Let's Discuss: stores opening at 8:00 pm on Thanksgiving

kris356

Okay, it is really slow around here so here is a topic.

What do you think of Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, JC Penney, and Macy's are all opening at 8:00 pm on Thanksgiving and Toys R Us opening at 10:00 pm?

I will admit, I am not a Black Friday shopper. I love to shop stay far away from the mall at Christmas time since it is full of people who never go to the mall except at Christmas. 

Luckystar2

I think it's ridiculous! Nobody NEEDS to shop on tday. I don't get why they can't just stick with Black Friday shopping.

Personally I think the best compromise is not being open on Tday and having your big sales online. I know last year there were some great online sales on Tday. I bought some Christmas presents on the holiday and didnt need to leave my house.

Oh and I never Black Friday shop. I hate crowds. Nothing is worth it to me! I did most of my Christmas shopping online last year. I just cannot take the traffic and crowds at stores that time of year!!

MaryM

I feel bad for the employees. I worked retail in college and it is not fun at holiday time. I think the workers deserve a holiday off with their families. I won't shop that day because I don't want to promote it. I agree with just keeping it to Friday.

Meghan&Rich

I'm not a Black Friday shopper, so I admittedly don't really pay attention to which stores are open and when.  That being said, I do feel bad for the employees who have to work and miss out on family time; but I am sure there are people who need or want to work as well.  Part of me thinks it's ridiculous to keep opening earlier and earlier, but the other part is way too excited about relaxing and stuffing my face with Thanksgiving goodness to really worry about retail shopping!

Meghan&Rich

dup

kris356

My sister works retail although not in a store that has crazy Black Friday sales. The worst part is when stores like Macy's and JC Penney, then the mall wants all stores to open early.

kris356

I think the main problem is all employees HAVE to work on BF, it is not optional. If you don't, you will most likely lose your job so a lot of people have no choice. My aunt and cousin worked at Wal-Mart and would have to be at work at 3:00 am on Friday. And I get when people say they shouldn't work there but really it was their only choice. 

AmandaJLewis

well, if the employees are not getting holiday pay plus time and a half then I feel bad for them.  I used to love working "holidays" when I was at Kohl's in college.  Double time and a half is kinda awesome. But they may have better benefits than say walmart.

And yet, I think that if the desire to shop wasn't there that being open wouldn't be worth it to them. But it must be. People love to feel like they got a great deal, even if it means packing up the turkey and rushing to the malls.

As a regular host of T-day, once everyone is fed I can't wait to go to sleep. it is a huge all-day effort. After which I am relaxing and having some alone time. And like Kris, I avoid all malls/stores through the christmas shopping season. Woo for internet shopping and Amazon Prime.

sarahandtim

I LOVE Black Friday shopping if not really for the sales, but more for the tradition (my BFF and I would always go out every year). Part of the fun was getting up at the crack of dawn and waiting for stores to open. Now that they open the night before it's pretty anticlimactic. Not to mention the employees who have to give up their holiday now.

lishie

I love going out to shop on Black Friday, but more for the experience. I was never one to wake at 3 a.m. to get a sale, and I definitely won't be out on Thanksgiving night shopping. I will still go out at some point on Black Friday though, probably around 7 or 8 a.m. .

bride2003

I am not a BF shopper but my sisters are & last year they did go out around 10 on Tgiving.  I thinks it all overhyped and a sad reflection on consumerism in our society.

 

For all the BF shoppers you know the ads are already out!  Crazy - www.bfads.net. 

kris356

AmandaJLewis said:

well, if the employees are not getting holiday pay plus time and a half then I feel bad for them.  I used to love working "holidays" when I was at Kohl's in college.  Double time and a half is kinda awesome. But they may have better benefits than say walmart.

From what I have read, Target/Walmart/JC Penney/Macy's have holiday pay but it is not double time and a half and it does not apply to seasonal employees. 

northhillsbride

I went out on BF one time, with my Mom, but didn't head out until 6:30a that morning. We had fun, but most crazy shoppers were either home resting up for round 2 or fueling up with food!

I did specifically go for a sale item at Sears, but they had quite a bit in stock and it was a matter of walk in, pick up, pay and walk out = 10 minutes. Kind of anticlimatic, but my Mom and I stayed and shopped the rest of the Mall. It was fun.

I did attempt to do TRU one night - went out at 9p; but it was pouring, the line was around the block and I gave up. I'm a wimp.

I won't be going out this year unless there is something we really need; but I doubt it! I do feel bad for the employees. As Sheila said, consumerism at its finest.

egpitt22

Ditto Sarah & Lisa, I'm a black friday shopper but love it for the experience.  If I get a great deal, great, if not....I'm not upset.  I just love going out with my mom that day, it's something we've done for years.  But, we never go out ON Thanksgiving. 

The Tanger Outlets are also open on Thanksgiving (I believe at 10pm)  My dad is the director of a store there, so that means that on Thanksgiving,we will eat early (more lunch time meal) and he will try to take a nap after eating.  He has to be at his store by 7 or 8pm to be ready to open by 10, so he'll leave our house then and work all night and into the morning.  He usually comes home around 10am the next morning, sleeps for a few hours, then goes back in that night. I always feel bad for him