BLACK FRIDAY 2006

[caseydbell]

:happy: There are 86 days left until BLACK FRIDAY Does anyone have a game plan already? If you want more information on black Friday please visit http://www.freewebs.com/christmasyearround/christmas2006.htm

[sheepsnot]

My game plan is simple: Stay home because there are people willing to fight over cheap prices. Occasionally, my wife will venture out, but it is too much for her, too.

[mrshfromjersey]

I NEVER shop on black friday. It's my least favorite shopping day of the year. I don't like the way people act in the stores on black friday. I'm usually done with my shopping by now, but this year, with the move, I'm waiting until we get to the new house.

[dvdelf]

I'll probably be at work

[caseydbell]

any of u ever seen the movie jingle all the way....enough said the week of Christmas & black friday (although my mom and aunt leave around 5 am and return home around 11 Pm or midnight....can anyone say CRAZY) :o

[RavenHardt]

Sometimes I find something at Wal-Mart that catches my eye....I love standing in the cold...with hot cocoa...and watching all the dumb asses....it really is fun...hehehehe :eek:

[sheepsnot]

My wife, who gets up an unholy hours of the night sometimes, was at Wal-Mart at about 4 one morning a couple Christmases ago and they announced a sale that was not advertised; you just had to be there. They were selling George Foreman grills for a buck!

[caseydbell]

standing in the cold drinking hot coco.....Its begining to sound a lot like christmas. ONLY 117 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!! :???: :wiggy: 8-)

[elfworks]

having been in retail, i understand the concept of black friday, however, dont get me started on the whole frenzy and anxiety people bring to the shopping thing. if youre buying a gift for someone, it ought to be a pleasure and a joy and all that jazz. turning it into an ordeal is just stupid. if youre not having fun, you aint doing it right.


xo

[mrshfromjersey]

AMEN TO THAT!!!

[sheepsnot]

having been in retail, i understand the concept of black friday, however, dont get me started on the whole frenzy and anxiety people bring to the shopping thing. if youre buying a gift for someone, it ought to be a pleasure and a joy and all that jazz. turning it into an ordeal is just stupid. if youre not having fun, you aint doing it right.

That applies to nearly everything, I suppose, except giving CPR. I like going to see a movie after the fervor has died down cause I'm not overly crowd friendly. I like a small church for the same reason. If any of my leisure activities becomes stressful, I change it. Just doesn't make sense to continue to do something you hate, shopping included. (Long way of saying I agree!)

[elfworks]

we are not obligated to gift anyone. you give someone a gift because you want to do something to make them happy, make yourself happy; because you care about this person. shopping, or baking or crafting something for a person you care about should be joyful not a pain in the patootie. if youre doing it as an obligation, youve got the wrong attitude and therefore, it is going to suck turtle toes. if you embrace the spirit of giving (of yourself... time money talent whatever) you will actually discover that you dont need days like black friday sales events (and the ensuing throngs) to get thru it.
and yes, i DO know that there are office parties and events where a gift is expected and these gifts are maybe for ppl who are not near and dear. so, take a day in early fall and go get a case of wine or something of similar across-the-board-no-hassle-will-work-for-most-situations kinds of things. things you can take as a hostess gift or give to a coworker or business acquaintance. or contact a baker-type (if you dont bake) and preorder some goodies and then go to michaels and buy some inexpensive baskets or decorative platters.

do as many things as you can do before the nutsiness starts with the masses of ppl with bad attitudes crowding the malls. take some time NOW to think about the people you WANT to give a gift, think about the kinds of things they like to do. you will be amazed and how much fun the whole process becomes!


getting off soapbox now.... for now. :D

xo

[sheepsnot]

it is going to suck turtle toes

Big saying in Texas? Again, I agree, but whattaya do when standard practise has been everybody giving everybody something and they don't plan on changing? Join in or be ostrich-sized.

[elfworks]

actually, i just made it up in an attempt to avoid cussing.

as for peer-pressure... givee em a turtle to suck!

jk

here's the thing... you are not obligated to gift anyone. unless you sign up for the office gift pool or whatever, youre not obligated. your obligation is to yourself first. period. do what feels right to you. if you think you will get blacklisted for not getting someone you barely think about the rest of the year, some hastily purchased whatever, then get them something (assuming you dont want to be blacklisted). like i said, there are lots of things you can do that are easy, can be done now, and dont seem like you stopped at the gas station on your way to the gift exchange to buy it!
or, you can just tell these ppl who have no intention of changing the sstatus quo, that YOU are changing the way you do things at the holidays. you wish them well, and a joyous season, and do please have some nog on me... but youre not biting. make a donation to a charity in their collective names and send them a nice card indicating this. how can they carp about that????

how yu deal just depnds on individual ppl and situations, but youre in charge. put your foot down, announce your intention in advance and stick to your guns. NOBODY likes getting and giving as much as i do, but i dont allow myself to get stressed about it. i gift the ppl i want to, hand a bottle of wine (or similar) to those i want to appease, and sit back and enjoy the weather and the lights and the pretty paper!

xo

[sheepsnot]

Totally sidestepped my awesome ostrich joke to jump back on the soap box. Hmph! I am not even i that situation. I just ask questions on behalf of those who won't.

[mrshfromjersey]

Ah...I see. Sheepsnot is playing the Grinch's advocate

[elfworks]

your ostrich comment was so brilliant that i felt that it didnt need acknowledgement...


xo

[mrshfromjersey]

I actually missed the ostrich comment. I just went back and caught it. Do you mind if I use it in everyday life? :-o

[sheepsnot]

As long as you give credit and make royalty payments. I generally don't laugh at my own stuff, but I really liked that one. Now I need an opportunity to use it again. Hmmmm......

[elfworks]

we can ignore you for the rest of the evening and then you can start an indignant thread about being........


<pause for dramatic effect>



ostrich sized.


:D


xo

[mrshfromjersey]

Dum da dum dum

[sheepsnot]

That was good, and I appreciate the pause.

[elfworks]

im sorry... did someone say something???





xo

[HolyNight7]

I will be flying up to Maryland for Thanksgiving so I will be there for Black Friday. I'm not crazy over flying but I haven't seen my mom or my sister for the holidays since I moved to Florida. I haven't been north since I moved here.

[HolyNight7]

Oh I forgot to mention that I do most of my shopping on line. NO LINES!

[Jeff Westover]

Well, I do work retail so I'm out EVERY black friday. I never buy anything but I think it is hilarious to people watch.

Is it anti-christmas to laugh at people on black friday? I don't think so.

Jeff

[elfworks]

i do love the safety of the counter! people watching on BF is a delight.

xo

[HolyNight7]

Okay I'm slow this morning. What's BF?

[elfworks]

uhm... black friday. the subject of this thread!!


xo

[dvdelf]

nothing like opening shop at 7am & closing at 11
oh wait
I wont be in the mall this year :-D

[mrshfromjersey]

Nothing like getting up at the crack of yesterday to send your husband off to work and then not get to see him until after he closes the store at 11pm. Black Friday is lonely for me..... :(

[caseydbell]

to all the brave soals going out this season - God speed.

[Jeff Westover]

dvdguy...what kind of store are you running?

[dvdelf]

cellular :(

[Jeff Westover]

Ah, those are a dime a dozen. You guys have to open early on BF? We do ok on BF, but it certainly isn't a barnbuster. That day belongs to the Wal Marts of the world.

Jeff

[dvdelf]

we open early normally as a company, but this location is also in a mall so mall hours for everyone

[caseydbell]

sorry your working Black Friday DVD Guy.

[Jeff Westover]

I totally can relate. Most of my shops in are in malls...the early morning doesn't kill me as much as the midnight-1am closings. That's pointless and greedy if you ask me.

[dvdelf]

if there were actually people there I could understand it, but not at 11

[Jeff Westover]

I've seen people there after 11. But nobody is spending money.

[HolyNight7]

oh LOL! I told you I was slow this morning. I'm not feeling well truthfully. I've been in pain and it really affects my thinking. Thanks for the info.

[mrshfromjersey]

I'm glad that you guys didn't get hit by Ernesto, HolyNight7! I know you got some rain but at least you are safe.

Take care!

[HolyNight7]

Yea we hardly got anything. I'm glad that so far the hurricane season has been pretty uneventful.

[dvdelf]

yes after last year no more thanks

[elfworks]

glad youre safe, HN7

xo