I love the tradition of Black Friday. On Thursday, I eat a gigantic meal with my family. Thursday night my mom and I look through all the department store flyers for Black Friday deals to decide where we will go and when. We’re up before the sun, eating McDonalds’ breakfast on the go and have waited in countless lines for early bird or door-buster deals. But Black Thursday crosses the line.
Christmas is slowly finding its way into summer vacation. People have been complaining for years that Christmas keeps coming earlier. This is actually happening with the help of materialist madness. Within the last two decades, Christmas music and decorations went from starting the day after Thanksgiving to before Halloween.
We have very few holidays in this country that allow almost everyone a day off, and Thanksgiving is one of them. It has very little religious affiliation so it’s almost universally celebrated. Now, instead of having a guaranteed day off in retail or other sales/service industries, employees are forced to not leave town on Thanksgiving since they have to work by 8 p.m.
Eight p.m. on Thursday is the new normal, with stores like Target, Kohl’s and JC Penney all opening at this time. Walmart, which never closes, is starting Black Friday sales at 6 p.m. on Thursday. I’ve worked retail, and crazy shoppers are a lot to prepare for, which means employees do not just have to end their festivities with family by 8 p.m., but actually much earlier to start their shift and prepare for the impending mob.
I know we live in a fast-paced society, but there is nothing wrong with slowing down. We all look forward to a little break for Thanksgiving. We should just enjoy the day. How can anyone sincerely claim they are thankful for everything they have and leave all that to shop for more stuff in the same day?
Department stores should not be open on Thanksgiving. Period. They should give their employees a break and let everyone celebrate the holiday. They should provide a plethora of good deals on Friday rather than a slew of mediocre deals on Thursday.
That said, department stores aren’t changing any time soon. So it is up to you, the consumer, to reject the idea of Black Thursday.
These sales are just to extend and expand profits, they serve no real benefit for you as a consumer. Why do you need to shop on one of the few holidays you get to spend with your family and friends? Just sit back and wait for Friday.
If you feel like it is tradition to go Friday, or if there is some deal you cannot resist on Thursday, here are a few tips:
No product is worth dying for. That seems silly to say, but it apparently it needs to be. If you feel you’re in a crowd that could lose control, get out. The newest flat screen or Play Station is not worth your life; it is not even worth a sprained ankle, especially during the holiday season.
Make a budget. Purchasing sale items does not put more money in your checking account. Know what you have and don’t buy things just because they are on sale.
Along with making a budget, make a list. Decide what you are looking for before you go, both for yourself and for others. Buy new boots or get a new pair of jeans, not necessarily both. Next weekend is not a free-for-all, it is an opportunity.
To all those going out Thursday night, I guess I can thank you because it will make my Friday morning shopping less crowded and less stressful, and I will still find some great deals.
Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
