The Battle of Black Friday

      It’s Thanksgiving night and you’re full of turkey and stuffing and already putting up your Christmas tree.

     The Christmas season usually starts right after you had your fill of Thanksgiving, and that is where Black Friday comes in.

A brief history

     The term “Black Friday” has been used since the 60’s. It started on the east coast and gradually grew more popular throughout the US over the years. It is a negative term for the most important shopping day of the year. In 1965 the Philadelphia Police Department declared the day after thanksgiving “Black Friday” because of the mobs of people outside stores and the many traffic jams.

What it’s about

     Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. It is dubbed the start of the Christmas season. People gather at the entrance to many stores, just waiting for the doors to open so they can grab the sale items they want. Most stores open around 5AM or sooner and have the sales for about 5-6 hours. Some items can be found in abundance and others have limited quantities. The rush of Black Friday seems to be the main reason people crowd around and battle for what they want. It is fun to wake up early in the morning and shove someone out of the way so you can get your brand new TV.

This year

     This year Black Friday sales are offering more large electronic items. People are sitting on their couch right after dinner mapping out their game plans. Expect to see TVs and cameras flying in every direction. One big item this year is LCD TV’s. I’ve seen at least 3 or 4 in every ad.

A bit of advice:

     – If you are planning on store hopping, don’t go out of town unless you know the area well. You don’t want to find yourself driving around searching for Wal Mart while everyone else is picking up the sweet deals.

     – If one store opens at 5 and the other at 6, don’t try to make it to both on time. Go to the one you want items from the most, then see if the other has what you need. The sales last for a few hours so you have time.

     – Watch your cart! Some shoppers like to take items right out of your cart. Definitely be careful of this because they may also take your purse.

     – DO NOT BRING CHILDREN! If you bring your younger son or daughter they will either get hurt, or it will make it difficult for you to get what you need.

I hope everyone will enjoy their Black Friday shopping this year and I wish you luck on getting the items you want!