I had the luxury of staying home on Thanksgiving.
And, staying home again on Black Friday.
I did not have to stand in line or fight the crowds or fight someone else for that bargain that could only be had by standing in line or fighting the crowds of fighting someone else. We can debate whether stores could have or should have waited one more day to start their Black Friday sales. And, I know some people shopped on Thanksgiving or got up early on Friday just because they could. But, I also think some stood in line in the dark and cold because that was the only chance they had to buy that gift. Not that what they bought would be gone if they didn’t stand in line, but because the $10.00 difference in price made a difference. It made it possible for them to buy both the gift to give and the food they need.
So much of what I saw and read about the Black Friday crowds seemed like it had a touch of arrogance about it. It sounded like it was looking down on those who stood in those lines.
But I wonder.
I know some for whom that $10.00 matters.
Who stood in those lines because they didn’t want to have to decide between a gift to give and food to eat.
I had the luxury of staying home on Thanksgiving.
And, staying home again on Black Friday.
Caroline Zayas says
December 1, 2013 at 7:58 pmI know what you say is true. But, I feel sorry for all of the people who cannot be with their families on Thanksgiving because they now have to work and so cannot make the trip/time to be together. Retailers make these sales so enticing in order to compete with Thanksgiving. Once they win, the savings won’t be so large. The arrogance which bothers me comes from people rich enough to have choices and say “people don’t have to work that day if they don’t want to” (sure if they want to be fires) or “we’ll not everyone can be together on the holidays, some people have to work” (yes, certain services not retail). Thanksgiving is becoming Turkey Day and that is a true loss for all of us.