I have never been one to hit the stores the day after Thanksgiving. I have heard about the craziness, but never experienced it myself. It always made way more sense to wait until a more reasonable time to shop. I know there are some great deals for those willing to shop at 6 am, but I also know good deals can be found year \’round if you know where to look. For example, smart shoppers frequent sites like Deal of Day to find the best bargains online. (Yes, its a shameless plug…)
However, I thought I would wake up early this morning to go and observe the scene for myself. I got up at 6:30 and drove to the local Best Buy, since that is my favorite electronics store.
I arrived around 6:45 am and found the parking lot mostly full. I immediately scanned the store and found the checkout registers to be fully staffed. I then noticed the line of people beyond the registers. As I walked through the store, I was amazed to see the line continue back further and further. I reached the back of the store and the line continued, making a curve to the right in order to accomodate more people.
There were at LEAST 150 people waiting in line, perhaps with the number being closer to 200 or more. They were clutching $11.99 DVDs, $599 laptop computers, and free-after-rebate recordable cd-roms. Certainly, they felt they had landed deals worth waiting for.
I saw no such deals. I could not, and would not, rationalize waiting in line for 90 minutes to save a few dollars. I was AMAZED at the number of people eager to wait an irrational period of time to get the gizmo or gadget on sale. A few employees asked if they could help me. I asked one gentlemen if there was an express register for those wanting to purchase one or two items. He informed me that there was not, and I informed him that I would not be buying anything. Oh, well.
Hey, this is America, and I am glad to see our economy alive and kicking. You folks who braved the early morning hours and long lines are to be applauded!
But I came upon this story and was saddened by the lengths that some people will go to get that \”great deal\”.
ORANGE CITY, Fla. — A 41-year-old woman was knocked unconscious and then trampled by a mob of shoppers who continued to step over her as she suffered a seizure during a Friday sale at Wal-Mart in Orange City, Fla., according to Local 6 News.
Authorities said that Patricia Van Lester arrived at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. for an early sale on a DVD player for her mother. When the store\’s doors opened at 6 a.m., Van Lester grabbed the DVD player but was quickly overcome by hundreds of shoppers rushing into the store.
The poor woman just wanted to get a good deal on a DVD player! How pathetic that the human cattle shopping at this store wanted to save a few dollars so badly that they stampeded this woman? Sigh… You can read the rest of the story here.
I have nothing more to say about it. Your comments?