I thought it was Christmas Eve these days.

I work for a company that processes credit and debit transactions for many major stores. We actually have a contest every year to guess the top 10 days in order. It varies mainly by what day Christmas falls on, but Black Friday is typically 3-4 back in the list.

12/23 is almost always the busiest day, unless it falls on a Sunday. In fact, 2-3 days leading up to Christmas are usually the busiest. The Saturday before is also usually high on the list, as is the Saturday before that. Christmas eve often has the busiest hour, but since most stores close early, it doesn't often make the top 10 list.

People are shooting and pepper spraying eachother. It's too crazy out there for me.

Are there really people that don't have their shopping done before thanksgiving? Do they wear white after labor day too?

I've been doing black friday for 7 years now. It was always a fun thing where a group of us would stay up all night, hanging out, maybe watching a movie like The Toxic Avenger, then leaving at 4-5. In recent years, places kept opening earlier. Last year, we had to be somewhere at 3.

So, we were all about the fun part of it. Not camping out overnight for some wheat grass deal on an off-brand tv that we don't even want. We'd buy stuff, but mainly it was just for the event.

Now, this year, it's all ruined. Facebook was flooded with people talking about their "first black friday." It was everyone's damn first time because it's so mainstream now. Every commercial on the radio was for it and it was all about stores opening at midnight. Everyone just had to go. It's annoying as hell. None of them even knew the term black friday before.

I've never seen the point of waiting outside a store for days until Black Friday to get something for a 'Special Sale Price'.

Especially when I can sit at my desk and find better deals right here on Woot!

Before anyone runs out to the Black Friday sales for the start of the Christmas shopping season please read the article directly below.
Subject: What a Great Idea! Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and this year our current state of the economy we all need this kind of revolution.

twootwillery wrote:Before anyone runs out to the Black Friday sales for the start of the Christmas shopping season please read the article directly below.
Subject: What a Great Idea! Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and this year our current state of the economy we all need this kind of revolution.

Have you seen the commercials for "Small Business Saturday?" I had never heard of that until this year - it's a movement to go shop at local businesses today. I have been very frustrated with trying to find American made gifts but honestly didn't think of buying gift certificates for services. That is an excellent idea! I think that this website about buying local is really well done: http://www.the350project.net/home.html.

Oh the irony of posting this on Woot. Oh well...

I don't get the whole notion of wanting to compete with mobs of people to get your kids' Christmas presents. Seems pretty selfish and un-Christmasy to me. Do they want to brag to their friends that they got one of only five Elmos at WalMart for $2 (while probably knocking over an old lady and probably elbowing other people in the face)? And the lady who pepper sprayed other customers to get the cheap XBox... she won't be able to use it in jail. Was it worth it?

svengoolie wrote:I've been doing black friday for 7 years now. It was always a fun thing where a group of us would stay up all night, hanging out, maybe watching a movie like The Toxic Avenger, then leaving at 4-5. In recent years, places kept opening earlier. Last year, we had to be somewhere at 3.

So, we were all about the fun part of it. Not camping out overnight for some wheat grass deal on an off-brand tv that we don't even want. We'd buy stuff, but mainly it was just for the event.

Now, this year, it's all ruined. Facebook was flooded with people talking about their "first black friday." It was everyone's damn first time because it's so mainstream now. Every commercial on the radio was for it and it was all about stores opening at midnight. Everyone just had to go. It's annoying as hell. None of them even knew the term black friday before.

Really? I didn't realize there was a special subclass of hipster for Black Friday shoppers.

I've never shopped on Black Friday, first because I hate crowds of people, and then because I started working retail, so I always had to work on Black Friday. My store had ~400 people in line when we opened at midnight, and it was PACKED until around 4 AM. I heard traffic ramped up again after I left around 8 AM, too. So, yeah, I'd believe it's the busiest shopping day of the year.

I'll snap up a good deal on something I've been needing, but I don't do the camping-out-for-random-crap thing. Last year I got a 42 inch TV at Sam's--no lines and plenty of stock since it's a membership club. To be fair I did show up not long after they opened, though that had more to do with me being rather sick and not sleeping well at all that week. This year I ordered a laptop online, it was about $50 less than any other sales I've seen for a rig with these particular specs.

I would rather stick a sharp stick or maybe a freshly sharpened pencil in my eye than get out at 1,2,3a.m. to start Christmas Shopping when the Christmas trees in the department stores and Christmas Muzac playing everywhere I've gone since literally the day before Halloween has zapped me of the strength of will to begin THINKING about Christmas in a positive manner just yet this year. Black Friday indeed. Might as well just call it what it really is: The Anti-Christ's fun with Mega-Capitalism for the upper middle class or those willing to wait 3 hours in the layaway line @ Kmart or WaMart. Talk about the seventh circle of Hell! I say no. Start a boycott. Spend not a dime that day!

I would say it is one of the busiest days... BUT, the prices are the hype :P they really aren't that great

miquinn wrote:I would say it is one of the busiest days... BUT, the prices are the hype :P they really aren't that great

I agree with that the prices are almost normal. sure here and there they will knock off 1 to 2 hundred dollars off of some thing that costs nearly 1000 dollars. if thats the case Woot is like black friday everyday.