Do you plan on going out on Thanksgiving for shopping?

[JanaDee]

Yes! DH and I have a tradition where he goes out and gets the deals after we put the kids to bed on Thanksgiving night. He calls me and we stay on the phone and talk about what he finds. It's fun!

It must be a fairly recent tradition, since it has only been the last few years stores have started opening on Thanksgiving.

 

[Jaime4004]

Yes! DH and I have a tradition where he goes out and gets the deals after we put the kids to bed on Thanksgiving night. He calls me and we stay on the phone and talk about what he finds. It's fun!

Probably not, because I hate shopping, not because it's thanksgiving. But if i were to do shop on thanksgiving, this would be the way. I usually work in the morning, we go to family's house later afternoon/dinner time. We're home by 7-8pm. Most people are not working all day and night on Thanksgiving, you work in the holidays around your work schedule, not a big deal to me. In DH's family we are getting together the weekend before for Thanksgiving because that's when everyone can. The actual date should not a big deal...

 

[wenrob]

Probably not, because I hate shopping, not because it's thanksgiving. But if i were to do shop on thanksgiving, this would be the way. I usually work in the morning, we go to family's house later afternoon/dinner time. We're home by 7-8pm. Most people are not working all day and night on Thanksgiving, you work in the holidays around your work schedule, not a big deal to me. In DH's family we are getting together the weekend before for Thanksgiving because that's when everyone can. The actual date should not a big deal...

And this is the point I think people are missing. If it's all about being together as a family then why does it have to be the actual date? Is it less meaningful somehow if you celebrate on Wednesday or Friday or the week before? As I mentioned, I was born and raised in Las Vegas, there is no such thing as holidays off. My Dad was a Chef and on the very, very rare occasion he got a holiday off someone ALWAYS called in sick. My parents were also divorced so you had to split holidays so again, you chose a day. It was always about the celebration, being with family, not the date.

For the record, my husband makes power and works most holidays so everybody can cook their meals and watch their football games. And yep, shopping while he's working is fun!

 

[jsmla]

And this is the point I think people are missing. If it's all about being together as a family then why does it have to be the actual date? Is it less meaningful somehow if you celebrate on Wednesday or Friday or the week before? As I mentioned, I was born and raised in Las Vegas, there is no such thing as holidays off. My Dad was a Chef and on the very, very rare occasion he got a holiday off someone ALWAYS called in sick. My parents were also divorced so you had to split holidays so again, you chose a day. It was always about the celebration, being with family, not the date.

For the record, my husband makes power and works most holidays so everybody can cook their meals and watch their football games. And yep, shopping while he's working is fun!

This is becoming our new reality too. DS is married and splitting holidays between us and his in-laws, DD is a medical resident out of state and never gets a holiday day off. My parents' health won't allow them to travel. Thanksgiving will be just DH, me and my parents and we'll celebrate Christmas on 12/29 this year. It's not ideal but at least we'll be together!

 

[runsandjumps]

I don't plan on going shopping those days mostly because I hate crowds. However, I really liked a few points others made. Restaurants, airlines, hotels.... Why are people not complaining on their behalf. Oh and online shopping? Someone needs to be behind those orders too. I won't even be celebrating Thanksgiving on the actual day as my mom works for a hospital and has to work those days. No deal is worth waiting in the freezing cold for and risking a fight or goodness knows what else... The consumerism is astounding. I love shopping but I don't buy into the hype of the holidays.

 

[MillauFr]

Does anyone else see the irony of complaining on a Disney themed board about people working on a holiday? Disney has been making people work on holidays since the park opened in 1955. Does anyone really think they should close the park on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

 

[aprilchem]

It must be a fairly recent tradition, since it has only been the last few years stores have started opening on Thanksgiving.

Some stores in my area have been open on Thanksgiving for at least the last 8 years; we've done it every year since we had my son, who just turned 9 this year.

 

[niffer5150]

i won't be go out. over the last few years i keep seeing the "hot" items back in stock in a week, at the same sale price, but i don't have to worry about anyone trampling me.

 

[nugov2]

Does anyone else see the irony of complaining on a Disney themed board about people working on a holiday? Disney has been making people work on holidays since the park opened in 1955. Does anyone really think they should close the park on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

No, they do not. The same people who complain every year about stores be open rarely acknowledge the double standards that exist on this holiday b/c it isn't the "in" thing to complain about that. Just like the anti Sea World movement but not Epcot or AK. Again, if you are against it across the board(only necessary places open/no animals in captivity) I respect your stance, but when you complain about one and do something or support something almost identical it is hard to take your argument/view seriously.

 

[AquaDame]

Does anyone else see the irony of complaining on a Disney themed board about people working on a holiday? Disney has been making people work on holidays since the park opened in 1955. Does anyone really think they should close the park on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Sure - if they didn't it would be hypocritical. (I thought Disneyland originally did NOT run 7days a week 365 days a year?). Tons of people aren't Christian so the holiday season doesn't matter at all, and lots of people don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Its held in October if you're Canadian. I celebrate both and have worked both (Starbucks & Apple) and I still don't see what the big deal is - I try to love my family and be thankful no matter the day. Very few can honestly say they have used NO services on any holiday, and I am sorry but gas, grocery stores etc count. There will always be those who MUST be on the clock, nurses, police, etc, so I don't hold retailers to some other plane of existence. I wish those who want to stay home could, but I'm not in charge.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Certain services have to be available 24/7. Fire, police and rescue, military, hospitals etc. Those are necessities.

No one needs a flatscreen TV, or the latest toy. Furthermore, while I have had to work holidays, I am extremely well compensated for doing so. The people manning the stores won't be, for the most part.

Comparing necessary services to holiday shopping is silly.

 

[luvsJack]

No, I personally wouldn't.
1. I wouldn't need/want anything after just doing major shopping a month earlier
2. Our family celebrates Christmas different than Thanksgiving. Christmas we host an open house everyone comes style event and people are at our house until later in the evening. Thanksgiving has always been a set time sit down meal early in the afternoon with everyone leaving by early evening so shopping doesn't change my family time at all. I would never cut out family time to get a deal, but stores opening at 5 on Thanksgiving doesn't change that. If you are blowing off your family to shop, then you need to check your priorities, but I just think the Thanksgiving holiday is one celebrated earlier in the day allowing people the time to shop without changing that. I think that stores being open on Christmas day will never be popular.

Nobody is being forced to work on Thanksgiving. They took a job that doing it is a known part of the job. Just like people who work Sat/Sun(something I cannot imagine my dh having to do since that is when we spend family time) know when they take certain jobs. Some people don't have an option and it is the only job available, but lots of people hold jobs that are not ideal for their life(and it isn't just one day out of the year), but they need them so they have to sacrifice wants for needs. Then others enjoy working those days b/c it isn't a big deal to them.

If you are against everything being open besides emergency places(hospitals, firehouses, police stations) then fine more power to you, but if you stop at the gas station or are ok with people taking holidays then what is the difference. Nobody has to vacation on Holidays, but they choose to(and it isn't just to be with extended family). Why are hotel staff, park employees, airlines, restaurants, movie theaters employees, gas stations(back in the day hardly any of those were open on thanksgiving) family time less valuable than a person who works at Target?

Just seem laughable to complain and I dislike hypocrisy(not saying you specifically Disney1990) but many who complain are. I think most of the anti BF crew would run into Walgreens or another drug store to grab something as small as a pack of gum several years ago without thinking twice about those employees, but now that it is a popular to be anti BF they are on their soapbox condemning people who shop

No, not really (the bolded). Sears, JC Penney's, Sams, WalMart, Target, Belks, Dillards, etc. etc. etc.--ALL were closed on Thanksgiving day until last year; or at least here they were. The folks working those stores before last BF did NOT take the job knowing they would have to work Thanksgiving. That's just what we tell ourselves to make us feel better when we are out there trying to get the $2 toaster.

There is a lady at our JC Penney's who has worked for them for as far back as I can remember, she must be in her 70's now. I felt so bad for her last year when she told me (on BF, actually) that she wasn't able to see her son the day before for the first time in 30 years as she couldn't go to his house and be back for the Thanksgiving night opening. So, yes it does affect folks and their celebration of the holiday.


None of the places I named are open for Christmas day (not sure about WalMart but the others) now, but if they decided to get the jump on the After Christmas sales by opening on Christmas all of those folks will have to start working on Christmas day too.

Now, firemen, policemen, medical workers, WDW workers--they all did, in fact, take their jobs knowing they would be working holidays. Having a job for years and there suddenly being a huge change in the holidays worked is very, very different than knowing going in that you will work those holidays.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Nope. And not going out Black Friday either

 

[Funfire240]

I'll go out early Friday morning. We usually don't get home until later Thanksgiving with spending time with my family then DH's. We get a late start because he works nights and doesn't get home until 5 am sometimes so we have to let him sleep a bit so our plans get delayed.

I will still go out Friday morning. One thing we noticed, my Mom and I went out last Friday about 7 with all the stores opening the night before - sure we didn't get the big doorbusters but we got a lot of sales still and the crowds were down because everyone else was heading home to bed! We didn't wait in any lines at any of the stores we went to.

 

[JanaDee]

Does anyone else see the irony of complaining on a Disney themed board about people working on a holiday? Disney has been making people work on holidays since the park opened in 1955. Does anyone really think they should close the park on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

I wish the parks would be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, but I know that will never happen.

 

[JanaDee]

Certain services have to be available 24/7. Fire, police and rescue, military, hospitals etc. Those are necessities.

No one needs a flatscreen TV, or the latest toy. Furthermore, while I have had to work holidays, I am extremely well compensated for doing so. The people manning the stores won't be, for the most part.

Comparing necessary services to holiday shopping is silly.

 

[Crystal824]

No, I don't shop on Thanksgiving. We used to shop on BF, but I probably won't do that this year. We will have dinner at my inlaws. If it is like usual, dinner won't start until at least 8pm although they will tell us to be there at 6, but the food is never ready until around 8. My inlaws aren't good with being on time to anything

 

[nugov2]

No, not really (the bolded). Sears, JC Penney's, Sams, WalMart, Target, Belks, Dillards, etc. etc. etc.--ALL were closed on Thanksgiving day until last year; or at least here they were. The folks working those stores before last BF did NOT take the job knowing they would have to work Thanksgiving. That's just what we tell ourselves to make us feel better when we are out there trying to get the $2 toaster.

There is a lady at our JC Penney's who has worked for them for as far back as I can remember, she must be in her 70's now. I felt so bad for her last year when she told me (on BF, actually) that she wasn't able to see her son the day before for the first time in 30 years as she couldn't go to his house and be back for the Thanksgiving night opening. So, yes it does affect folks and their celebration of the holiday.


None of the places I named are open for Christmas day (not sure about WalMart but the others) now, but if they decided to get the jump on the After Christmas sales by opening on Christmas all of those folks will have to start working on Christmas day too.

Now, firemen, policemen, medical workers, WDW workers--they all did, in fact, take their jobs knowing they would be working holidays. Having a job for years and there suddenly being a huge change in the holidays worked is very, very different than knowing going in that you will work those holidays.

They have now had a year to look for another job if that is a deal breaker for them. I also don't think they were notified a week before Thanksgiving last year and had plenty of time to make alternate arrangements. I'd guess most of the retail workers this holiday are seasonal or have been hired since the open Thanksgiving practice started. Michaels and Kmart, grocery, fast food stores and even many of the anchor stores at our mall are all places that have been open on Thanksgiving for years so it isn't really all that new, it is just expanding. If you don't like it apply at Costco or other retailers who do not. Saying that these people do not know going in to it is weak IMO especially with a whole year to find alternate employment, yes I know this isn't an option for everyone but my guess is if this is your only option you are thankful to have a job to work at.

I am sure there are many who would rather be at home with their families and are disappointed like that sweet lady you spoke too, but this isn't exclusive to BF retail policies and I just think 99.9% of people have played a role in this by running to get an extra can of gravy at the grocery store, grabbing ibuprofen at the pharmacy or topping off their gas tank and grabbing a fountain coke. We have proved that a market for stores to be open exists. Again, why are these peoples families any less important? In a perfect world it would all be shut. I wouldn't protest or be upset if it did, but like there is a market for movies, theme parks and media events(and not every person who works a football game is making big bucks and most of the vendors selling beer don't go into it expecting to work because the chances your stadium is open is slim) there is a market to shop and if you are in that field you are now aware of it and accept it. You make new plans for family time like those who have spouses who work weekends or other holidays. It is just the reality of life today and certain lines of work.

Again, my point is IMO you are a hypocrite if you make one purchase on a holiday or have no issue with people who have to work outside of retail that are not necessary(police, fire or medical)

 

[TahoeAndStitch]

No, I won't go out shopping on Thanksgiving. I am not a Black Friday shopper either though. I just don't like crowds. I like to be done shopping by now. I didn't make it this year, but I will next year.

 

[Chrelaine]

I won't go out, because I will most likely be in a food coma and I hate crowds. I don't see anything wrong with the stores being open if people want to shop. They are businesses like anything else, in the business to make money.

My DH works for our county 911 and my brother works shift work for a company that is open 24/7. We celebrate when schedules allow. It's important to take the time to be together, no matter what the date.