[jimjohn]

Our usual tradition would be me at this time, meeting the wife and daughters for breakfast after their early start hitting the malls and big-box stores, It's a fun time for all. Big family get together on Thursday. Then the girls hit the hay, while the guys watch football, and clean up afterwards. After that, the fun starts for the girls in the early morning, and we meet them for breakfast, hoping we don't have to throw more money at them.

But this year threw the rhythm off with the stores all opening earlier. Instead of spending more time with family, and getting some rest, I have gals here now in bed with limited shopping done. It was all the chaos with people with full stomachs, and awfully tired after the days events trying to get where everyone else is at the same time; stores only letting a certain number in at once, etc.

Bottom line: The girls say they are NOT doing the early Thanksgiving shopping again. They say the early shopping for 'a chance' at a good deal is not worth the time taken away from family. What say you folks?

The floor is now open for discussion.

[COBOL2Java]

The drive to work this morning was great!

[cableguymn]

Slept right through it. I am a courier. Was told black Friday is very busy for a couple of our customers. It hasn’t been.

[napscoordinator]

I didn’t go. However, I hear it was a success at least here in Annapolis, MD. Can’t speak for anyone else.

[rabscuttle385]

Instead of shopping today, I put $100 in my savings account.

[tje]

I shop on line - and that’s pretty limited.. My wife has all the Christmas shopping done..

[The Working Man]

For my family Black Friday is a day for a peaceful day at home. Years ago my wife and her best friend would spend all of Thanksgiving afternoon and evening pouring over maps, shopping strategies and Lists of ‘Deals’.

Today? Well Amazon and it’s associates are big winners. Walmart.com and ship to store also got a nice order too.

[etabeta]

Never done it and never will do it. There will be enough sales during December to do some wise shopping.

[cripplecreek]

I think there is a silver lining in a crappy economy. Its bringing us back to a more traditional holiday season.

Things are so much more relaxed at granny’s house these days.

[vanilla swirl]

Back room guy at big box store;
Less than half the parking lot compared to near full last year.
Does not look good. Most retail make their money this time of year.

[John 3_19-21]

I copied this from a friends facebook page:

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 plonking down the Benjamines 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.
This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

[RayChuang88]

Amazon.com, Buy.com and other online retailers--all Black Friday shopping done without ruining your sleep or fighting crowds.

I can now stay home and enjoy another Friday instead.

[reed13k]

Well it’s sorta a tradition that I drive my wife and girls (mrs doesn’t like driving at night) and along the way we pick up a free snow globe at jc penny’s. This year crowds were way down. And I don’t think it was because of early shopping. Even the stores that opened later had plenty of parking this year where in the past I might have to drop them at the door and then circle for a bit. My impression is black Friday may leave the retailers still in the red.

[mozarky2]

Went to Wal-Mart in Rogers, AR (store #1, wife works there). Shoulder to shoulder gridlock inside the store; no parking for blocks.

Only saw one enraged customer. Apparently, he’d been in the store before the shoppers hit just before 10:00, and was overwhelmed by the sudden spate. I calmed him down and helped him get out of the store; old fellow, obviously somewhat frightened.

Didn’t get all I came for; couldn’t find the Disney Storybooks until they were almost all gone.

As an avid observer of humankind, I really enjoyed the experience. Had some really good conversations, met some really nice people.

[Ladysforest]

Going out to buy milk and OJ at Sams club, it’s nearly always busy there. I don’t think we are “shopping” per se, but do have to go to walmart to look at a gun case they have on sale.

I’ll be interested to see how many people are out there.

[Sequoyah101]

Never have and never will go to any store on Black Friday. I’ll hardly ever go any other day for that matter. FEDEX and UPS are my most frequent visitors. I shop on line for almost everything. Amazon is fading from my favored list because of their stance on sales taxes.

I also buy American every time I can... and only good stuff whenever I can find it. Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten. This goes for consumables as well. To get a decent nut or bolt anymore you have to get Grade 5 it seems. The import stuff is junk it is so soft.

When I can’t find Made in U.S.A. at a store I complain, disparage Chinese junk and look elsewhere.

When do I get my curmudgeon certificate?

[PastorJimCM]

My wife headed out at midnight, my daughter at 3. I was out at 4:45, after 5 stores and getting all I was looking for, I was home by 7:45. [I would have been home 1 1/2 hours earlier but one store did not open until 7:30.]
No lines at any stores. I was the first customer at one store that had opened 2 hours earlier. (car parts) There were few sustomers (7 at one and 12 at the other) at the big hardware stores. Staples had the most but 15 minutes after it opened the only line was at the counter for buying the computers.

[tickmeister]

Black Friday is going great for me. Have been cutting firewood, will continue, will spend not a cent.

[BunnySlippers]

I get up at 4AM to go to work so I couldn’t go shopping today ... but I can tell you that just 2 weeks ago I had to go to the mall on a Saturday. It was TOTALLY jammed! It’s almost always jammed.

So some people have jobs.

[CodeToad]

So far mine has been great! I woke up late, and am sitting here drinking some good coffee and getting some work done on the computer. This is a nice quiet day.

[simplesimon]

Did it one time only and stood in line at WallyWorld ( aka Walmart ) to get one of those fang-dangled FURBIES for my young’en, with my young’en with me ~ hehe~ and I probably wont ever do it again.

That thing was posessed. I came home from work one night, dh and kid were asleep and the dogs didn’t come to the door to greet me as they always did. ( I Had 3 labradors at the time.)

Then I HEAR this creepy thing and knew it was a furbie but I couldnt find it. It would *not* STFU.

Dh had hid it under a pile of our coats by the front door.
Finally I punted it out the back door to DIE a battery malfunctioned death, and then the dogs happily got off the couches and greeted me.
I think they were happy that Mom was home and took care of that possessed demon Furby.

Cyber Monday shopping more than likely from now on unless there is a STEAL of a deal that I cannot live without and I dont see that happenin’~