Should We Shop on Black Friday?

[ScrimpAndSave]

I actually love to full my mug of coffee and stroll around Target at 4am...listening to the music and looking at sales. I don't spend a lot...I just go for the fun of it.

[markusk]

Shopped BF about 3 years ago. It was kind of fun.

I walked to our local Staples and bought a 2G microSD card dirt cheap. I also picked up a paper shredder for free (which lasted about 2 years).

The crowd was large but in general, very calm and polite. There was free Dukin Donuts donuts and coffee to boot!

[Pitman]

I have never shopped on Black Friday and I won't this year either.

Granted, I haven't either, but I don't fault the many friends, and family members who have. I have an uncle whose TV broke, which was a 37in, in May, and he's been using a 13in since, which is in horrific shape. But he's been saving up, and he plans on going to BBY or Circuit City, on black Friday to get a 40in for cheap. I told him your best bet is Circuit City, due to their stores closing; the sales over there should be more promising. I do agree that he doesn't need a new TV, but if you work hard to save up for one, why not buy it when it'll be close to 40% off retail value.

[GoodBuyGirl]

The trick to black friday is to find what you want at Target ect... then go to Walmart and make them do a price match.

[QueenOphelia]

Too damn bad if the retailers are hurting. WE the people are hurting. Jobs are evaporating like rain in the desert. The lack of self control and credit card over use is exacerbated by stupid marketing gimmicks like Black Friday.

There was no so called Black Friday when I was a kid. We bought things when we could afford them. A big reason this country is so f*cked is because everyone buys and buys and buys.

STOP BUYING THINGS YOU DON'T NEED!! You 24 year olds with $500 car payments...cut it out!

Financial self control is a lost art that needs to be taught in schools as early as possible.

[KB24]

I think Black Friday is a psychological marketing technique. People go to stores in hopes of buying goods (that they don't need) at supposedly great prices. From my experience, there are only a few items that are great deals and most of those sell out right away. But once the consumers are in the stores, they feel as though they need to buy something. I mean come on, it's Black Friday!

[KB24]

Oh I would like to add though, it is great for the economy when people are spending.

[disneysteve]

Oh I would like to add though, it is great for the economy when people are spending.

It is NOT great for the economy when people are spending money that they don't have or can't afford to spend. Racking up credit card debt isn't good for anyone except the credit card company, and then only if the borrowers are able to repay the money.

[geojen]

My mom and I always do Black Friday. We scan the fliers the night before and make our plan. But, everything we buy is something we had planned to buy anyways. We always hit up Target first, because they have DVDs on sale for 3 dollars apiece, which I stock up on and use as gifts throughout the year.

That being said, I don't think the points that Jeffrey makes are invalid, but that they apply to basically any shopping trip, really. Not just Black Friday.

[biff]

Absolutely not. That would be like saying we do people a disservice here by posting advice to invest 15% of your income or max out your retirement plan rather than spending that money.

This country is overrun with stores and they are building more all the time. We don't need them all. People have way too much stuff already. They don't need more excuses to spend their money, even if that means someone won't have a job as a result.

Yes, retail is having a rough year. Why? Because people are starting to wake up and realize how foolishly they spend their money. And yes, some stores will not survive this economic cycle and many jobs will be lost. But for someone to suggest that you are doing something wrong by encouraging people to live more responsibly is insane.

Every day, I advise and counsel my patients to eat healthier diets, exercise regularly and take their medications as ordered. The reality is that if everyone actually did those things, doctors and hospitals and drug companies would lose a lot of business. Am I doing the medical field a disservice by making those recommendations? I certainly don't think so.

+1
Steve

[GREENBACK]

I usually work on that day and kind of enjoy having to work then. I have a convienent excuse to not go shopping with my SO. I see the crowds and I can't imagine it. I'll pay more to not have to deal with that crap. When I shop I want it fast and if it's a special new item that's only available to first comers, well, too bad. It will be old news in 6 mos. anyway.

[disneysteve]

I'll pay more to not have to deal with that crap.

My feelings exactly. My time and life and limb are worth far more than whatever I'd save by standing in line for hours and risking getting trampled at the store.

[m3racer]

Oh I would like to add though, it is great for the economy when people are spending.

[m3racer]

It is NOT great for the economy when people are spending money that they don't have or can't afford to spend. Racking up credit card debt isn't good for anyone except the credit card company, and then only if the borrowers are able to repay the money.

[rizzmo]

It is hard to even respond to an email like this. I understand you need a job to provide for your family. I also understand that you choose to work in retail. I think on some level all professions run the risk of being laid off, or no longer having a market for their particular trade. I agree with steve, healthcare would greatly suffer from lack of patients if people stopped smoking and were no longer obese.

One post that I did want to correct, for atleast a few retail stores Black Friday is the largestest revenue day. I have a few friends that work as upper management in these big box stores and Black Friday dwarfs all other days and some entire months in total # of sales and in total dollars of revenue.