Tales of Black Friday - Pre & Post

[thongd4me 69]

At my wife's ladies' retail job they scheduled her to work BF morning at 3:30 AM!

She says they chose her because she has talent for decorating.

This is unbelievable for her, first time to work at this time.

She says "who comes to shopping at 4 AM?"

Share your stories of Black Friday (as shopper, sales person or spectator) here...

Edited November 23, 2010 by thongd4me

[Amby 490]

a few years ago my sister worked at Hollister and she went in to work at 3am and left around 10pm. All I really remember about it is her saying they did something like $80,000 in sales in their store that day

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I will be doing my part in keeping the roads clear. I will be sleeping in!

[thongd4me 69]

a few years ago my sister worked at Hollister and she went in to work at 3am and left around 10pm. All I really remember about it is her saying they did something like $80,000 in sales in their store that day

She's a part-timer so I don't think they will keep her until 10;

people claim that the recession is over but this store seems to have

the bulk of it's sales force (even managers) as part time; very slick,

fewer benefits to pay as they are making money hand over fist.

My wife doesn't have to sweat that issue because she gets medical

insurance through me; it would really suck if she had to pay for that

out of pocket. That's not enough for a single person to live on. Most

of the part timers in her store must have other jobs to get by.

My ex-wife has worked part time for around 10 years at the same

place and the judge couldn't believe it (we went to court last week)

when she claimed she couldn't find a full time job, with 2 teen kids

who can take care of themselves. She appeared visibly worried

that the "maintenance" part of her income from me will be ending

within a year but hasn't lifted a finger to prepare for that.

My wife came here almost a year ago and after undergoing

3 minor operations found two jobs within 2 months. With much

better English skills my ex wife couldn't find one in 10 years.

Even my daughter in college was able to find 2 jobs.

The jobs are out there but I think the greatest element required

for success is the personal impression you make on people.

You can search the internet high and low and unless you are

able to project a positive image of yourself, you don't stand a chance.

My ex-wife projects a brooding, defensive and unsure image,

while my wife makes friends very easily (she went to the store

in person and the managers liked her instantly; at the other

store a neighbor who works at that store gave her a leg up).

I wish all the best for my ex because she is still the primary caregiver for my kids.

Whenever I try to offer advice in a neutral, friendly way it falls on deaf ears.

[thongd4me 69]

I don't believe it - she said people will actually start shopping at 4 AM!

Her boss told everybody to wear BLACK

[thongd4me 69]

I don't believe it - she said people will actually start shopping at 4 AM!

Her boss told everybody to wear BLACK

After battling the crazy holiday traffic from New Jersey last night,

I drove her to her store this morning at 3:30 AM.

She just finished her shift at 1 PM and she said she never saw

such crazy people in Thailand! When they opened the doors

they came in and filled the store in 5 about minutes!

[Amby 490]

After battling the crazy holiday traffic from New Jersey last night,

I drove her to her store this morning at 3:30 AM.

She just finished her shift at 1 PM and she said she never saw

such crazy people in Thailand! When they opened the doors

they came in and filled the store in 5 about minutes!

my friend works at toys r us and she said it got so crazy when they opened, they closed the doors and were only letting 50 people in at a time.

[scandal 951]

Last night my wife decided to go with a group of her girlfriends to the outlet shops in Aurora.

They were going to pick her up after our Thanksgiving dinner, but we ran a bit late so I offered to drive her. I had absolutely no interest in shopping, but figured I'd just drop her off and return home without dealing with parking.

We headed out on I-88 around 10:30pm, and everything was fine till about Rt.59 in Naperville.

Then we hit gridlock. Never mind lineups at the stores or cash registers or parking lots - the entire last 2 miles of I-88 westbound WAS a parking lot across 3 lanes. After an hour I gave up and got into the left most lane to bypass it, and circle back the other way. We just gave up and I took her back home, we got back close to 2am with nothing for our efforts but highway fumes.

This morning I got up to go to work at 7, and she set off again with her girlfriends to try it in daylight. It's her 2nd Thanksgiving in America but first Black Friday. I hope she had fun, and I hope my credit card limit is still intact.

[Amby 490]

Last night my wife decided to go with a group of her girlfriends to the outlet shops in Aurora.

They were going to pick her up after our Thanksgiving dinner, but we ran a bit late so I offered to drive her. I had absolutely no interest in shopping, but figured I'd just drop her off and return home without dealing with parking.

We headed out on I-88 around 10:30pm, and everything was fine till about Rt.59 in Naperville.

Then we hit gridlock. Never mind lineups at the stores or cash registers or parking lots - the entire last 2 miles of I-88 westbound WAS a parking lot across 3 lanes. After an hour I gave up and got into the left most lane to bypass it, and circle back the other way. We just gave up and I took her back home, we got back close to 2am with nothing for our efforts but highway fumes.

This morning I got up to go to work at 7, and she set off again with her girlfriends to try it in daylight. It's her 2nd Thanksgiving in America but first Black Friday. I hope she had fun, and I hope my credit card limit is still intact.

OMG! :o

[thongd4me 69]

Last night my wife decided to go with a group of her girlfriends to the outlet shops in Aurora.

They were going to pick her up after our Thanksgiving dinner, but we ran a bit late so I offered to drive her. I had absolutely no interest in shopping, but figured I'd just drop her off and return home without dealing with parking.

We headed out on I-88 around 10:30pm, and everything was fine till about Rt.59 in Naperville.

Then we hit gridlock. Never mind lineups at the stores or cash registers or parking lots - the entire last 2 miles of I-88 westbound WAS a parking lot across 3 lanes. After an hour I gave up and got into the left most lane to bypass it, and circle back the other way. We just gave up and I took her back home, we got back close to 2am with nothing for our efforts but highway fumes.

This morning I got up to go to work at 7, and she set off again with her girlfriends to try it in daylight. It's her 2nd Thanksgiving in America but first Black Friday. I hope she had fun, and I hope my credit card limit is still intact.

In the 19th century when the Indians circled the covered wagons & moved in for the kill they didn't have to deal with a lot of traffic to achieve their objective.

I remember how bad the traffic was in Bangkok but as I live north of NYC it never seemed to be that extreme.

Thank God I don't drive to work or else I'd probably have a different story to tell.

I only go to New Jersey a few times a year but when I do I feel so lucky not to be living there.

The gridlock on holidays such as Thanksgiving is as bad or worse than Thailand,

not because the traffic moves slower but because of the attitude of many drivers

who take great pride in being more aggressive than anyone can imagine.

My wife kept on repeating, "they can never do this in Bangkok!"

Her position was that there should never be a reason for using your horn.

In the New York area, there are only a few reasons for NOT using your horn!

Does your credit card account text you when it gets near the danger zone?

Edited November 27, 2010 by thongd4me

[2xHollyx2 3]

I worked from 8pm (Thanksgiving night) until 5.30am. We opened the store (Target) at 4am.

The first people started camping in front of the store around noon on Thanksgiving.I bet they were freezing their butts off.

It took 5 min until the store was full. It was crazy

[sachinky 465]

My husband and I woke up around eight. Which is when we usually wake up and decided to hit the mall. It was madness in there. I did get my hands on a few good deals and we walked through Sears, JCP, Gap, Kohls, NY&CO, etc. Mostly got nice sweaters and jackets on sale. We did go to Walmart and Target later on, during the day and it wasn't quite as busy.

I had done Black Friday once before. My junior year in Ithaca, I think. It wasn't quite as bad as sale-festival-season in Calcutta. Mostly, I shop online though.

[Marilyn. 340]

we just stayed home but I had ordered something from Amazon on Monday and it was delivered yesterday and this was with "FREE Super Saver Shipping" Amazon rocks!

[sachinky 465]

I really, really want to order the Kindle from Amazon. I get paid next week so maybe I'll buy it as a Christmas present for myself.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I went to Dunkin Donuts and bought a coffee but it was still the regular price.