Black Friday question and commentaries--sorry for coming across as judgmental

[Lik3]

How should anyone handle a situation where they are confronted with a "rowdy" or belligerent shopper? As someone from the United States, I find these confrontations shameful. I even find people who behave this way on Black Friday, especially when children are involved even more shameful. For instance, a lady was carrying two boxes of what I assume to be are dolls or some other toys. She had a young child about 4 or 5 years old carrying a similar doll. Here is the shocking part. A stranger comes and takes the doll away from the little child, in front of his or her mother. This of course would lead to a confrontation. Some of this shameful activity reminds me of the Cabbage Doll melee's that occurred back when I was a kid. There are just some people who are just embarrassments to the rest of the nation being so "rowdy", confrontational, and even violent.

The reason why I mentioned the United States is, well, because I am from here in the United States, and also I have not seen a video or even seen or read on tv or online about people behaving this badly in other countries. I am not saying that behavior doesn't occur in each nations' version of "Black Friday", which here in the US is the biggest shopping day of the year. I have never heard of it or seen a video online where say, a violent "Black Friday" event occurring in Japan, Australia, Mexico, or even Canada. Forgive me for being so naive. My question is, why do some people behave the way they do? Is it because of greed or something else? I have never participated in such an event, because, I prefer "Cyber Monday", which would come with it's own risks.

Anyways, is the activity the fault of the shoppers who fight for instance, or the stores, for the rules that they set in order to make a buck? In other words, do the stores know beforehand that some shoppers would behave in such an extreme, violent matter? I have noticed that they would allow only a few people in the stores at a time. Also, stores often sell a specified number of television or other items such as they would have only 50 such items on stock. This would, in fact, appeal to the competitiveness, or even worse, of many of those, and other incoming shoppers.

 

[Chesterton]

Well, bear in mind Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and other countries don't have Thanksgiving. (They may possibly celebrate something equivalent, but it may not be at the same time of year.)

Myself, I've never set foot near a retail store on that day. I don't understand what it's about. Why does everyone have to go that day? Is it because the sale prices are only good for that one day?

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[JerushaC]

Here in Canada we do have Black Friday, but it is not near as huge. So I kinda am just sitting here in Canada looking over and wondering, "what is happening?"

I also have always wondered, why is Black Friday called "Black" Friday. The name seems to incur something bad.

Maybe all we can really do is sit here and guess why the States goes into absolute chaos on this day. There is no definite answer and more than likely, a number of factors play into it.

 

[dysert]

I also have always wondered, why is Black Friday called "Black" Friday. The name seems to incur something bad.

I've heard that the *majority* of many retailers' sales come during that weekend, so my guess is that it's called Black Friday because it keeps retailers in the black (just a total guess).

 

[GrowingSmaller]

What would I do to avoid shopping chaos and general aggro? Sometimes you can only stay at home, and meditate thus avoiding the general chaos and aggro... Mc Yogi style.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

How should anyone handle a situation where they are confronted with a "rowdy" or belligerent shopper? As someone from the United States, I find these confrontations shameful. I even find people who behave this way on Black Friday, especially when children are involved even more shameful. For instance, a lady was carrying two boxes of what I assume to be are dolls or some other toys. She had a young child about 4 or 5 years old carrying a similar doll. Here is the shocking part. A stranger comes and takes the doll away from the little child, in front of his or her mother. This of course would lead to a confrontation. Some of this shameful activity reminds me of the Cabbage Doll melee's that occurred back when I was a kid. There are just some people who are just embarrassments to the rest of the nation being so "rowdy", confrontational, and even violent.

The reason why I mentioned the United States is, well, because I am from here in the United States, and also I have not seen a video or even seen or read on tv or online about people behaving this badly in other countries. I am not saying that behavior doesn't occur in each nations' version of "Black Friday", which here in the US is the biggest shopping day of the year. I have never heard of it or seen a video online where say, a violent "Black Friday" event occurring in Japan, Australia, Mexico, or even Canada. Forgive me for being so naive. My question is, why do some people behave the way they do? Is it because of greed or something else? I have never participated in such an event, because, I prefer "Cyber Monday", which would come with it's own risks.

Anyways, is the activity the fault of the shoppers who fight for instance, or the stores, for the rules that they set in order to make a buck? In other words, do the stores know beforehand that some shoppers would behave in such an extreme, violent matter? I have noticed that they would allow only a few people in the stores at a time. Also, stores often sell a specified number of television or other items such as they would have only 50 such items on stock. This would, in fact, appeal to the competitiveness, or even worse, of many of those, and other incoming shoppers.

I can't speak for countries other then the one I live in in Western Europe. But I can tell you that we don't have such a thing as "black friday", nore do any of the neighbouring countries - as far as I know of.

What we do have is a full week (or 2 weeks) of "season sales". Which basically is about cleaning out the summer/winter stock at the start of the new season, which also comes with heavy discounts (probably not as heavy as on black friday in the states).

During those weeks, I have never seen similar behaviour as the crazy things we see on youtube about that infamous friday in the states.

If I'ld have to give an explanation... Perhaps it is a reflection of the delusion that people seem to have about living in America? The idea that wealth is up for grabs for "anybody" and that all people live in fancy houses and have trunks of money.

In reality, the US has more poor people then most other western democracies. The US is a land of extremes. It has the richest people and also the opposite.

There are entire regions in the US that if they would be anywhere else, they'ld be branded as a third world country or similar.

If I had to scrap my pennies together at the end of every month in order to be able to satisfy my basic needs, I also might be going beserk when I get to buy a TV at 30% of the price on that particular day.

But I'm not poor (nore am I rich). And I hate crowds of people. So for me, those seasonal sale periods are the period that I won't be setting foot in any shop whatsoever.

I'll just go on a regular day and pay the full price without being stressed out by crowds, traffic jams, waiting in line for hours, etc etc etc.

It's just not worth it for me.

 

[Greg J.]

How should anyone handle a situation where they are confronted with a "rowdy" or belligerent shopper? As someone from the United States, I find these confrontations shameful. I even find people who behave this way on Black Friday, especially when children are involved even more shameful. For instance, a lady was carrying two boxes of what I assume to be are dolls or some other toys. She had a young child about 4 or 5 years old carrying a similar doll. Here is the shocking part. A stranger comes and takes the doll away from the little child, in front of his or her mother. This of course would lead to a confrontation. Some of this shameful activity reminds me of the Cabbage Doll melee's that occurred back when I was a kid. There are just some people who are just embarrassments to the rest of the nation being so "rowdy", confrontational, and even violent.

The reason why I mentioned the United States is, well, because I am from here in the United States, and also I have not seen a video or even seen or read on tv or online about people behaving this badly in other countries. I am not saying that behavior doesn't occur in each nations' version of "Black Friday", which here in the US is the biggest shopping day of the year. I have never heard of it or seen a video online where say, a violent "Black Friday" event occurring in Japan, Australia, Mexico, or even Canada. Forgive me for being so naive. My question is, why do some people behave the way they do? Is it because of greed or something else? I have never participated in such an event, because, I prefer "Cyber Monday", which would come with it's own risks.

Anyways, is the activity the fault of the shoppers who fight for instance, or the stores, for the rules that they set in order to make a buck? In other words, do the stores know beforehand that some shoppers would behave in such an extreme, violent matter? I have noticed that they would allow only a few people in the stores at a time. Also, stores often sell a specified number of television or other items such as they would have only 50 such items on stock. This would, in fact, appeal to the competitiveness, or even worse, of many of those, and other incoming shoppers.

The retail business can be horrible—just ask someone who has worked full-time in customer service (the "complaints" department). I've seen it, but fortunately not as the person that had to deal with it. It is essential that employees get thorough training in dealing with uncooperative, illogical, and potentially violent people.

What is fundamental (for everyone, not just employees) is to understand what your authority, responsibility, and power is in any situation that arises. With these in mind, what to say and do is easier to learn and practice. God will help you. (Be sure to ask Him for it.)

If you are the cashier, your authority comes from your boss and the law. Your responsibility may be limited to asking someone to talk to customer service, and your power may be to politely make requests or call the police. From a practical standpoint, it is always a learning process. Hopefully, your boss will have instructed you what to do when you see someone shoplift, for example (or more confusingly, think you might have seen someone shoplift, etc.).

 

[Dave-W]

I also have always wondered, why is Black Friday called "Black" Friday. The name seems to incur something bad.

I've heard that the *majority* of many retailers' sales come during that weekend, so my guess is that it's called Black Friday because it keeps retailers in the black (just a total guess).

And that is TOTALLY right. Loss used to be recorded (in manual accounting systems) on the ledger book in red ink, and profit was recorded in black ink. Many retailers went from red to black on that day.

 

[Moral Orel]

This is Canada doing Black Friday this year:

I can't link an example of America doing Black Friday this year due to vulgarity restrictions...

 

[jayem]

Everyone to whom my wife and I give a gift gets a check. Then they can fight the crowds.

 

[Sketcher]

How can anyone hope to keep track of a kid in those crowds?

 

[Lik3]

How can anyone hope to keep track of a kid in those crowds?

That is such a good point. Where are the role models for those kids? There have been people who were injured during a "Black Friday" stampede. I don't see how anyone can behave so badly over an item that chances are, the kids especially will get tired of next year.

 

[Sketcher]

That is such a good point. Where are the role models for those kids? There have been people who were injured during a "Black Friday" stampede. I don't see how anyone can behave so badly over an item that chances are, the kids especially will get tired of next year.

Granted, not all Black Friday events are that bad. But it doesn't have to be a stampede or violent for it to be too crowded for children.