Black Friday has actually become a Thursday event — right on Thanksgiving Day — as some retailers plan to beat the rush and open right after families finish their meals.
I remember when stores would open at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. and offer all kinds of super specials and door-buster deals to get shoppers in the doors as early as possible. Totally understandable. Then the start time somehow got earlier and earlier — 6 a.m., 5 a.m…and then the Midnight Madness events.
Well, this year it has reached a new low. Forgive me for sounding like the Grinch, but why do stores need to encroach on the Thanksgiving holiday? On Thursday, Nov. 22, Target will open at 9 p.m. Not to be outdone, Walmart opens its doors at 8 p.m. Doesn’t tryptophan affect anyone? And isn’t anyone interested in watching football?
Apparently, the answer is no and no. According to Target’s executive vice president of merchandising, “We heard from our guests that they look forward to kicking off their holiday shopping with deal-hunting on Thanksgiving night. Opening at 9 p.m. gives Target’s Black Friday guests a more convenient way to create an after-dinner shopping event that the entire family can enjoy.”
Well, not everyone thinks it’s such a great idea. Go to the website Change.org and you can view petitions related to chains keeping their doors shut on Thanksgiving. One petition from a Target employee, who wants to save the holiday from “Thanksgiving creep,” had more than 150,000 supporters.
“Frankly, Target, the idea is bland, uninspired and, due to its holiday crushing nature, a tad evil,” echoed another backer. “Go back to an early Friday morning opening and let your workers eat turkey while squabbling with loved ones they haven't been able to see all year!”
The online madness is starting even now. To beat everyone to the punch five days early, Sears is letting members of Shop Your Way, its free loyalty program, buy Black Friday door-buster deals online as early as Sunday night, Nov. 18. Amazon’s official Black Friday Deals Week start on Monday, Nov. 19.
As exciting as it is for some to be out at midnight getting that great deal on a gift, there are plenty of folks who would rather shop at home in their pajamas and avoid the parking space battles and long line drama. In fact, some reports show people will spend more than $54 billion online this shopping season — up 17 percent from last year at this time.
As for me, I haven’t done the Midnight Madness thing yet, but I might be willing to try it this year — after my turkey, dessert and plenty of family bonding!
