Shame on Wal Mart

[Mel522]

It is insulting to call people lunatics. Clearly you don't care if you offend anyone.

When I go out on black Friday, I go with adult family members. We make a night of it. It has become a fun tradition for us. There's no lunatics and people being killed. Most people know what to expect and are ready for it. People are often friendly and talkative in line.

I spend extra time with family because of our black Friday shopping trip.

I have worked the last 4 Black Fridays, and that's what I saw. People are nice, talkative, and occasionally a little silly from lack of sleep. I have never seen anyone say or do anything mean or disrespectful. Out of all the people out shopping, you only hear a handful of negative comments. That is only a small fraction of the people out there.

 

[mhsjax]

When you lump all people together you are insulting. Too bad you don't get that as you do it on many threads.

We all have our personalities. I find you to be very argumentative on many threads, it's ok, it is you. I don't take it personally when people talk about helicopter parents when I am more protective than some are here, you don't see me screaming about name calling and being insulted. Thick skin is what it takes here on the Dis. If the shoe fits wear it, if not then don't worry about it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wal Mart seems to set the standard. It seems that once they started opening earlier and earlier, others followed.

KMart has been opening by 8 AM Thanksgiving morning for over 25 years.

How is Walmart "setting [a] standard"?

 

[gina2000]

I have really, really mixed feelings about this. I truly don't see why stores don't feel that it's enough to open at 4 or 5 am on Black Friday. That would give people who work retail the opportunity to enjoy the holiday.

I also believe (and I may be wrong but I know all of you will correct me readily) that most essential personnel are paid overtime for their work on holidays. I think that's fair. Hospitals have to be staffed. But I do think that people on duty should be compensated above their hourly rate for holidays. I suspect that retail workers do not have that perk.

Lastly, I have followed with great interest Bergen County, NJ's Blue Laws controversy. Governor Christie has ordered that Bergen County stores be open on Sunday in order to help people who have had storm damage. Other stores (such as jewelry stores) have protested that all stores should be open. They won this short term, but Blue Laws are alive and well in Bergen County, NJ. In Bergen County, no stores can be open between 11pm and 7am. And maybe that's not a bad thing. It mandates a day of rest - or a family day for people. I like it. I like it a lot. But that's me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If people didn't show up, they would close the next year. Not going to happen though. Our family usually enjoys going to the movies after our Thanksgiving lunch. I guess we are contributing to the problem. Still won't stop us from going though. I avoid Black Friday (Thursday night) like the plague though. I hate shopping with crowds.

I remember when........many years ago (I will refrain from putting a number on myself) I worked at Walmart through high school/college. At that time, we didn't even open until 1:00 on Sundays. I would go to church, grab a quick lunch and then go to work. Of course, we also closed at 9:00 pm. We were definitely closed major holidays. Times change. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

Well, sure, if people didn't show up the stores wouldn't open. That's true any/every day. But it's why they entice us with super-low prices.

Walmart is starting their Black Friday sale early to keep things orderly and avoid or avert a tragedy like the one on Long Island a couple of years ago. But as numerous posters have indicated, most Walmart stores are open 24 hours already. It's just that the sale pricing will begin earlier than last year.

Regarding Sunday retail hours "back then": those were the hours retailers in your state were legally allowed to operate on Sundays. Times - and laws - change.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I suspect that retail workers do not have that perk.

To the best of my knowledge, you'd be wrong. Most likely, part time retail employees don't get paid holidays; however, as non-exempt employees, retail workers working any number of hours would be required to be paid time-and-a-half for Sunday or holiday hours.

 

[kaytieeldr]

At least the employees get to spend some of their holiday with family (if they choose to). Let's not forget about the thousands of soldiers who don't!

You know, that actuall puts this whole topic into jaw-dropping perspective.

I'm one of the people who'll be working Thanksgiving (and Christmas). Woman's World Weekly has tips on how to help troops. I'll go online Wednesday night, Thursday, and Friday - and send my Black Friday purchases to our soldiers, sailors, etc!

 

[arminnie]

My extended family always gets together for a big Thanksgiving celebration. But the longest we have ever spent together is four hours.

Do some of you celebrate longer than that?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not the same thing. A vacation spot, or a low rent place where a bunch of lunatics can kill each other for a deal on crap. Silly question.

And you won't catch me at WDW on holidays either, I am not that stupid, just like I am not that stupid. My opinion and others are free to disagree. Oh and that others are glad to have a job comment that some are making, PULEEEZ. Give it a rest, the world went for a long time without these stores being open, and yet we somehow survived. You all shop if you want, I intend to wait until the next day.

I don't have any idea what "I am not that stupid, just like I am not that stupid" is supposed to mean.

So you're aware, the world went a long time without Internet, computers, telephones, cell towers, electricity, indoor plumbing... so while most of the offending retail outlets wnt be opening until Thanksgiving night, or 12:01 AM the next day, or even more normal operating hours - please don't bother any of the people who have non-retail jobs and will be working Thanksgiving. Don't call if your circuit breaker box blows, or your heat goes off, or you lose your Internet connection.

Don't go to the ER or even call your physician no matter how sick you are. It's a holiday and they shouldn't be expected to work either. Make sure you have everything you might possibly need for Thanksgiving - bandaids, utensils, spices, paper goods, Peptones-Bismol, etc. - by the day before.

 

[portocall]

We do celebrate Thanksgiving longer than most. Usually we arrive around two in the afternoon, eat dinner at four. Clean up, guys watch football, girls gab, children play. Dessert and coffee roll out around 7:30. We leave around 9, once the host families house looks like it has been put back together. Of course, my family likes each other and there isn't a lot of dread about spending time together which I know isn't always the case. So yes, some people do celebrate it. I think ours has always been longer to give a chance for our medical professionals to at least be there for some part of it.

 

[disneychrista]

If NO ONE was to shop then none of the stores would be open.

Michaels opens 4pm - 10pm.

 

[arminnie]

We do celebrate Thanksgiving longer than most. Usually we arrive around two in the afternoon, eat dinner at four. Clean up, guys watch football, girls gab, children play. Dessert and coffee roll out around 7:30. We leave around 9, once the host families house looks like it has been put back together. Of course, my family likes each other and there isn't a lot of dread about spending time together which I know isn't always the case. So yes, some people do celebrate it. I think ours has always been longer to give a chance for our medical professionals to at least be there for some part of it.

My family actually like each other too. Never have had so much as a spat. Most arrive by 11 (have to drive an hour or two for some).

But we have a big age range - literally from infants to late 80s. And have been getting together like this for at least 70 years that I am aware of. Those infants are now getting pretty old.

But because of the age and distance for some most like to be home before dark. Most are on the road again by 3ish.

We don't have any medical professionals but a lot of law enforcement who often have to miss. I had to miss Thanksgiving many, many years having to work Friday (normal work day for most offices) and being 2000 miles away.

 

[disneychrista]

as non-exempt employees, retail workers working any number of hours would be required to be paid time-and-a-half for Sunday or holiday hours.

This is incorrect. There is NO requirement to pay time-and-a-half for working Sunday or Holidays.

 

[AngieMouse86]

This is incorrect. There is NO requirement to pay time-and-a-half for working Sunday or Holidays.

Yeah, I was reading that and wondering "Where?!", I'd love that pay for Sundays, LOL. I do get time & a half for holidays, but that is thanks to being union.

 

[tinatark]

A big group of the ladies in my family shop on Black Friday every year. Some of them start at midnight or even earlier, and some (including me!) start at 4-ish - and we're late! For us, it's the social aspect. We do some shopping - some of us are looking for specific items, but mostly it's just fun!

Usually 15 or more of us are together!

 

[HelenePA]

some of us do NOT have huge families to celebrate with.. Its usually just me dh and the kids.. I see them every single day of my life. They all hate turkey so basically its just another day around here only thing different is I get the tree out to decorate. Thankgiving just isn't a "major" holiday for some of us.. I've worked black friday before in retail the day just flies by because its so busy and its usually lots of fun!

 

[JVL1018]

I have really, really mixed feelings about this. I truly don't see why stores don't feel that it's enough to open at 4 or 5 am on Black Friday. That would give people who work retail the opportunity to enjoy the holiday.

I also believe (and I may be wrong but I know all of you will correct me readily) that most essential personnel are paid overtime for their work on holidays. I think that's fair. Hospitals have to be staffed. But I do think that people on duty should be compensated above their hourly rate for holidays. I suspect that retail workers do not have that perk.

Lastly, I have followed with great interest Bergen County, NJ's Blue Laws controversy. Governor Christie has ordered that Bergen County stores be open on Sunday in order to help people who have had storm damage. Other stores (such as jewelry stores) have protested that all stores should be open. They won this short term, but Blue Laws are alive and well in Bergen County, NJ. In Bergen County, no stores can be open between 11pm and 7am. And maybe that's not a bad thing. It mandates a day of rest - or a family day for people. I like it. I like it a lot. But that's me.

Unless you live here..and you're busy with sports and kids and work and school M-Sat and on Sunday you finally have a day you can run out with your husband..or you're doing projects around the house and in the middle of one you realize you need something and you can't get it because it's freaking Sunday.
Or you are one of the many Orthodox Jews who live in the area who can't shop Saturday..so no weekend day is available for shopping for them..or you are a cop or nurse or firefighter or any myriad number of people who may be working on Saturday and would like to be able to do some errands on Sunday..

There are a LOT of people who like the blue laws, including probably all of the people who live in Paramus.
Paramus is a HUGE shopping town. Malls and stores galore..and the people who live in Paramus benefit from this with lower property taxes. I don't live in Paramus, but I live nearby-so I get high taxes and still no shopping. Lose/lose for me. LOL
They even rope off the cleaning supplies at the ShopRite in Paramus..their laws in that particular town are sooo much more restrictive. My husband worked there(in Paramus) for years, and you couldn't even go into your office on Sunday and turn on your computer.
The rest of the country manages to live with stores open on Sundays, but somehow the world would end if we did the same thing.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is incorrect. There is NO requirement to pay time-and-a-half for working Sunday or Holidays.

Yeah, I was reading that and wondering "Where?!", I'd love that pay for Sundays, LOL. I do get time & a half for holidays, but that is thanks to being union.

Forgive me. I forgot most state aren't the same combiination of puritanical and fair as Massachusetts http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/employmentfaq.html#sunday
http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-busin...day-and-holiday-openings.html#_Holiday_Retail

 

[3boymthr]

Forgive me. I forgot most state aren't the same combiination of puritanical and fair as Massachusetts http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/employmentfaq.html#sunday
http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-busin...day-and-holiday-openings.html#_Holiday_Retail

Yup, one of the few things I like about this state. These laws are why Walmart WON'T be opening at 8 PM or even 10 PM on Thanksgiving Day. Everywhere else Target and Walmart and Kmart, etc. opened on Thanksgiving here they couldn't open until 1AM. Even so there were still lines across the parking lot at Target and don't get me started on the people going to the outlet malls Not only were they waiting in lines at the outlets - they waited in 5 miles of traffic (4 lanes wide)

 

[Colleen27]

To the best of my knowledge, you'd be wrong. Most likely, part time retail employees don't get paid holidays; however, as non-exempt employees, retail workers working any number of hours would be required to be paid time-and-a-half for Sunday or holiday hours.

Not around here. Retail and fast food pay the same minimum wage for working Christmas day as they do for a random Tuesday in June. And not coming in that day isn't an option - every year we hear about at least one of DS's teenage friends getting fired because of parents who don't let them miss family gatherings for work.