You couldn't pay me to go to a store to shop on black Friday...

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

I would hear people saying how much "fun" it is to get up at 3:00 am and join the crowds, blah blah blah....

Are you fucking kidding me???

[Bluzmann57]

1. I had to get up at 4:00 AM

so I could arrive at my job by 5. And it ain't fun, believe me. Sleeping late is a GREAT feeling. And as far as crowds are concerned, baseball games, ok, but when I go to a store, I want to get in and out as fast as possible.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. Me, neither. I enjoy shopping for gifts this time of the year, but

no frickin' way.

How ya doing, V? How is your sister holding up?

:hug:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

10. Thanks for asking, Midlo.

We're hanging in there. Last weekend was tough, obviously. I've talked to my sister often since the funeral, and she seems to be holding up as well as can be expected. My niece is doing OK, but I heard she had a little bit of a "melt-down" the other day (to be expected). Her in-laws are in town this weekend, and my parents spoke to them on Thanksgiving. My mom said Kevin's (my late brother-in-law) mother was laughing again (my niece painted her husband's nose red; they bought her a paint set); I think my niece is helping them.

Thanks for inquiring. :)

[Midlodemocrat]

11. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

You're in my thoughts and prayers, V.

:hug:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

14. Thanks, Midlo. :)

The dr. gave my sister some meds to help her sleep and an anti-depressant, so I think that's helping a bit, but it still isn't easy.

She does have a lot of support (neighbors, friends and, of course, family) which will help. I think she and her daughter will be getting some counseling as well to help deal with the sudden loss.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Some people like crowds, they like shopping, they like feeling all festive

being in the Christmas-decorated marketplace buying gifts for loved ones. I went shopping yesterday, and it was pleasant. I don't know where all you folks live, but in Omaha, Nebraska, the crowds just don't get very rude or pushy--it was just a busy shopping day, everywhere we went--no more, no less, and most everyone was polite. (edit to add: I went in the afternoon. You couldn't get me out of bed early just to shop, unless they were giving away their shit for free.)

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Oh, I agree with that aspect.

Just not the getting up early for the big sale part, LOL.

I usually do all my shopping online, but I do enjoy strolling the malls and just people and window watching.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Yup--some of my happiest memories consist of going out shopping

in downtown Pittsburgh, the day after Thanksgiving, with either my mom or my aunt, and then being treated to a fancy lunch (didn't happen often, LOL!). I liked the bus ride downtown, all the people, the department stores all decorated (especially the Kaufmann's dept. store animated window displays), the perfume-sprayer ladies, the carols piped in to hum along with...good times, good times. That's always Christmas, to me.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. Many moons ago, when I was a tween, NYC used to shut down

Fifth Avenue to automobile traffic and people would walk up and down the street looking in the windows at B. Altman and Macy's and Lord and Taylor at the gorgeous displays.

I can still smell the chestnuts roasting. That's how powerful that memory is.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. Ah, I remember those times

That was a whole different experience, rich and full, not the kind of stuff that people experience today in malls.

Sterile, recycled air (which is filthy), overheated, crowded, generic stoes, tired people. When was the last time you saw a store with an outstanding window display? There aren't even any windows (except for Nordstrom).

And lunch was always so special, so grown up.

You and Proust and his madeleines, huh?

[EFerrari]

5. I did it the first year we had enough money left over from November.

The ritual wasn't completely insane yet. It was me, a friend and about fifty other women who already had sore feet from cooking all day on Thursday. It was a little bit like a party.

That was enough, though. Shopping has never been a hobby around here, let alone a sport the way it seems to be with a lot of people.

[Scooter24]

6. I enjoy shopping at the malls the weekend after Thanksgiving...

but usually avoid the 4am-5am big sales.

[MercutioATC]

9. I bought my girlfriend's X-Mas present today (Saturday).

It was a diamond bracelet and, with the economy in its current state, the jewelry store was nearly empty (and as a related benefit, they came down $250 from their original price). Not a bad shopping experience.

I'd never have tried it yesterday, though.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

12. I guess it's just gotten crazier...seems that way to me.

[MercutioATC]

13. I also went to the mall (briefly). The cheaper stores were swamped.

Macy's didn't have the perfume I was looking for, so I just left.

Actually spending any amount of time shopping today probably would have driven me crazy.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

15. I may venture out this weekend, but just to the grocery store.

I need to go to Costco at some point, but I'm thinking that would be a mistake this weekend. Maybe during the week is a better bet.

[IntravenousDemilo]

17. You couldn't pay me to set foot in a WalMart.

And in the unlikely event that you did pay me, rest assured that I'd spend that money elsewhere.

[pitohui]

18. well you could pay me and actually many are getting paid

if i thought i could handle the physical side of it, sure, i'd do it, not for fun, but for profit -- as others have pointed out, some of the impetus is because people are actually buying the way below cost items and then re-selling them for xmas cash

i'm too small and i'm sure i'd be trampled but, yes, if i thought i could cash in, i'd be there with bells on -- i have a lot of experience with buy and sell over the years, with items i got in other ways, so i know i could do the selling end of it

i don't normally make $100 an hour, do you? a few hours of hell and then a few hours online to sell the item and drop them off at the UPS place...yeah, i'd do it if i could...or maybe the big items i could craigslist and whoever could drive over and pick them up...not too tough!

look and see if those people who claim it's fun really give all those electronic items or if maybe they're actually selling them!

i've only made a couple hundred dollars this year selling my items but it's because i haven't placed my ads, so only have myself to blame

[elocs]

19. I went later in the afternoon to Kohl's, but had no desire to fight the crowds in the morning.

It was busy, but not horrible busy.

[kimmerspixelated]

20. Agreed,

I avoid the commercial places like the malls, but for fun we go to Old Town or another historical district with unique or antique-y shops. I don't care what the deals are at the other places, the "madness" of just trying to maneuver thru the masses, is def. not worth it!!! But after Black Friday, I will try to go back to the malls, but not always on the weekends.