Comments on: Black Friday shopping - the biggest scam

By: fooshe

fooshe — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:09:56 +0000

Here, Here! I went to Staples and they had 4 32″ LCD HDTV Televisions for over 100 people in line. I got there 40 min before the store opened and was 10th in line. They handed out the tickets to whomever wanted them from the front back. I was pissed! All they did is give those in that front of the line less to shop for. In fact, one guy didn’t even know about the TV, but when he did, he took the ticket. He then sold it to a guy 3 places in line back for $50! Guess who was next in line…me!

I have been in communications with Staples and they say it was done to control the crowds. I asked how they came to the conclusion that pissing off a large number of people that are all in one place was good idea. I also commented that I was investigating the legality of it all as the product was, in essense, sold out before the store opened. Of course, I got no response. They are offering me a $100 gift card for my inconvenience. I said I wanted the TV at the advertised price.
She said no. I told her to go pound sand.

By: Masood

Masood — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 01:38:24 +0000

Couldn’t agree with you more!! I used to be a Black Friday-aholic but not anymore. These so called “deals” can actually be had any time of the year if you play your cards right. Instead, I told the wife to go on without me. I slept in and had nice, quality time with the kid’os…

By: Yan

Yan — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 03:59:21 +0000

There was a funny thing I didn’t mention in my post. On my way out of Office Depot around 8am I walked by an SUV on the parking lot. The guy was sleeping in the front seat, engine on, and a huge box with a flat screen TV in the trunk. I laughed and pitied the guy at the same time.

By: rajbot

rajbot — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 02:33:13 +0000

dude! good to hear it. I was thinking about trying to hit some of the specials, but I figured any money I would’ve saved would have been eaten up by the opportunity cost of waiting in a damned line. Good to see that I was more than proved right. I only went to Home Depot (had a gift card/credit I needed to use) and picked up what, by most accounts, were good deals (much better than retail), but probably nothing spectacular. I got a 10″ compound miter saw for $59.00 (advertised at 69.99 in the circular, but I found one with a $59 sticker that was apparently a pre-Black Friday special) and a 4-pack of 18V skil tools for $149. I’ve always felt pretty good about buying at HD on BFs — their prices usually don’t get that low, it’s not that crowded, and you can usually find the deals you’re looking for (I showed up around 11am).

Next year I won’t even look at the BF specials, ’cause I’m not willing to do what it takes to get them.

By: decadyne

decadyne — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 13:32:54 +0000

I couldn’t agree more.
My dad made the same observation as you and came to the same conclusion last year: why is EVERY item published for ANY store out of stock on Black Friday.

Black Friday is a HUGE SCAM.

Further, I think the “Black Friday” phenomenon is another nasty element in the ongoing hypercommercialization of the holiday season. It has pretty much become the keystone that starts it all. Corporations are using heavy tactics to motivate purchasing behavior and can leverage new marketing avenues, like the internet, to their advantage.

I think every person who earns money with the intention to spend it should begin thinking of 2 things starting in the Fall season:
1. Am I going to spend my money AT ALL during the holidays?
2. If I do, what are the channels I will select for doing my shopping?

For me, I’d love to see all of us start putting pressure on the merchants. We should (a.) demand gauranteed quantities and (b.) have the option of ordering any “Black Friday Deal” over the internet.

Ultimately, Black Friday merchants have committed the sin of Wasting Our Time.

It’s our time and money. Protect them.

By: Golbguru

Golbguru — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 08:55:14 +0000

I totally agree with you
If making a good sale was really their intention, then they wouldn’t stock like just 20 laptops when they are expecting about 400 people to turn up for the damn deal.

By: The Personal Finance Weblog

The Personal Finance Weblog — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:06:44 +0000

Other Voices: Links for 11/24/06…

Day after Thanksgiving and happiness abounds… ProBargainHunter: …Black Friday shopping is a big scam. Stores publish very limited quantity hot deals to lure in shoppers and those deals are all sold out instantaneously. If you come at the opening or…