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Happy Black Friday 2010
Nov. 26th, 2010 09:53 amAnd if you are shopping, be nice to a store clerk today. They will appreciate it.
Yes, I am celebrating Black Friday by getting nowhere near a mall. Probably because I have done one too many retail gigs that involve this strange holiday that takes place the day after Thanksgiving.
So far there have been no reports of anyone trampled trying to get a flat screen TV or Nintendo DS or a Wii. I am sure if it does happen, there will be news flashes about it.
I think the hardest part is telling people that you no longer have that item that they wanted in stock and no you can’t give a rain-check because it was limited to the number at the store that day. You get two reactions for the most part. One is the customer who thinks that they are entitled to this object and we are being big meany-poopy heads for not giving it to them. We must have one in the back that we are hiding for ourselves and therefore it must be given to them. The other is the truly disappointed look with the story of why this object is the Holy Grail that they really wanted to get. My sympathies are with the disappointed rather than the entitled.
If you are shopping or have shopped, more power to you. I have a problem with grabby shovey customers who will block check you for the last pair of mitten if they are on sale.
This year I have noticed that lots of stores had sales earlier or are extending the sales to spread things around a little more. I also noticed the number of people who didn’t get Thanksgiving off. They had to work the sales that started on Thanksgiving night and went through this AM. Walmart touted the fact that the store opened at midnight so come shop until the electronic sales at 5 AM. Also online retailers are trying to appeal to people like me who really don’t want to deal with the crowds and lack of parking. So maybe the mayhem will be a little less.
Most of today is going to be taking care of Caroline who awoke with a full blown cold with a slight fever rather than allergies. She is a pretty miserable little girl right now. And this takes the plans with her sister right off the board which she is very disappointed about.
I am grateful to all the reasonable customers who make the clerks lives a little easier.
Yes, I am celebrating Black Friday by getting nowhere near a mall. Probably because I have done one too many retail gigs that involve this strange holiday that takes place the day after Thanksgiving.
So far there have been no reports of anyone trampled trying to get a flat screen TV or Nintendo DS or a Wii. I am sure if it does happen, there will be news flashes about it.
I think the hardest part is telling people that you no longer have that item that they wanted in stock and no you can’t give a rain-check because it was limited to the number at the store that day. You get two reactions for the most part. One is the customer who thinks that they are entitled to this object and we are being big meany-poopy heads for not giving it to them. We must have one in the back that we are hiding for ourselves and therefore it must be given to them. The other is the truly disappointed look with the story of why this object is the Holy Grail that they really wanted to get. My sympathies are with the disappointed rather than the entitled.
If you are shopping or have shopped, more power to you. I have a problem with grabby shovey customers who will block check you for the last pair of mitten if they are on sale.
This year I have noticed that lots of stores had sales earlier or are extending the sales to spread things around a little more. I also noticed the number of people who didn’t get Thanksgiving off. They had to work the sales that started on Thanksgiving night and went through this AM. Walmart touted the fact that the store opened at midnight so come shop until the electronic sales at 5 AM. Also online retailers are trying to appeal to people like me who really don’t want to deal with the crowds and lack of parking. So maybe the mayhem will be a little less.
Most of today is going to be taking care of Caroline who awoke with a full blown cold with a slight fever rather than allergies. She is a pretty miserable little girl right now. And this takes the plans with her sister right off the board which she is very disappointed about.
I am grateful to all the reasonable customers who make the clerks lives a little easier.
