As defined by Wikipedia, Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Especially popular in the United States and Canada, the event is spreading to other nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom. On this day, many retailers open very early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season. Because Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, the day after occurs between the 23rd and the 29th of November.
The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle trafficwhich would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. Use of the term began by 1966 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the period during which retailers are turning a profit, or "in the black."
-Wikipedia
Back in my college days, I worked for the Limited Express - yes the old days when it was still called the Limited Express! I think the earliest, I ever had to be in the store the day after was maybe 6:30 am? Today in 2010 these retail employees are going in on Thanksgiving night or opening at 4am! I think over the years Black Friday has totally gotten out of control with the door buster hours! I feel for all those retail employees that I had to be in the stores before 4am! The only thing I wanted to door bust for was the cricuit machine at Joannes and my new cell phone <--that turned into a disaster! Verizon sent me a letter saying a month ago that I was eligible for a new phone and then the last time I called in the CS rep told me I could change my phone. So, when I saw the Best Buy door buster for a free Samsung Android phone my husband went to wait in in line for the door buster today. He waited 3 hours and got in and got the phone and they went to activate it and Verizon claims I'm not eligible!?!?! Of course at 5:30 am no one was answering at Verizon to help me fix this issue or to clarify my eligibility! So now, I wait again - hopefully there will be another deal on the phone!
Did anyone go doorbusting? If so what were you door busting for?
Last year, I went door busting by myself and I saw many teams of women & men and some were wearing team shirts? Do you go this far with your Black Friday shopping?
I only ever knew the retailer turning a profit history of black friday.
ReplyDeletefor whatever reason, i only remember working the 26th of december and how crazy that was.
haha I cannot believe you worked @ Express! I was a sales lead there a few years ago and had to be there super early and late all the time! I worked at Easton the main flagship store and I dreaded Black Friday! I hope your cell deal works out... I am sure your husband was super pumped!
ReplyDelete