So what is with these black friday sales that start at 4 am?

If I worked at one of these stores I'd be pissed that I have to wake up at three am the day after Thanksgiving to go to work.

If there was a sale I really liked, I'd be pissed that I have to get up at 3 am to get to the store before whatever it is sells out.

So what the fuck is the point of having these sales so early? Does it have some benefit for the consumer that I'm not getting?

There is no benefit. The stores usually sell the same things they usually do for about 10% less. Or they order exclusive items in limited numbers and sell them at a very cheap price. So when the item is gone, its gone.

Usually its people waiting in crazy lines and sitting outside stores before they open.
My boyfriend works at Sears and the tv deal they have advertised is only about $100 more if you bought it before Friday.

I guess if you saw something you really, really wanted for a good deal, it might be worth waiting.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, as a consumer, is there anyone here who actually likes the fact that a store is opening at 4 am as opposed to say 8 or 9? Do the stores think that people want this?

Posted by Roland I guess what I'm trying to say is, as a consumer, is there anyone here who actually likes the fact that a store is opening at 4 am as opposed to say 8 or 9? Do the stores think that people want this?

i think it's a gimmick, a sales gag... like loud plaid suits and salesman calling themselves Crazy Eddie.

If it was my store the gimmick would be we open at noon. Sleep the fuck in and then come get the sales.

I gotta be up at 5am tomorrow, Be at work by 5:45. Then deal with all the cranky people because we ran out of wii or some shit..

Posted by Caligula I gotta be up at 5am tomorrow, Be at work by 5:45. Then deal with all the cranky people because we ran out of wii or some shit..

it almost makes all of this worth it....

i CONSIDERED going to sears to get a roomba for $99 (after two back surgeries, who wants to vacuum the hard way) but around 5 am - i was sleeping, cuddled next to my kitty and hubby.

this is why i do my xmas shopping waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of time. as a matter of fact, all my gifts are wrapped and under the tree as we speak.

BOO YA grandma!

I like Rolands idea; sleep till noon then shop.

I think we may see better sales before Christmas rolls around, especially if retail doesn't meet their usual quota with Black Friday.

Retail is down the lowest its been in 25 years and Christmas alone makes up more than 20% of their revenue.

I got me an 8gb mp3 player today for $72, When it's usually $160.

I is happy.

I got to work at 3:00am today. I didn't have a customer until 10:30am, and by the time I was scheduled to leave at noon, it was too busy for me to go. It's almost 4 and I just got home. I am none too pleased... although I've gotta say, all year round customers do nothing but bitch and moan over our prices, but on Black Friday, everyone forgets the value of a dollar and spends spends spends. I loooove it.

Me: Your total is $10.50. You know if you spend an additional $39.50 you will receive this $10 rewards card that is valid for a month after Christmas and can only be used once.
Customer: WOW! What can I buy for $40!?
Me: How about this $65 item, it's a better value per piece than our $40 box.
Customer: SOUNDS GREAT!
Me: Okay your new total is $75.50. *Sigh* well now that you're only $24.50 away, I'd hate for you to miss getting the $25 rewards card for spending over $100.
Customer: THATS AMAZING! What do you have for $25!?

etc etc.

Haha.

stupid customers are stupid

Our black Friday sales at our restaurant were the lowest they've ever been. And all of the surrounding stores are closing after X-mas. And our idiot boss decided to offer double time to anyone who works friday and saturday. So we are overstaffed, and getting payed a shit ton for doing absolutely nothing. I couldn't be happier. Especially since I work a Noon to 10PM shift and it just dumped a shit ton of snow.

i'd rather take a bullet to the scrotum than ever go back to retail. Even though I was really good at selling auto parts, I hated the customers.
I could imagine working retail in a store store... someplace like walmart.

Although, being a door greeter would be... interesting.

Welcome to walmart... get your shit and get the fuck out.

(I think i got that from a comedian that does an act with dummies)

Posted by Samurai i think it's a gimmick, a sales gag... like loud plaid suits and salesman calling themselves Crazy Eddie.

It is. Pure unadulterated bullshit as well. And a ploy to dump crap that was sitting on the shelves collecting dust that was bought and is not moving.

I worked retail once before as a security guard. I'll never work it again. They can take it and ram it up the tan highway as far as I am concerned.

Same goes for their sales.

I don't miss working retail one bit.

I stay in bed on Black Friday. Billy gets up & does the mad crazy Black Friday shopping! He does all the big ticket purchases anyways!

I wait until the week before Christmas then do all my shopping for my family!