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November 5, 2013

Is Black Friday Out of Control?


It’s November, and already the black Friday buildup has begun.  Amazon is advertising Countdown to Black Friday deals. I signed up for an ad from Book Blast for their Holiday advertising. Put your tennis shoes on and be prepared for the holiday races to begin. 

Our family is small, and we have to travel to San Angelo to spend Thanksgiving with my parents who live about thirty miles out of town. There are main roads into town, but at night or early in the morning you have to watch for deer. In the past, on two separate occasions, my parents have hit deer crossing the road at night, which does considerable damage to your car. When we drive out to their place, my husband, and I are always watching for those rascally deer who run right in front of you. Once we’re there for Thanksgiving, we usually don’t go anywhere in town until it’s daylight.

Plus, I find it very hard to get up at three in the morning and go shopping just so that I can get some great deals. I’m snuggled up under the covers, dreaming of Ryan Gosling and how I can persuade him to appear on my next book cover. But a lot of people enjoy this early morning shopping spree. I know women who pour over the sales ads and plan their shopping excursion.



It’s the kick-off of the holiday shopping season and the stores want everyone spending money. If you enjoy getting up early and hitting the stores before the sun rises, have a great time. Be careful and remember those credit cards will come back to bite you in January.

Some big box stores are now opening up Thanksgiving afternoon or evening. Soon other stores will not want to miss their chance at the cash cow and will join the sales extravaganza. But what if you’re an employee? You have to leave your Thanksgiving celebration with your family and get ready for everyone else to shop in your store.

What happened to a family holiday about being thankful for what we have? Are we now going to have Black Thanksgiving? Skip the dessert and get on down here for our blue light special. Aren’t we going to lose the unique marketing of black Friday if Thanksgiving becomes just another shopping day? Tell me your thoughts.

Do you think stores should open on Thanksgiving day? Do you like to shop on Black Friday? 

It's release day for The Christmas Bride. This novella is part of my best-selling western historical series, The Burnett Brides. Leave a comment today and two people will have a chance to win a free e-book copy.



18 comments:

Unknown said...

It looks like a good read. I love Christmas Stories

Bestiary Parlor: The Musings of a Zoologist Turned Author said...

Looks like a fun read, though I celebrate Chanukah, I love a good romantic Christmas story.

Sylvia said...

Hi Karla,
Thanks for stopping by.

Sylvia said...

Hi Eva,
You know I've always wondered about Chanukah. If I were more knowledgeable about the customs and traditions, I'd write a Chanukah story. Thanks for stopping by.

Jennifer Haddad said...

I love black friday shopping! My mom and I have been going for the last 15 years, but I would prefer stores not open til after midnight so that the employees can spend more time with their families. I know how much it stinks working holidays and missing out on family time. Anyway, half of the fun was standing in line at 2am with my mom freezing, talking with other shoppers and waiting for the store to open at 4am. I love getting good deals!

The book looks like a great read. I love Christmas stories!

Phyllis said...

I can honestly say I have NEVER shopped on Black Friday. It's simply not worth the time and trouble to me.

I also don't like stores opening early on Thanksgiving. These workers want to spent time with their families, but the greedy stores like their money more, I suppose.

Look forward to you book!

Kathy Ivan said...

Raising my hand. I'm one of those Black Friday Shoppers. LOL WE get up really early (though not 3 o'clock) on Friday morning and hit the doors running.

I don't want to see the stores opening on Thursdays, although I will admit my sister and I hit Michael's sale every Thanksgiving day. They always open up Thursday afternoon, and oh my goodness you should see the lines. THey are gigantic some years.

I will gripe and moan with everybody about Black Friday, but I'll still get up every year and go out and brave the crowds. It is the official start of the holiday season at my house. :-)

Cathy McElhaney said...

I try to be done shopping by Black Friday...although I have gone a few times. Going with my mom and my niece in Arizona was fun! Going here is not, LOL! I waited in a long line last year for some electronic thing and by the time I was halfway to the electronic department, they announced that the thing I had waited for 3 hours for...was sold out :(
I Love Christmas stories and will definitely read this book whether I win or not!

Sylvia said...

Hi Jennifer,
I have shopped on Black Friday before, but I'm a late comer. I do it about eleven o'clock. I am not getting out of bed at 3 am to go shopping. I'm just not. It would have to be a spectacular deal.

Sylvia said...

Hi Phyllis,
Yes, I heard yesterday that K-mart is going to open at 6:00 am on Thanksgiving morning. That's just wrong. We seem to have lost what Thanksgiving is all about.

Sylvia said...

Hi Cathy,
Thanks for coming by. Yes, if we go shopping on Black Friday, it's in a smaller town where my parents live, so it's bad, but not like the metroplex where I live. I don't know if I would stand in line 3 hours for any electronic gadget. I just don't have the patience. Thanks for coming by and I hope you enjoy the book.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sylvia: I did go once on Thanksgiving day to Garden Ridge with my sisters and her mother in law and my mom. Really, for something different to do. The line was too long. We waited forever. And I've never done it again. When I worked retail, Tuesday evenings were the best days to go holiday shopping.

Sylvia said...

Hi Vicki,
I'm going to remember that Tuesday evenings are the best. I hate fighting the crowds and for many years I would buy Christmas through-out the year. But now my list has shrunk and I buy a lot of things online. It's so much easier.

Sylvia said...

UPDATE -- ON MSN Today!! Is Black Friday becoming Irrelevant. Read the article here; http://t.money.msn.com/top-stocks/is-black-friday-becoming-irrelevant

Black Friday is a good thing, but if it just becomes another shopping day then it's lost it's power. And with more stores opening up on Thanksgiving, that's what's happening.

Bantering of a Beautiful Mind said...

I love all of Sylvia's books! I am positive this one will be GREAT!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Great post Sylvia! I agree with you about the Thanksgiving day store openings. I think this is horrible. Let people eat with their families or friends and have the day off. Black Friday can start all the deals at a decent time, like 6AM. I refuse to get up early and although I love shopping for the deals, I'd just as soon get there after a good night's sleep. :)

Unknown said...

I like the book cover. I love romance and Christmas. It seems like a magical time to be happy, love and enjoy life.

Dick said...

Went to Wal-Mart last year, never again...Stupid, stupid people. I know you save money, but I wait until later in the day, as most items are really overstocked anyway. A lot of the item are dis-continued and on sale to bring new in for Christmas. Try and get a few bargains for presents, as I don't need a Damn thing, wife, dogs, plenty of food. What more can you want?