowds, I don't like shopping, I REALLY don't like shopping crowds. So I think I will stay home. :)

I cannot possibly support retail establishments who take their employees' holiday away from them in the name of the almighty dollar. My money and I will be staying home.

Now, Cyber Monday, that's a completely different story... :-)

I hate to shop. I do as much of my holiday shopping as possible online. I won't fight crowds no matter how good the sale is.

NO!

holidays are holidays. no one should be working except ER staff, nurses, police, etc.

we have forgotten in this country that a day of no work, no commerce, etc. taken together is quite precious, marks the passage of time and is actually very important.

it is not fair to all those workers, who even at time and a half (which they probably don't even get) are not getting paid anywhere near enough to not be home enjoying the holiday.

I will also not be patronizing ANY of the stores for any of my Christmas list that are open on Thursday.

I don't believe in shopping on Thanksgiving. Not even for a stick of butter.
I have no desire to battle the crowds the next day either.

It seems people have gone shopping crazy.

I like to do my shopping online. Postage is far cheaper than the gas to drive anywhere and I don't even have to leave the house.

I'm not the usual type of gal. I don't really love shopping. It seems more laborious to me than fun, especially during the holidays.

Just my opinion.

I will NOT go out on Thursday. I don't think it's right for the retailers to make their employees work. I bet the OWNERS are at home enjoying a nice dinner while the workers are dealing with hoards of people.
I will wait until Friday.
L.

I can't even describe how disgusted I feel that retailers are turning Thanksgiving Day into a shopping day. Fine if they want to open at midnight, but THURSDAY AFTERNOON! Ridiculous!

I will never participate in any Black Friday madness.

I refuse to be indignant toward companies who are also trying to make it through this tough economy by doing what they have to...make money. It's not the company's fault we have lost our perspective as a society and value stuff over most everything else, including our family time and relationships. We are still a consumer-driven marketplace. As long as people keep running over each other on holidays for the "best deal" they'll open up for them. If enough people refused to shop on these days based on principle, they might take the hint and offer pre-sales, etc. You're more in charge of these trends than you think, so vote with your dollar and spending habits! They'll notice if enough people do.

Retailers are getting way too GREEDY. I remember the days when stores closed at 5 weekdays, open till 9 on Friday, closed Sunday and ALL holidays. I remember when many stores closed on Good Friday from 12 noon to 3 PM. Even most gas stations were closed, maybe one or two on the highways stayed open. Stores were closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas and New Years, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day (the day set aside to honor the American worker).

You know what? We all survived. We had to be more organized, get stuff done but then had a couple of days to sit and relax, spend family time together.

Oh and NO FOOTBALL on holidays.

No I will not shop Thanksgiving weekend, or the day after Christmas or other holidays. The sales in general are not that great, really no better than other sales, except for a few very limited quanty items.

Not me.
I won't be "out there" on Friday either.
Now Small Business Saturday is something I participate in.

I refuse to be jerked around by gimmicks to save a few pennies.
Not worth the aggravation at all, IMO.

And I think this is yet another instance of corporations in 'power' (llarge chain retailers) manipulating their employees AND their customers.

Here's a well kept secret--there a 'sale' of some sort everyday until Dec. 25th...then the "after Christmas" sales begin. Funny how THOSE sales always result in bargains that can't be found before Christmas, huh?

Sorry to sound cynical, but I refuse to be a puppet, I'll shop in December, when & where I choose.

Protesting with the UFCW 21 and Our Walmart.................We are striking with the workers.

So in a sense I will be away from my extended family earlier...but we will Protest/Strike as a Family Family......My kids LOVE this stuff!

it's not just the retailers that are being GREEDY here...it's the shoppers too. which basically encompasses...almost everyone. the whole vibe of "black friday" and now "black thursday" is greed greed greed. gotta get more STUFF for less MONEY. ugh.

i used to be pretty ambivalent about the "early" christmas season, but last night we drove home and saw quite a few businesses with their christmas lights on already, and a TON of houses.

americans need to learn to delay gratification. just because it's fun to do "christmas" doesn't mean we should just do it earlier and earlier, just because we can. i'm going to be sooo sick of all the glitz by the time christmas ACTUALLY gets here...and that's not even touching upon the whole "THANKSgiving" part.

nope. we are enjoying this wonderful week to give thanks and be grateful. and THEN we will start the christmas season. the worse "they" get, the more i am digging in my heels.

I won't be, and I don't do ANY of my Christmas shopping at stores who open on Thanksgiving. Both my MIL and FIL work retail, and it really sucks for them to have to go into work on Thanksgiving day, just so people can start their annual decline into competitive materialism 12 hours earlier.

I will never, ever do this!

I certainly don't put the blame on retailers, if customers are willing to shop then it is win/win. If a person chooses to work retail, then it's a fact of life. My 19 year old daughter is a server at a restaurant and she is working atleast 11 - 7 (she will make $$$$). Our family eats dinner at dinner time so she won't miss out and then she will shop with all the crazy people. She returned everything she bought on BF last year, it was just fun for her.

I work for a laboratory and even though I won't be selling anything, I'm sure there will be biopsy issues and I don't like to make clients/patients wait so I will be working as well.

No way. Never ever will I be a part of that.

I will not be, I picked up the one thing I was going to get thursday , yesterday with a GREAT coupon and ended up being only a dollar more.

Not me! I think it is awful that they are opening on Thanksgiving! I have always avoided going anywhere on major holidays including movie theaters. I dont think stores have to be open. I realize that not everything can shut down like hospitals etc, but I dont think un-needed things should be open ie. stores, movie theaters etc.

Not I. I just finished my christmas shopping and it was wonderful and relaxing: drinking a glass of port with hubby in at home, in front the the computer. I love Amazon.com.

I am very much against shopping at stores that make their employees work on Thanksgiving. Walmart has been pushing it earlier and earlier every year. Other stores are following suit. In my opinion, it's ridiculous and unfair. If they're open on Thursday, they won't be getting my business at any time for the holidays. I will shop local or shop online at OTHER stores.

I think this will eventually evolve till sales begin right after Halloween (or at least Election Day).
I think online shopping will make a difference in holiday shopping, too.
Stores need a longer holiday sales period.
Shoppers could really use it too - to spread the spending out so they are not hit with post holiday debt/bills.
I've never been out shopping on Black Friday and I'll be too stuffed on Thursday (and washing dishes and putting away leftovers, etc).
Mobs of shoppers and crazy parking lots are not worth dealing with.

Not me - it's illegal here to open on Thanksgiving and I am very happy about that. I feel bad for the employees who have to work at midnight though. I used to do Black Friday when my oldest was very young because we lived with my parents. I could go at 6 while they were all asleep, do 2 hours of shopping, get to work at 9, and there would be nothing to do so I'd wrap presents. They'd let us out at 1, pay us for the day, and I'd stop at a couple more places on the way home and be totally done. But now? I spend the day at home, hanging Christmas lights.

Nope. Cold day in hell, when pigs fly, etc. I don't like crowds. I can't imagine participating in Black ANYday.

Nay, I will watch that circus act on TV!

I wish we could just go back to Black Friday starting on Friday...like at 5am. I would hate to be one of the employees that has to report on Thursday at 8pm.

The Thanksgiving holiday is getting shorter and shorter...people in my neighborhood already have their Christmas lights and trees up! I also got my first Christmas Card in the mail last week! Seriously!

We don't decorate until mid-December! And, I mail my Christmas cards around Dec. 5.

Not so much. I do not plan on losing sleep over a small bargain. I know some people (I guess) enjoy it. My perspective on it is that it treats customers a bit like cattle,making them line up and then the *stampede* for a phony event which wouldn't have been considered in more decent times. I disagree with asking employees to give up their Thanksgiving holidays to facilitate this nonsense. If the stores *cared* about the customers and their employees, they would have the decency to wait until 6 a.m. Friday morning.

But people buy into this, out of financial desperation or just the excitement of shopping, so the phenomenon perpetuates.
And yes, I realize that some employees do not mind making some extra money, but per the petition going round asking Target to not participate in black Thursday, it's obvious that many of them are not happy about being scheduled to do so.

And Kudos to Walmart employees for striking on Black Friday. They have my full support. They perpetuate a culture of poverty; what their full-time employees earn keeps them below poverty level. Their history of human rights and labor violations is longstanding:

http://www.globalexchange.org/corporateHRviolators

I'm so glad most of you will be staying away from the stores! I'll be out shopping with my daughter, mom and sister. It's the one time of the year we can get away without any of the boys/mean, shop, chat and just enjoy each other. It's more about being together than shopping though.

Around here, sales start at around 10pm Thursday night. Grandma is babysitting and hubby and I will be getting our Christmas shopping taken care of (Or at least some of it). We are not going right at 10 though. I think we will probably head down there at midnight to avoid the madness and just pick through what's left.

I guess Cabelas is having a thing this year where the first 600 people through the door starting at 5am automatically get something (Last year they were giving away really nice guns and some gift cards). Hubby is trying to convince me to go with him for that - I'm trying to find a nice way to say "No way in hell will I be sitting out in the cold for hours for the possibility of getting something that I'm just going to give to you anyway since I don't like anything at Cabellas". Lol

Not me! My time and sanity is worth more than the $50 bucks I *might* save. I did it years ago when the kids were little and HAD to have a DS. I'm a bargain hunter and got some stupid free game or something with my 4am purchase. Looking back on it, it's ridiculous that I did that! No thanks, I'll pass. There is nothing I need that bad!

No no no - and I'm very annoyed to hear one of my radio stations already playing ONLY Christmas music, and they've already been at it at least a week.

Some of my neighbors have up their lights too. :(

I plan to vote with my dollars, i.e., not support this madness.

No. I never have and never will. I will not go to any mall between now and mid-January, either. I'll buy holiday presents either from locally-owned stores or online.

Nope. I did Black Friday shopping once three years ago. I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about. I learned, it's just not for me.

As a side note. The date of Thanksgiving was chosen during the Depression in an attempt to lengthen the shopping time before Christmas (before FDR, it was celebrated on the 30th). Retailers thought the extra shopping time would strengthen the economy. I wonder what retailers back then would have thought of all the madness surrounding Black Friday.

I won't be out Thursday, Friday or anytime at all this weekend.
It's a big tease, the "sales" are limited, lame and not really the kind of gifts I enjoy giving anyway.

two of my friends and myself are going out around 9 pm thanksgiving evening. we ahve gone out earlier and earlier every year. we go for the fun....we love standing in the lines listening to people complain and grumble. i have most of my shopping done so if i don't get what i was looking for oh well.....

I might do some shopping on Thursday. The Meijer out here is open pretty much all day on Thursday, and it's not very crowded. I will probably swing by before we leave for Grandma's house.

And then after we put the kids to bed, I might hit the Target and Walmart if they don't look too crazy. I don't hear too many horror stories about pushing and shoving out here in the suburbs. I figure it will be nice to shop without my kids and burn off some of those Thanksgiving calories. I'll probably abstain from Black Friday though.

NOT ME!!! Mostly cause I'm so BROKE this year

Not me thurs or fri. We will enjoy thanksgiving day with in laws ,sleep in on Friday and start putting up the tree and decorating.There are not any deals out there worth my trouble. Now I do like the cyber Friday on computer in the comfort of my home and that is IF there is an item that I know will be on sale that day.

I went out ONCE while visiting my mil in Delaware and NEVER again...

Not me. I do almost all of my shopping online. I always get great deals and don't even have to get out of my p.j.'s or leave my house :)

I'm a Cyber Monday Chick.

My favorite SIL, though, is FLYING TO THE UNITED STATES (she lives across the pond), not for thanksgiving, but for Black Friday/Thursday with her sisters/mom. They love it more than christmas morning. She's spending more on airfare than she'll save, but it's more the experience and less the savings. It's her favorite part of the holiday. She and her sisters/mom could invade Normandy.

I never 'got' black friday until I met her. She has sooooo much FUN. I can get behind that.

I've always been either an emergency worker, restaurant worker, or SAHM... So other people working holidays doesn't phase me much, becuase I always have. You trade for the ones off that are important to you. That said... I have soooo much respect for those who do NOT make their employees work (non emergency, non parent) holidays, that I DO actually spend my money at those places hand over fist. Whenever a sign is up that a company will be closed for xyz holidays, I actively support and cheer them on. Both verbally, and with my pocketbook.

Nope.

Kind of funny really, at least to a recovered black Friday addict. Ever since they have tried gaming it to make more money it just isn't fun anymore.

I think they don't get it was the deal of the century, not the timing, that made people come. Now I can go online and get the same deal...yawn.

Funny, most Moms said no. I think the big sales are for people that don't have to drag their kids around. I couldn't even imagine! I've been slowly shopping the last 4 months and we are almost done. Most of the things I bought online, sales, free shipping, not shopping with kids... much easier for us.

Well it depends how things are going at the inlaws, they have a WalMart close by..lol Actually I think they should not do that, people should be with thier families. BUT if I need an escape I might have to go.

No way! Never have, never will.

I NEVER participate because 1. I hate shopping, and 2. I worked in that environment for years and promised that I would never be in a shopping atmosphere on that day again, if I didn't have to be.

I think that it's pretty uncool to take that time away from employees. That industry is so fast-paced and doesn't really allow for much paid time off; the employees come to look forward to having some paid time off.

I do not do Black Friday, or Thanksgiving weekend shopping. Ever. With that said, many of the things on my niece's and nephew's list on steeply discounted. We will (insanely) be venturing out on Thursday to Toys R Us. Purely financial, because we will get all their gifts for very cheap.

I don't even agree with opening on Thanksgiving, but this year I'm begrudgingly accepting it. We are on a super tight budget, and we feel like it's important to get the discount. It helps that we are meeting for lunch with family this year, because many have to leave later to travel. I wouldn't go, if it were cutting into family time.

ETA: In defiance of some blanket statements, we are NOT greedy. How ridiculous!!

My husband was thinking of going out to Walmart, but after our son is in bed and I am relaxing from making our feast. It is our son's birthday this year and we will be doing special things with him, and I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the 3 of us. Presents and pumpkin pie after dinner, and then off to be for my 2 year old, so my husband will not be missing out on any family time.

I might try it, depending on how tired I am from dinner.

I have been trying to figure that out.

I mean, I don't have a lot of money to spend anyway... but it's not like I'm going to have anymore to spend when everything is full price either...

I don't know. I wen't once with my ex-husband, and I hate the whole experience. I absolutely HATED it, and I don't know if he was part of the problem or if it was just all of the people. I hate pushing, shoving, hot sweaty crowds, early mornings.... Even if it's not early morning, I still hate the rest of the stuff about it.

I'm not sure. How do you find out what the deals are before hand? Is that possible? Maybe if I knew what I was torturing myself for, I might be willing to try it out.

I will definitely not be out in that "Lord of the Flies" meets the almighty dollar battlefield.
Have a little compassion for those poor workers. Sure, they might be making more during those hours, but in the long run, is this the kind of world we want to create?
I also have tried to shop less and less online because the workers pulling and packing those products are often treated poorly, not to mention all the packaging waste that accumulates.
Sorry to rain on the parade, but what's wrong with shopping locally or giving handmade gifts OR giving a gift in someone's name to a charity that supports those who truly need help?
Merry Christmas.

Nope. I'll be home in my nice warm bed. I just don't understand all the craziness with so much online shopping to be done. I have no desire to fight the crowds for "deals" which will be there (for the most part) right up through Christmas.

I will not be out shopping. I feel Thanksgiving should be a day of thanks, not a day to be out in search of more!

I'm a Friday morning girl.

No way! I have gone out on Friday before, not too many times though. Went with friends or family, more for the social event really!
I would never go on Thursday though. We have dinner at my house with lots of family and it's a late night. Wouldn't want to leave the fun to shop!
As for Christmas music/lights/shopping...not until the day after Thanksgiving. I enjoy Christmas shopping, which is shopping in the Christmas season!! People who say they Christmas shop before then are really just shopping and I don't see the point or the enjoyment.

Absolutely not. I find it appalling.

I tried Black Thursday last year and went to Wal-Mart and it was horrible. It was literally impossible to get through the store. I got disgusted and went home.

That being said, as more stores open up earlier, I can go out early Friday and not have near the crowds to deal with....