Talk about corporate greed!

[tasha99]

Sounds like the Walmart I was at, but have to say that that most people were perfectly behaved. Yes, I heard the F bomb from a mother to her young child, and I heard there was a punch thrown somewhere in the store. On the other hand, a lady handed me a pillow (and asked how many I wanted when there were only 3 there and she wanted some), and another lady and I swapped our mattress toppers after some conversation. Overall, there were bad apples, but for the hundreds of people there, I'd guess it was 5% or less that couldn't be nice.

I would NOT bring a child to a BF event. I brought my son (then 11 or 12) to an Old Navy sale a few years ago, and decided never again. People were pushy, and I thought it was dangerous for a kid.

 

[leahjade]

[QUOTEcorporate greed][/QUOTE]SORRY MEANT TO BE IRONIC!

I meant that with all the protesting for Wallstreet greed, the greed I witnessed was a mob of individuals! People had forty and fifty dvds in their carts and were pushing to get more. Walmart did the best they could - they had lines roped off and plenty of stock which they kept replenishing. But in some cases, they couldn't hold the people back - they tore open cases before the employees could stop them. It was a very sad sight.

 

[leahjade]

I think Walmart needs to change the way they sell things. These 10pm and 12am door busters are just a bad idea. Of course people are going to go into them early if they are standing around waiting for hours beforehand. Walmart needs to enforce lines and have everything ready to sell when they open

I totally disagree - it doesn't seem to matter what time they start the sales, people are there 6 or 7 hours ahead of time. And my Walmart did have everything ready in pallets to sell, but people started ripping into the cases ahead of time and then chaos ensued. Their force security isn't armed! Most of them looked like 20 year old kids and I was afraid for some of them. Do kids really need forty or fifty dvds and carts full of junk toys? And how many tvs and computers can one family use? And then you will hear some of these same families crying that they are behind in their mortgage payment next month.

 

[delmar411]

I totally disagree - it doesn't seem to matter what time they start the sales, people are there 6 or 7 hours ahead of time. And my Walmart did have everything ready in pallets to sell, but people started ripping into the cases ahead of time and then chaos ensued. Their force security isn't armed! Most of them looked like 20 year old kids and I was afraid for some of them. Do kids really need forty or fifty dvds and carts full of junk toys? And how many tvs and computers can one family use? And then you will hear some of these same families crying that they are behind in their mortgage payment next month.

Here the security is armed police. So people pretty much behave. But it's only because they'll be booted from the store and/or arrested for anything other than waiting patiently. Once the pallets are opened though it's a free for all and unless someone starts throwing punches, the police stand back and mostly make sure the people that have ticketed items are able to get through to the registers ok.

You have to be prepared if you are going to Walmart. It's really the only place that is pure chaos IMO.

 

[Marionnette]

I totally disagree - it doesn't seem to matter what time they start the sales, people are there 6 or 7 hours ahead of time. And my Walmart did have everything ready in pallets to sell, but people started ripping into the cases ahead of time and then chaos ensued. Their force security isn't armed! Most of them looked like 20 year old kids and I was afraid for some of them. Do kids really need forty or fifty dvds and carts full of junk toys? And how many tvs and computers can one family use? And then you will hear some of these same families crying that they are behind in their mortgage payment next month.

Goodness gracious! Would you want their security force to be armed?
The last thing that you need in a mob is for some rent-a-cop to discharge a revolver and start a real panic!

You're making a lot of assumptions about the finacial situation that those shoppers are in. Unless you know them personally, there is no way that you will be hearing any of them cry because they are behind in the mortgage payment next month.

Someone pointed out earlier in this thread that many people who buy multiples on Black Friday are buying for other family members (who might be doing the same thing for them at Target), or they are buying them to sell on ebay.

I won't defend the combat tactics and gutter language used by some of those shoppers. But you are wrong to make the assumptions that you've made.

 

[marie1203]

Here the security is armed police. So people pretty much behave. But it's only because they'll be booted from the store and/or arrested for anything other than waiting patiently. Once the pallets are opened though it's a free for all and unless someone starts throwing punches, the police stand back and mostly make sure the people that have ticketed items are able to get through to the registers ok.

You have to be prepared if you are going to Walmart. It's really the only place that is pure chaos IMO.

I agree that you have to be prepared. This was the first BF we went to Waltmart and I have to say I was impress. The waltmart we were in there was no chaos at all when people try to get out of control the police officer escort them out (and it was only one very small incident). They had employees guarding the line to make sure it went orderly. I was actually very impress they even had people make lines for the video games so everything was peaceful. I think it really comes down to the manager of each store. The manager was in the floor talking to employees to make sure everything was going as plan. The employee that was patrolling our line said they had a big meeting to plan BF and I have to say it worked.

 

[marie1203]

Goodness gracious! Would you want their security force to be armed?
The last thing that you need in a mob is for some rent-a-cop to discharge a revolver and start a real panic!

You're making a lot of assumptions about the finacial situation that those shoppers are in. Unless you know them personally, there is no way that you will be hearing any of them cry because they are behind in the mortgage payment next month.

Someone pointed out earlier in this thread that many people who buy multiples on Black Friday are buying for other family members (who might be doing the same thing for them at Target), or they are buying them to sell on ebay.

I won't defend the combat tactics and gutter language used by some of those shoppers. But you are wrong to make the assumptions that you've made.

Many waltmarts had contracted police officers I think that is what PP might be talking about.

 

[a1tinkfans]

First time I went out at midnight on black Friday, and I've never seen anything like it! People pushing and shoving for small appliances and dvds! At our Walmart, an ambulance had to be called for someone who was trampled and ended up with a broken leg. Carts were overflowing with junk (3 and 4 of some items) and this is a bad economy! I wonder how long it will take some of these people to pay off all this stuff and if its worth it? The language was atrocious - what an example for all the young children who were there. The store had many employees who were trying to keep order and help things stay peaceful but it was an ugly mob scene all for $2 waffle irons and $1.96 dvds.

i went to tjmaxx and Target on friday morning about 10am, the shelves had plenty, the lines were empty....I was surprised, pleasantly
Thurs Eve my ds went to a local Walmart to check out the lines it was about 930pm, and there were no lines.......maybe they started later
I am shopping mostly Online this year...

 

[QVCshopper]

I totally disagree - it doesn't seem to matter what time they start the sales, people are there 6 or 7 hours ahead of time. And my Walmart did have everything ready in pallets to sell, but people started ripping into the cases ahead of time and then chaos ensued. Their force security isn't armed! Most of them looked like 20 year old kids and I was afraid for some of them. Do kids really need forty or fifty dvds and carts full of junk toys? And how many tvs and computers can one family use? And then you will hear some of these same families crying that they are behind in their mortgage payment next month.

What I'm saying is that Walmart should open their doors ready to sell everything. They need to closely monitor how many people they let in at a time, like Target. The staggered doorbuster times are, in my opinion, what is causing the craziness. Once inside, they need to have well marked signs for certain items or give out tickets. It's really silly to make people wait by cases of closed items until a certain time. Of course you will have chaos when you open the boxes. And, I do not think everyone out on Black Friday is broke.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I would NOT bring a child to a BF event. I brought my son (then 11 or 12) to an Old Navy sale a few years ago, and decided never again. People were pushy, and I thought it was dangerous for a kid.

Agree 100% Three years ago, I took my 20 year old daughter to Kohls to open up Black Friday. Of course, 20 is old enough; however she just had her firstborn (my DGD) less than a month earlier (DH stayed home to baby sit). Well, the crowd started pushing right about opening time. It was a stampede as the doors opened. DD said it was the first time she feared for her life. She has never opened Black Friday since.

Me? Now, I do Walmart first thing. I've never seen the craziness than others have seen. The important thing...since Walmart is already open, you are waiting inside, by the item you want, instead of outside, in a crowd, waiting for the doors to open. I'll never wait outside for a hot ticket item.

Getting back to bringing kids...I heard a horror story about a stampede at a Walmart in the east somewhere...I think New Jersey. A grandfather bought his five year old grandson to Walmart. And there were people, pushing, shoving, etc. Very dangerous for the five year old. Grandpa wanted to hoist the child up on his shoulders. But before he could do that, he put the toy he was carrying into his belt buckle.

And the grandfather was thrust onto the ground and beaten to unconsiousness by security guards who thought he was shoplifting the toy.

 

[MrsMork]

The walmart we went to was very orgainized. They are open 24 hours, so no crowds waiting outside. They had maps printed and available before the sale showing where each item would be and they made the times that the pallets would be brought out available. Son, nieces, nephews and grandsons (all young adults) went there just before 10pm, which is when the pallets for the midnight sales came out to the floor. They were in line and given vouchers for the items they were waiting for since the maps showed them where to be(TVs and computers). When the vouchers were all distributed (around 11 pm) they were then able to get the merchandise and put it in their carts. The lines to pay were long, numerous and orderly. Our group got in line at the garden center about 11:20 and were paying for their merchandise about 10 after 12. I agree with a previous poster that it is entirely the management of the store.

I am not pleased that they started this Thursday evening stuff though. Our family used to play board games and visit, this year the shoppers ate then headed out. No games and family fun and not much help with the cleanup either!!! I am sure it will continue though and likely be earlier and earlier.

 

[tasha99]

Agree 100% Three years ago, I took my 20 year old daughter to Kohls to open up Black Friday. Of course, 20 is old enough; however she just had her firstborn (my DGD) less than a month earlier (DH stayed home to baby sit). Well, the crowd started pushing right about opening time. It was a stampede as the doors opened. DD said it was the first time she feared for her life. She has never opened Black Friday since.

Me? Now, I do Walmart first thing. I've never seen the craziness than others have seen. The important thing...since Walmart is already open, you are waiting inside, by the item you want, instead of outside, in a crowd, waiting for the doors to open. I'll never wait outside for a hot ticket item.

Getting back to bringing kids...I heard a horror story about a stampede at a Walmart in the east somewhere...I think New Jersey. A grandfather bought his five year old grandson to Walmart. And there were people, pushing, shoving, etc. Very dangerous for the five year old. Grandpa wanted to hoist the child up on his shoulders. But before he could do that, he put the toy he was carrying into his belt buckle.

And the grandfather was thrust onto the ground and beaten to unconsiousness by security guards who thought he was shoplifting the toy.

How horrible! What a nightmare for both the kid and the grandpa! I thought they had to wait to see if someone exited without paying. Maybe they have to hire extra--and less experienced--security during these events.

 

[bushdianee]

I arrived at Walmart at 9:40. We had to park on a side street. When we entered the store the lines went from the registers to the back of the store with carts ALREADY FILLED and just waiting for 10:00 when the sale prices started. So at 10:00 many items were already gone. We ended up waiting in the checkout line for over an hour. Total madhouse but didn't see anybody unruly. We then went to target with just a few minutes to spare before they opened at midnight. People were lined up at both entrances but they only opened 1. I couldn't even get near the electronics area. I enede up buying a couple of small things and went up front and waited for my Dsis to finish. I was home and in bed at 1, DSis continued til 8AM. Not worth it in my opinion.

 

[Colleen27]

There's certainly plenty of greed to go around on Black Friday and throughout the holiday shopping season, that's for sure.

I think some of the stores border on criminal with the way they handle the day, letting hundreds of people line up starting hours or even a full day ahead of time and then just opening the floodgates to let them all stampede to the "3 per store" loss leaders! Walmart and a few others don't even seem to make an effort at an orderly, safe experience. It is as though the hype from the tramplings and pepper sprayings is part of the strategy to build buzz for next year.

But some people are just as bad. We've been looking for a LeapPad Explorer, one of this year's "hot toys", for DD3. At one store where we failed to find one we were in line behind a woman who had about a dozen of them in her cart and was bragging to her friend that she "knows someone" who gives her a heads-up on when new shipments come in and that she averaged $200 a piece on eBay with the last "bunch". At another store we saw a shoving match over the last one between two parents with preschool-aged kids sitting in their carts watching. It has been quite eye-opening... In 14 years of parenting this is the first time one of my kids wanted such a high-demand item and I hope that it is the last.

 

[dfchelbay]

First time I went out at midnight on black Friday, and I've never seen anything like it! People pushing and shoving for small appliances and dvds! At our Walmart, an ambulance had to be called for someone who was trampled and ended up with a broken leg. Carts were overflowing with junk (3 and 4 of some items) and this is a bad economy! I wonder how long it will take some of these people to pay off all this stuff and if its worth it? The language was atrocious - what an example for all the young children who were there. The store had many employees who were trying to keep order and help things stay peaceful but it was an ugly mob scene all for $2 waffle irons and $1.96 dvds.

I don't see how this has anything to do with corporate greed. These are individual shoppers choosing to behave this way. Those items in other people's carts were not junk to them. They were buying the items for themselves or as a gift for others. Just because you would not buy it, doesn't make it junk. Also, your statement about how long it will take "some of these people" to pay off this stuff is just mean. To assume "these people" as you called them cannot afford to pay for their purchases, unless it is stretched out over time is so judgmental.

 

[disneychrista]

People pushing and shoving for small appliances and dvds! ... I wonder how long it will take some of these people to pay off all this stuff and if its worth it? The language was atrocious - what an example for all the young children who were there.

Not sure what anything that you describe is "corporate" greed. So more like CONSUMER greed.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm so relieved about my experiences when I read these posts. Everyone was nice and well-behaved wherever I went but it sounds like I was lucky.

 

[Jey12]

I agree that I've wondered if Walmart tries to cause an issue just for the free publicity? Target had the same issue years back and they have worked out a system for black friday shopping that I have yet to see any store come near.

Here's the main difference I've seen between the stores...

Walmart. Store is open, large amount of shoppers are wandering about the store. They are with their group of people and once in the store other shoppers are seen as competition. The few electronic big ticket items are on pallets in an area where a line can form, but the actual product is in sight. To me this is like putting a steak just out of reach from a hungry dog. If you hold that steak in front of that dog long enough, they will do anything to get to it once it's officially available. Not to compare people to dogs, but when you act like an animal it becomes on of those if the shoe fits moments.

Then what they wouldn't consider to be a big ticket item, such as cheap towels (not even worth a dime IMO) and cheap sheet sets. Those are wheeled out into the middle of an open aisle. Now where there was room there's none. People are divided on each side of the item, and the grass is greener on the other side mentality kicks in. If you've seen any of the youtube videos from the walmart towel sale, people are grabbing across the bin, not on the side that's right in front of them. People who weren't in the exact right spot for where this pallet was opened start pushing to get to their item, because at this point they've been waiting and they feel entitled to the discount. After all they've been in the store longer, waiting for this item to be brought out, but didn't know exactly where it would be. In their mind people are "cutting" in front of them and getting their item. Madness follows.

Most popular, and what you wouldn't think would be popular items, are located in one centralized place.

Target. You are in line outside of the store. No actual merchandise is in your eyesight. After awhile you start a conversation with the people around you and find out they aren't going for the same thing you are. You don't make friends with them and start planning dinners together or anything, but you aren't all ready to beat them to their item. You remain calm and usually cold. By being cold your body is concentrating on keeping warm, and not fully focused on scoring an item that is not a need. Target employees, and the police come by and explain the rules, the location of different items and exactly how you are to act and behave once you move into the store. You are given a map, told you are in a good spot in line to get your item, you sometimes are given a snack or other gift. You are fairly content and calm. The store opens and small groups are sectioned off and one group has to clear the main entrance before another one is allowed in. Big ticket items are located in multiple places in the store, along with items that wouldn't be thought to be big ticket items. All aisles are clear and the merchandise has been placed off to the side w/ an employee standing there keeping watch. Clothing and other items that are not on sale are pushed back to create room for the big ticket and other sale items. Leaving plenty of room to move around, and get to merchandise from multiple sides. You are not being shoved, pushed and manhandled by other shoppers trying to grab into the same small space as yourself. The crowd is dispersed throughout the store, and there is room to move. The few people who just cannot follow rules and act like adults and humans can easily be spotted by other shoppers as being abnormal and the herd mentality does not kick in.

I know what store I'd rather be in.

 

[Grog]

Not sure why this is corporate greed, it sounds more like consumer greed.

This!

 

[dvcgirl]

Black Friday gets more ridiculous every year. I don't begrudge anyone the opportunity to stretch their "holiday shopping dollars", but the whole experience has gotten completely out of control. There were "incidents" in nine separate states yesterday. From shootings in parking lots, to pepper spraying morons to complete frenzies over waffle irons and hand towels. Really?

Because the stores open as early as midnight on Friday or even stay open on Thanksgiving itself, people are now altering their Thanksgiving plans around the store hours for Black Friday. It's insane.