Black Friday after-action report

For some reason, this year’s Black Friday events appeared to break all records everywhere in the country.  Perhaps it was because some stores opened at midnight, Thursday, or it was the effects of a bad economy making people search for bargains beyond all rational belief.  Nowhere was this more apparent than in the electronics sector, where stores like Best Buy started attracting people at noon, even though the doors would not open until midnight.  The incentives ranged from 42″ televisions for $200, to similar kinds of bargains on brand name tablets, cameras, and other devices.

I joined the line at 10:30 PM, placing me at position 300 as the line wrapped around three sides of the building.  The weather in the Chicago area was cool, but the increasing wind made it downright chilly.  But very few people left for warmer locations – the attraction was just too great.  The folks around me passed the time with their smartphones, playing Angry Birds, texting friends waiting at other stores, all hoping that store employees would come by with coupons guaranteeing access to the high-demand items they wanted most.  Needless to say, by the time the employees came to my position in line there were very few cool items left.

At midnight the doors opened, and local police kept people from crashing lines.  Once inside it was interesting to see people working the aisles with very clearly defined plans.  The store handed out floor maps while were still outside, so the rush for products would be properly focused.

About two hours later I left with two of the eight items on my list (an Android 3 tablet and an HD digital video camera.)  The other items I wanted had been gobbled up by the true masters of the hunt – those who gave up a day for the chance to save some money on items they probably didn’t need but would make good presents, or things to keep as trophies of the day.

As an annual event, Black Friday seems to have become part of the US culture, at least in cities with enough of a population and variety of retail outlets to make life interesting.

Rational consumers look for good prices all year long.  Black Friday is as much a social phenomenon as a bargain hunting opportunity. Strangers meet and share stories – everything from technology to family pets.  For me, this aspect of the evening is what made it worth braving the cold and my sleep loss.  As for next year, well, I just have to wait and see.  There are still a few items on my list.

Black Friday anticipation

Ah, Thanksgiving – the time to reflect on the life we live, and to give thanks for whatever bounty and other good things have come our way in the previous year.  And, time to pour through the newspaper ads looking for incredible bargains being unleashed on the day after – a day known for years as “Black Friday.”  While the Friday after Thanksgiving has always been ranked as the major shopping day of the year, in recent years it has taken on new significance as the day bargains beyond belief are made available to those few who are willing to spend the night in line at the store of their choice on the chance that they will be able to get the latest gadget for an incredible price.

It is common to see people camping in front of their favorite retailers, dreaming, not of sugarplums, but of being close enough to the front door to get a coupon guaranteeing they will be able to buy a 10″ Android 3 tablet (with a good brand name) for half its normal retail price (at least ten per store.)  The more organized shoppers have been known to use volunteer “sleepers” (usually their kids) to hold their place while the real shoppers sleep off their turkey-induced haze in preparation for the big day.  Newspaper ads have been cut into little pieces and organized by store.  At the appointed moment, Mom heads one place, Dad another, and the kids to yet other stores – all with their own lists of things to buy.  Some even use the opportunity of the family dining together as a strategy planning session (“Two of us will hit Best Buy at midnight.  I’ll run to the back to get a laptop and a tablet, and you run to the cell phone department to pick up the micro-SD cards.  John, I want you to get in the check-out line right away and we will bring things to you as we collect them. This will get us through early enough we can get to at least one more store before they run out of everything”)  Ah, if only the rest of life was so organized.

But planning is essential – casual browsers can get trampled.  This is not a spectator sport.

As for me, I’m looking forward to the big meal on Thursday with family and friends.  My plate will be loaded with cranberry sauce, turkey, ham, dressing, and mashed potatoes.  We will have great conversations, and maybe even a short nap.

After all, I need all those nutrients if I’m going to be fast enough to get one of those $250 Android 3 tablets.