RIP Thanksgiving .

[luvmy3]

I think a bigger issue with retail stores opening on Thanksgiving Day is that the whole Black Friday retail pre-Christmas FEEDING FRENZY has been moved to a day that is traditionally a quiet full. stop. for most folks. You know, I get that some folks don't celebrate Thanksgiving on the day itself so you don't see how it's a big deal but you are an anomaly. Just because it doesn't effect you personally doesn't mean it's a good idea to open the Big Box stores on Thanksgiving. I am an anomaly here in the US since I don't celebrate Christmas but I would not be happy if Wal*Mart, Target, TRU & Old Navy opened up on Christmas morning for last-minute gifters.

Are we Americans so addicted to retail therapy that really need to shop every day of the year?

I don't think anyone has argued that they need to shop on Thanksgiving, it is purely a want. Just like watching football is, going out to a restaurant or to the movies, or to WDW or any number of other amusement parks, etc, etc.

And FTR, my grocery store has always been open Christmas morning until noon, and Thanksgiving too.

 

[robinb]

I don't have the full list of states that mandate it.

Here are the laws for MA:

http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-busin...age-and-hour/sunday-and-holiday-openings.html

I also know that NJ and PA manadate it.

I have never dealt with unions so I have no idea what part they play in it.

Thank you! So retailers have to pay time and a half for Sundays too? That's interesting.

 

[sam_gordon]

Fortunately, the powers that be in Maine haven't lost their senses yet. It's against state law to open retail stores about a certain square footage/income level on Thanksgiving... or at least the law was in effect last year!

To me, that's the very definition of "government interference". If I'm a business owner, no one should be able to tell me when I can be open. That decision should be solely mine to make. If I can't find employees to work the shifts or customers to shop when I want to be open, I either change my plans or go out of business.

 

[kwelch10377]

Thank you! So retailers have to pay time and a half for Sundays too? That's interesting.

In some states. I know when I lived in NJ and worked during high school they had to pay time and a half for Sunday and I loved working every Sunday. For some reason I think that may have changed in NJ, but I could be wrong.

 

[AmazingGrace]

My ds just started at Best Buy. His schedule isn't out for bf but they open at 6m on thanksgiving and I know he's going to be working. Oh well, I'll just adjust when we eat. He cringed a little when he saw when they were opening, but then started getting excited about it.
I won't shop on thanksgiving. But I won't condemn those that do and I feel bad for those who are forced to work, but I know some folks who'll be getting paid good money for working the holiday and have actually signed up for the holiday shifts. Most of these workers have family who'll make necessary adjustments to the family holiday. In this economy, it's not ideal, but you do what you have to do and try and make the best of it.

 

[mrodgers]

Wow, this is not a forum you can visit once a day. Amazing how large threads get in 24 hours...

But if there's no demand for stores to be open at X time on X day, then they wouldn't be open.

Plus, people choose to shop or not to shop. Blaming the store is akin to blaming a bar for an alcoholic's addiction.

Again, consumers ASK for this!!! The stores are doing what we WANT them to do. I have never been a big BF shopper, but people don't seem to mind shopping all day and night to get their "amazing" deal.

I think I made it clear in my post, I don't think this is what consumers ask for at all. The consumers are there because they want to be first when it opens no matter what time it is. If it is at 8 am in the morning, then that is when the consumers were there to get in first and get the "deals" before everyone else. It is the stores that keep opening earlier and earlier. If people think their holiday depends on getting the "deal" stuff, then they must be there earlier and earlier to be first in line when the doors opened. I view it as they want the deals and now they are forced to get those deals earlier. It is the stores that are scheduling when those deals are, not the consumer.

....I have yet to see one person complain that WDW and all the restaurants and stores in the parks are open that day. Or that the movie theaters, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, grocery stores are open that day. For some reason Thanksgiving is only ruined by Macys, or Walmart or TRU being open ....

I will be the first one to complain then. I would never go to a restaurant on Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. I fill my gas tank before the holiday so I don't have to stop there on the holiday so I am not one of the reasons those people are working. I don't go to the theaters pretty much any day let alone a holiday. I don't stop at convenience stores, or grocery stores on holidays. If I need something from those, I do it before the holiday. The only ones I feel have no choice because it is for the good of society is the emergency personnel. They are a necessity, none of the others are a necessity. No one is going to die if I was too stupid to remember to pick up Cool Whip for the pumpkin pie but people would die if they closed the hospital for the day.

 

[skylizard]

I'd love to hear from those outside of the US and what the norm is for their countries. Is everything closed on certain holidays? Do workers get extra pay for working a holiday? Is it just us Americans who are so crazy about finding a good deal and shopping til we drop?

 

[Heidict]

Last year, I was discharged from the hospital with my new born daughter. I am forever grateful for the pharmacy that was open and for Wendys being there to give us our Thanksgiving day meal.

If it wasn't for them, I would have spent the night in pain and hungry.

This year, my mother and I will be heading to Walmart at 6 for the sales that they have going on then. They have excellent deals on some things that we wanted to get for Christmas gifts. If we don't go then, they very will may be out of stock the next day. So, what do we do? Not go to prove a point and pay more on the things that we want later on?

 

[pascalstongue]

I'd love to hear from those outside of the US and what the norm is for their countries. Is everything closed on certain holidays? Do workers get extra pay for working a holiday? Is it just us Americans who are so crazy about finding a good deal and shopping til we drop?

Brits are crazy for shopping too!

It is very similar in the U.K. It's only Christmas Day when all shops are closed, most shops are still closed Easter Sunday, but more and more are opening each year.

Our big sales start on Boxing Day (12/26) and some stores open at 5am. It has been a while since I worked in retail but if I volunteered to work on a holiday I was paid double time and given a day off in lieu.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Last year, I was discharged from the hospital with my new born daughter. I am forever grateful for the pharmacy that was open and for Wendys being there to give us our Thanksgiving day meal.

If it wasn't for them, I would have spent the night in pain and hungry.

This year, my mother and I will be heading to Walmart at 6 for the sales that they have going on then. They have excellent deals on some things that we wanted to get for Christmas gifts. If we don't go then, they very will may be out of stock the next day. So, what do we do? Not go to prove a point and pay more on the things that we want later on?

I will be headed to Best Buy (maybe) for the Samsung 40" 1080p HD Smart TV for 397.99 and the flash drives, which are 16GB for 5.99.

Also they have a Keurig for 99.99 with 20 buck gift card. It is not the Platinum, but still a good deal.

I would love a Bluetooth speaker system but the ones I want are still in the 100 range. The "Beats Pill Box" is 150.

I really need to check out comparison with WalMart. I know they have a camera tripod for 10 bucks. Ours broke and I really need this.

 

[robinb]

This year, my mother and I will be heading to Walmart at 6 for the sales that they have going on then. They have excellent deals on some things that we wanted to get for Christmas gifts. If we don't go then, they very will may be out of stock the next day. So, what do we do? Not go to prove a point and pay more on the things that we want later on?

And there's the rub. The greedy retailers have moved Back Friday to Thanksgiving Day to grab those bargain hunters and if you don't go along with it you feel that you will be left out.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

And there's the rub. The greedy retailers have moved Back Friday to Thanksgiving Day to grab those bargain hunters and if you don't go along with it you feel that you will be left out.

It is not a feeling, you will be left out. They have a lot of enticements this year with gift cards at purchase as well as it being on sale.

 

[Missy1961]

Does anyone actually still shop there any more?

You must have missed all the swipes taken at K-mart over the years and Toys R Us two years ago and everyone that did a midnight madness last year. So don't think for a minute, Walmart is alone at having swipes taken at them.

I love Old Navy. So yeah, people still shop there.

 

[Missy1961]

And lets also remember: Not everyone HAS family nearby to spend the holiday with, and even if they do, not everyone WANTS to hang with their family all day. The happy family playing board games all afternoon scenario is NOT reality for everyone.

Yeah, that too. Otherwise, there would be no threads around here about nasty in-laws, or bad moms or horrible gifts.

 

[eliza61]

It is not a feeling, you will be left out. They have a lot of enticements this year with gift cards at purchase as well as it being on sale.

but you know s;ome thing MM. I;m starting to believe that's a lot of Black Friday is marketing hype.
I've kept my last two black friday ads. and you know what, there isn't any thing I've brought that I didn't match or beat black friday prices.

I generally shop the last 2 weeks of christmas or on line.

Now I realize a lot is what you buy. Clothing, no doubt big big hype. the closer to Christmas the way more discounts come off of apparel. Heck, winter stuff is practically flying out of the stores because it's end of season.

electronics? Once again almost every TV price drops the closer to Christmas.
Apple keeps a tight rein on their products so usually it's a matter of a few bucks difference. stores will throw in a gc to get you to go with their Iphone but apple is not discounting.

So that pretty much leaves a very slim population of gifts. android phones and some gaming systems.

Like I said, I kept my last 2 year circulars from target, walmart, Jcpenny's and Macy's. there wasn't much that they advertised on BF that I could not find at the same price December 15th.
the only other issue maybe stock.

I totally admit to never understanding the big "allure" over Black friday though. I've absolutely never come away with "collossal" deals.

 

[Heidict]

I will be headed to Best Buy (maybe) for the Samsung 40" 1080p HD Smart TV for 397.99 and the flash drives, which are 16GB for 5.99.

Also they have a Keurig for 99.99 with 20 buck gift card. It is not the Platinum, but still a good deal.

I would love a Bluetooth speaker system but the ones I want are still in the 100 range. The "Beats Pill Box" is 150.

I really need to check out comparison with WalMart. I know they have a camera tripod for 10 bucks. Ours broke and I really need this.

My DD is begging for a Furby Zoom. Normally they are $69. Walmart has an in-stock guarantee from 6-7pm on Thanksgiving day. Getting it half price is a good savings that I don't think we are going to see anywhere else prior to Christmas. As consumer, I would much rather go at 6 in the evening then have to be lined up at the door, in the cold and dark, at 4 in the morning.

I think I say that Walmart had a tripod for 10. Not sure if it went on sale at 6 or 8pm though.

 

[eliza61]

I will be headed to Best Buy (maybe) for the Samsung 40" 1080p HD Smart TV for 397.99 and the flash drives, which are 16GB for 5.99.

Also they have a Keurig for 99.99 with 20 buck gift card. It is not the Platinum, but still a good deal.

I would love a Bluetooth speaker system but the ones I want are still in the 100 range. The "Beats Pill Box" is 150.

I really need to check out comparison with WalMart. I know they have a camera tripod for 10 bucks. Ours broke and I really need this.

LOL. I got my flash drives the other day on amazon for 5.34 a piece. no shipping either. although I was buying other stuff to get it to that 50 dollar limit.

I did see a nikon bundle for a good price 499 but I'm betting that a couple of weeks before Christmas other's will match that price easily.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

but you know s;ome thing MM. I;m starting to believe that's a lot of Black Friday is marketing hype.
I've kept my last two black friday ads. and you know what, there isn't any thing I've brought that I didn't match or beat black friday prices.

I generally shop the last 2 weeks of christmas or on line.

Now I realize a lot is what you buy. Clothing, no doubt big big hype. the closer to Christmas the way more discounts come off of apparel. Heck, winter stuff is practically flying out of the stores because it's end of season.

electronics? Once again almost every TV price drops the closer to Christmas.
Apple keeps a tight rein on their products so usually it's a matter of a few bucks difference. stores will throw in a gc to get you to go with their Iphone but apple is not discounting.

So that pretty much leaves a very slim population of gifts. android phones and some gaming systems.

Like I said, I kept my last 2 year circulars from target, walmart, Jcpenny's and Macy's. there wasn't much that they advertised on BF that I could not find at the same price December 15th.
the only other issue maybe stock.

I totally admit to never understanding the big "allure" over Black friday though. I've absolutely never come away with "collossal" deals.

Ok, I don't shop for "Christmas" on BF.

I shop for things that we want for the household. We wait until BF to buy those things. And yes we get great deals.

However we are looking for specific things though. Last year it was the Samsung Galaxy 3 phone for 97 cents @ Sams.

Next year we will upgrade our phones during BF when our contract runs out.

We have been watching the TV's go down, down, down. Still have not bought an HDTV. This may be the year.

So it depends on what you are shopping for.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

LOL. I got my flash drives the other day on amazon for 5.34 a piece. no shipping either. although I was buying other stuff to get it to that 50 dollar limit.

I did see a nikon bundle for a good price 499 but I'm betting that a couple of weeks before Christmas other's will match that price easily.

16GB?

I don't do tons of online shopping at the moment so that is my downfall there.

I would only pick up the flash drive because I will be there for the TV.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I'd love to hear from those outside of the US and what the norm is for their countries. Is everything closed on certain holidays? Do workers get extra pay for working a holiday? Is it just us Americans who are so crazy about finding a good deal and shopping til we drop?

We don't do Thanksgiving here, but everything is closed on Christmas Day. Most things are closed the day after as well (Boxing Day). You will find hospitals, emergency clinics, police, some gas stations and of course hotels open. There will only be a few restaurants open - mostly in hotels. Traditionally even movie theatres etc. were closed, but these days there may be more options for that day. Same for Good Friday and Easter Sunday - ghost town! Easter Sunday there may be a few more restaurants open offering special Easter meals, but generally the country is shut down.