Take the recent Black Friday shopping experience - good for some, disappointing for most.
Many people camped out for hours - in the chilly temperatures - in lawn chairs and sleeping bags just to be one of the hundreds in line for the 4:00 or 5:00 store opening.
And for what? To be able to save substantially on that one "must have" item that the store had maybe one or two of - and hundreds of people thinking they would be lucky enough to get it? Most of those items were long gone before much of the crowd even got through the door.
In fact, the people standing near the back of the line would probably done just asa well to have gone home and save the time it would have taken to finally get into the store and then realize their disappointment at everything being gone that was a featured sale item.
As a marketing ploy to draw traffic, this is classic. However, for the shooppers who planned on getting the great bargains, it's more like the lottery or getting the golden ticket.
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Steve...
I got a free five gallon bucket at Lowes ... hardly a treasure but free nonetheless!
Steve, I'm not a huge shopper and could not even imagine getting up at 5:00 in the morning to do something that I don't really enjoy. Personally I just let my fingers do the shopping.
I do not understand the lure of long lines to shop for a few bargains...
STEVE: I so agree with your post, why would someone waste so much time in waiting only to be disappointed and sometime angry and belligerent. I have never taken part in Black Fridays and am glad I do not have the desire to.
We had people literally camping out in front of Best Buy for a week! A week! Amazing isn't it?
Hi Steve:
I'm not much of a shopper either...
so I'm not one for the Black Friday event!
Yep, I stayed at home and many should have done likewise! Can't seem to find the energy or time to sit and wait...or the patience!
Just the thought of long lines and racing to Door Busters with limited quantity frustrates me.
Richard,
That's great, but if they had been out of it, would it have mad a difference to you? :)
Steve
Marchel,
You've got to be a serious shopper to play. :)
Steve
Paul,
I think it has something to do with the thrill of the hunt. :)
Steve
Kathleen,
I think it takes a special mindset to do this. :)
Steve
Dick and Dixie,
Clearly the idea of saving a couple of hundred dollars mattered more than their time in line or lost productivity. :)
Steve
Toula,
If you don't need the few specials that are out there, there's no reason to go. :)
Steve
Gary,
It sure takes a lot of that, and patience seems to be the first one to go. :)
Steve
Linda,
It's taking your chance that after a long wait they'll still have what you want. :)
Steve
Steve: I was reading about inventory issues that stores will have this holiday season. They bought their holiday stock in the spring, and things weren't going so well then. Having worked in retail, I wouldn't be caught dead shopping on Black Friday. It's insanity to duke it out with all those crazed shoppers to save a few bucks.
Richard, I am still in bed, warm and my blood pessure is normal at those early hours. Why go out and get frazzled?
Steve,
It is the thrill of the shop??? I did not camp out but did go to the mall of Black Friday. It was an experience as always...;-)
Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO
Chris Ann,
If retailers sold all their inventory I don't think they would be disappointed - not for very long anyway. :)
Steve
Apparently this is fun for some people?
Wanda,
If you're not a shopper or don't need any of the bargains, no need to venture out. :)
Steve
Ann,
There is a certain crowd experience - if you enjoy that. :)
Steve
Jon,
Like looking a houses but never buying. :)
Steve
Steve,
No, not really the crowd experience, just being with my family and getting into the holiday spirit..;-)
Ann
Ann,
That does sound enjoyable. :)
Steve