<p>Just got our morning newspapers…they are heavy…don’t remember ever seeing as many advertising inserts as in today’s newspapers. Retailers want some business…starting today!</p>
<p>I love a bargain and I have fond(?)memories of standing outside a Bradlees store at 6am on black Friday 20 years ago. Hoping to find the right game boy cartridge or ninja turtle toy.</p>
<p>But it’s so very sad that now ‘they’ want us to shop ON thanksgiving day.
Mostly, I am sorry for the retail staff that must miss their family day so we can shop.</p>
<p>I’m in healthcare and have worked zillions of holidays over 35 years. Sick people need care 24/7…but shopping? Really.</p>
<p>My concern is if everyone in our house runs out to shop later today, who’s cooking my Thanksgiving dinner?</p>
<p>Many stores are offering their Black Friday deals today online. I’ve already ordered some from Sams Club and Costco today. And many have free shipping today!</p>
<p>i will never shop on Thanksgiving. slap in the face to the holiday, and the people who have to work so we can get 15% off something we don’t really need to give to someone who doesn’t really want it. Blech. Yay for rampant commercialism and materialism! Not at my house :)</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>I don’t think the online deals are requiring extra employees to work. The stores that offer online shopping usually are “open” 24/7.</p>
<p>Mom2college-
Agree that online deals don’t involve calling employees in on their holiday</p>
<p>I’m thinking about the physical retail stores that are opening today.
I just got an email for kohls in store specials starting at 8pm tonite.
Other stores are open also, best buy, etc.
I’ve no problem scoring a special online deal or two. :)</p>
<p>Looking for GPS running watch. Please let me know if you saw a deal. Thanks</p>
<p>I agree that there’s no reason to be shopping on Thanksgiving day but what about the employees who had to work today (away from their families) at the many football games? No difference, in my opinion.</p>
<p>S3 is a waiter/bartender. Everyone had to work today because it is apparently become very popular to eat out for Thanksgiving. So we had Thanksgiving yesterday. We have a fine family tradition of a holiday or special day being a suggestion and the celebration can occur at any time.</p>
<p>We celebrated last Sunday since H had to work today (hospital). I like that Thanksgiving feels flexible this way. It is always possible to give thanks and enjoy a special meal with your loved ones! And today was very relaxing since we still have leftovers.</p>
<p>DS and his friends will drive to the mall for shopping around noon tomorrow.
He will be the driver because he happens to have a (rental) car this week.</p>
<p>I think he really has no ideas what to buy. He has never been interested in shopping in his life. He would rather somebody else (e.g., patents) purchases something for him. The exception is his music gears (and music CD/DVD in the past.) unless all if a sudden he has changed in the past year, I do not think there is anything in the mall that would interest him.</p>
<p>In other words, I think he considers shopping as “work”, rather than a fun activity.</p>
<p>Hopefully, there is an Apple Store in the mall. Then, atleast he could get the on/off switch on his iPhone 5 fixed while he is there. (He purchased the AppleCare but he does not have the time to go to a nearby Apple Store which is actually within the walking distance from his campus.)</p>
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<p>I just made the same observation tonight at our Thanksgiving dinner. It really struck me today that we as a society are giving a free pass to the NFL that we are not giving to mass retail. It’s all the same.</p>
<p>Feels like I’m in the minority, however I don’t have a problem with retailers being open on a Thanksgiving. When H & I lived in the Midwest after college and were too poor (& didn’t have enough vacation) to head back east for both thanksgiving and Christmas, we just cooked a small chicken and had nothing else to do. I remember Zayre’s being open and we just went there to get out of the apartment. </p>
<p>We went to a few big boxes after dinner. I was crowded, but most people seemed to be shopping as families and no one was shouting. People actually seemed calmer than usual.</p>
<p>I’m already done with my black Friday shopping - yesterday :)</p>
<p>For folks who love REI, here is the list of their bargains:</p>
<p>[Black</a> Friday Sale: Save Big Thursday at REI.com and Friday at All REI Stores!](<a href=“http://www.rei.com/black-friday]Black”>http://www.rei.com/black-friday)</p>
<p>Did someone look for a GPS running watch? REI has one Garmin model at 40% off.</p>
<p>Just got an email that everything online and in stores at The Gap is on sale for 50% off Friday (assuming online sales will start at midnight).</p>
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<p>So what do you all think about movie theaters that are open on Thanksgiving? To be totally transparent in asking this question, I should add we always do a movie on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Saw Dallas Buyers Club tonight.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Yes, there a lot of people who go to movies on Christmas…and some go to restaurants, too, on that day.</p>
<p>I know that there was a big college basketball tournament yesterday, too. Felt bummed for the kids and their families.</p>
<p>We’ve been out for a few hours and extremely underwhelmed by this year’s offerings.</p>
<p>Yeah, I would add movie theaters too, teri. And restaurants, as mom2ck says.</p>
<p>I think people should be able to volunteer for shifts on holidays, not be made to come in or risk losing their jobs. If customers have to wait longer because businesses are understaffed, well, maybe they shouldn’t have gone out on Thanksgiving or Black Friday then. :)</p>