Can anybody tell me the cultural background for this annual stampede?

[Towelmaster]

http://www.lwiii.com/lwlyrics.html#suddenly

Excerpt :

Suddenly it's Christmas,
Right after Hallowe'en.
Forget about Thanksgiving;
It's just a buffet in between.
There's lights and tinsel in the windows;
They're stocking up the shelves;
Santa's slaving at the North Pole
In his sweatshop full of elves.

<SNIP>

Yes, they're working overtime,
Santa's little runts;
Christmas comes but once a year
And goes on for two months.

Loudon Wainwright III

Ah, my hero...

[Spoo Junky]

Here in the Toronto area the stores started with the displays not too long after Hallowe'en on Oct. 31. When I was in France, I noticed the Christmas stuff was starting to be put up the first morning after Remembrance Day on Nov. 11. Arts and Craft stores, of course, started to trickle stuff in around Aug.-Sept.

[The Puzzled Pak'Ma'Ra]

.... Two minor points...

...1: It isn't only the US where you see stampedes like that. I know I'm veering a bit off topic (away from Christmas shopping) ... The Japanese, in spite of their extreme politeness in most situations, will plow you down and stampede over you during the annual New Year sales at major department stores. Most of these people are middle aged women - they kick and elbow, shout and run... quite a sight. (Japanese cultural point: there's anonymity in a crowd - you can do what you want).

...2. When did Christmas decorations start to appear this year? A decade ago, before I left, they were just starting to show up a few days BEFORE Thanksgiving.... which I thought was way too early...

[Spoo Junky]

The only thing I buy right after Christmas is a calendar because they are usually 25-50% off or more.

[Laiden]

I'm on the same boat as jan . . . shopping online

[WorkerCaste]

Thanks for all the info people. It surprises me somewhat that it mainly confirms my initial suspicions : that this is a marketing-induced frenzy that the shops have turned into some sort of annual tradition. Am I right so far?

I think you've got it about right. People take comfort in traditions and it's truly amazing what they will adopt for traditions. For some people it seems like they go for a perverse thrill in telling people afterwards how hellish it was. Others seem to like to go to people watch. Quite a few are looking for the deals. I'm not sure how the deal thing works out since I hate crowds too much.

[David Panzer]

One of the jobs I've had was in retail. I've worked 2 day after Thanksgivings, and skipped my third one. Aside from enjoying spending time with my family at Grandma's, any special meaning the holidays might have had for me has literally disappeared. One of the joys of working retail.

[Towelmaster]

Or poor.....

[SpooRancher]

And I did absolutely no holiday shopping last Friday. I guess I am just out of touch with society.

[Towelmaster]

Thanks for all the info people. It surprises me somewhat that it mainly confirms my initial suspicions : that this is a marketing-induced frenzy that the shops have turned into some sort of annual tradition. Am I right so far?


BTW : I haven't heard of similar stampedes in the Netherlands but we do have these sort of sales every now and then. Perhaps the Dutch are a bit to much down-to-earth to go and stand in line for a toaster. But on the other hand; last week the shops did open at midnight so they could flog the new H. Potter, and Robbie Williams' concerts were sold out in under an hour.

[AaronB]

Me, I'll shop online, thanks.

Jan

The cool thing is that some of the black friday deals are available online as well and there are several sites out there dedicated to letting you know about the deals. Hot Deals is one example of this. I managed to get a 19" lcd monitor for $150 (after rebate) because of it.

[Dr Maturin]

Growing up in one of the most dangerous cities in America, I have heard many stories over the years about muggings in the early morning hours. My ex-girlfriend's mom and aunt would be out at 05:00 every year, but with guns in their purses. For defensive purposes, not to mug...

Me? It's just not worth it. These people are no better than the buffoons who camp out for six months just to be the first in line for the next Star Wars movie. Shit, I was asleep until 09:00 on Friday...

[The Puzzled Pak'Ma'Ra]

... Black Friday shopping is a tradition. I remember going out with friends and fighting the crowds at the mall... It was a nightmare.

... Now I see clips of people beating on one another for cheap Play Stations, and trampling a pregnant woman someplace to get into a Wallmart....

... Very sad.

... Black Friday shopping totals used to be a decent economic indicator - how much people would spend in that one day was analyzed by various economists, who released reports... which would be reported in the news...

... Now, no doubt, the Chinese are looking at those reports with equal interest (Wallmart, etc..), and the Sony Corporation is undoubtedly very interested as well.

... Beating each other up to buy junk made by virtual slaves in Chinese factories . . . Happy Holidays.

[Radhil]

And by the way, if Circuit City advertises a sale on laptops for $200 and promises at least 15 per store, don't most people realize that means only 15 per store? And if there are 150 people waiting outside the door, that basically means you've only got a one in ten chance of getting one? It just seemed so obvious to me.

If anyone does figure it out, they just camp out earlier.

And the stores have figured it out, and have 135 laptops at the $400 mark ready and waiting.

[Spoo Junky]

In high school I worked in a bargain store and at Christmas the hours were extended to 9 pm. on a Saturday. I missed out on a lot of parties or hanging out with my friends but I tried to make up for it by watching those nitwits fight over the last polyester sweatshirt with an iron-on Santa, or argue over the last unopened box of Christmas underpants, all the while listening to the speakers play "Joy to the World" or "White Christmas" again, and again, and again......

Oh yeah, those were fun times! I miss those days (not)