They're really hyping Black Friday this year. (It is called that, allegedly, because it is - or at least used to be* - the day when stores went from red to black, in accounting speak: when they turned a profit)
(*More likely, I think, it's a leftover from the days when shopping wasn't a hobby, and things like kids ONLY getting toys at Christmas was the norm. I'd be surprised today if stores didn't start turning a profit for the year earlier.)
(Although The Wikipedia gives different etymologies - apparently the "black" term used to deal with financial crashes (And I had learned that in grade-school history, which was why I was confused the first few times I heard Black Friday applied to a big shopping day. And bus and taxi drivers supposedly called the day that because of the headaches it caused them. Interesting)
I suppose the hype is a factor of the bad economy, the fact that everyone's nervous about what may happen (and if you're not nervous, you're probably not paying attention: I try to avoid the news these days in favor of cartoons, and *I'm* nervous about what may happen). And the fact that despite claims of "minimal inflation," those of us in the real world see our grocery bills going up seemingly weekly.
I don't "do" Black Friday. I'm not one of those people who goes after the "have to have it" gift of the year - I don't have small children clamoring for the most popular toy, I don't have a husband who "needs" the newest electronic gadget (I have a brother, but he's not getting the newest electronic gadget from me). Generally what I like to do for family is find unusual gifts - things they can use but might not necessarily know existed. (Or, in some cases, if I can MAKE a nice gift, I make it.)
But the biggest reason is this: I don't like crowds. I especially don't like crowds when they go into crowd-frenzy and start doing things like acting as if the Special Edition Wii (it's BLUE!!!!!11!!) that is on sale right then - that that will be their last chance to have a blue Wii (heh. Blue wee. You might want to see a doctor about that.) or any kind of Wii EVER. It's the illusion of scarcity and it makes people crazy - even over non-essential things. (It scares me to think what would happen if there was ever a genuine food shortage, if people get trampled and shoved over a video game).
I did Black Friday, oh, years and years ago, with my parents - I was home over Thanksgiving, didn't have anything to do, so I went along with them. Dang near destroyed my Christmas spirit, which is why I never do it again.
(What does it profit a man (or woman), to save 15% but lose his (or her) soul?)
They are promoting something I haven't seen before this year: between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, they're talking about Small Business Saturday: encouraging people to go out and do at least some Christmas shopping at the locally-owned small businesses. And I can get behind that. (I may not do it, not on the designated day, but I will say some of my Christmas shopping this year was done at one of my local downtown places). Because small business owners deserve some love, too - I know my downtown is a MUCH nicer place thanks to the businesses that have come in in the past 10 years, it's gone from mostly-empty storefronts to mostly-occupied stores now.
And while I don't begrudge the big retailers success, I've found that small places, the small locally-run places, if they have what you want, it's less crazy, less annoying, more friendly...you may pay a little more (and that's not that big an issue to me - especially when going to a lot of the larger businesses would involve an hour's round-trip drive for me - the gas and my time are worth something).
But at any rate: I'm saying "no" to Black Friday this year. (And at any rate: my Christmas shopping is done. Because I have exam week to attend to when I get back, and I hate doing stuff at the last minute.)
And at any rate: For me, at least, Christmas is not primarily about the gifts. I'd rather keep my good spirits and sense of the season and goodwill towards others intact than deal with shopping and giving gifts, if it really came down to it.
4 comments:
I've never been a Black Friday person--I like sleeping too much (plus, the other reasons you state). I agree there is much more hype this year...and I'm glad to see some employees are striking back and saying 'we don't want to open at midnight'.
The small stores in my town are pushing Plaid Friday (http://www.plaidfriday.com/), which sounds like the Saturday one.
I'm really grateful because the people in my family who were in service jobs that meant they had to leave the family gathering on Thursday have either gotten different jobs or managed to work their schedules that they don't have to work that day.
I'm not a big fan of Black Friday either. I've got some of my shopping done already. Since no one in my family appreciates handmade gifts, I'm not knitting any this year. In my family we exchange our Christmas lists at Thanksgiving (lists of gifts we'd like) and sometimes I wait to get the lists and sometimes I go ahead and buy whatever I want for individuals. The big struggle for me is coming up with a list of stuff I want. I have so much stuff, I really don't need more. Gift cards to my favorite book store or restaurants are a good choice.
Well! Purely by accident I'd planned to go yarn shopping on Saturday at a small local yarn store. Glad the rest of the universe agrees with me that this is a good idea! ;)
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