"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."

Monday, November 19, 2012
No, not Mos Eisley - the absolute circus that has become Black Friday in this country.

Seriously - what the fuck is wrong with these yahoos who run the retail industry? It wasn't enough that those people who work in the retail industry had to report for work at O-Dark-Thirty on the Friday after Thanksgiving or risk losing the only crappy job they were able to find in this economy. Now they have to leave their families on Thanksgiving Day in order to open their stores so that crazy people looking for a "deal" can try to save some money. I don't get it. I just don't. If you have to call in OSHA to help you manage your crowd control so that people don't get trampled to death, I think it's safe to say you're DOING IT WRONG.

It's one thing for people to have to work on holidays because they work in critical services. I've worked my fair share of holidays over the years for that purpose, and didn't begrudge it. But it's not like making sure the Target is open on Thanksgiving contributes in some meaningful way to the health and safety of our communities.

It's just greed, pure and simple. I think it's shameful - SHAMEFUL - that people have to leave their families on a holiday like Thanksgiving to line the pockets of consumers and the companies that compromise the well-being of their employees to cater to them.

10 comments:

Random Michelle K said...

I just spent $150 and ordered almost all the Christmas gifts for the young people in my life.

That would be $150 worth of books, if you were confused about who was writing this comment.

Dr. Phil (Physics) said...

When Wendy worked in retail at K-Mart, she thankfully worked the restocking crew. So while she went in late on Thanksgiving, it was after the doors were locked. Now you have stores open 24/7 AND the insane crush of Who concertgoers in search of $149 flat panel TVs -- which you know are for themselves and not gifts.

Amazon may have its own problems, but the only store we'll hit for Christmas shopping is our lovely independent Schuler's Books and Music stores...

Dr. Phil

Shawn Powers said...

Here in Grand Rapids there are people already camped out at Best Buy in tents. What a wonderful Thanksgiving THAT will be... :(

Janiece said...

I KNOW. Don't these people have family or friends?

I can just imagine my Hot Mom's reaction if I had announced that I was going to wait in line at a retail establishment instead of eat with the family on Thanksgiving Day. (Hint: Not Good).

Some people got no fetchin'.

Unknown said...

You said it, Sister!!!

IllanoyGal said...

And how many $149 flat panel TVs do they actually have in stock??? Certainly not enough to take care of all those in the crush around the front door. But the suckers flock to the stores anyway. You're right - it's just the greed. (sigh)

Carol Elaine said...

I can think of nothing in the universe for which I would willing wait in line for three hours, let alone three days. That's just bloody insane. And I'm so glad I don't work in retail these days. Blech.

Matt said...

As you know Janiece, I was a retail manager for 12 years and have a special place of deep hatred in my heart for Black Friday. I am, however, conflicted as to what group I should hate more: The greedy industry fucktards who drive the ever more ridiculous hours, place only a handful of items on deep discount to force shoppers to come early and fail to provide even a modicum of security or safety for their employees, or the greedy customer fucktards who will cue up for three days, validate the whole insane process with their idiotic willingness to submit and then fail to act with even a shred of human dignity and behave worse than rioters or soccer hooligans . . . (counting to ten . . . there). One group involved in this insane morass that has my undying respect are the professionals and workers who are forced to work these ridiculous hours and put up with behavior that would see any law enforcement officer draw their weapon and administer deadly force, so that their families may eat and have a rood over their heads. This process will unfortunately continue to get worse as long as both groups of fucktards continue to show their willingness to push the boundaries of sanity.

Janiece said...

Word, Matt. I don't get the appeal of Black Friday aka "Black Ha Ha Pitiful Wal Mart Slaves You Have No Family!" AT ALL. Just. Don't. Get. It. As the author of that great Jezebel piece put it: "Personally, I will go to almost any lengths to avoid inconvenience and discomfort, so Black Friday is my idea of where hell sends Satan when he needs a time-out."

Beatrice Desper said...

Janiece, come take a vacation to France where I sign petitions to keep stores closed on Sunday. It's the slippery slope.....