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Permalink Reply by Werner on November 25, 2011 at 9:58pm

I have a problem with this black Friday BS, or for that matter the whole Christmas shopping BS.

I recall being interviewed by a reporter for a radio station back in the old country in the mid sixties. This was downtown Geneva outside a store in early December. I told her then that all this consumerism was really pissing me off, my opinion hasn't changed over 40 years later.

I just watched on the news tonight a Canadian woman bragging that she bought 3 flat screen TVs and 2 scooters on her shopping spree in North Dakota, I was livid watching this and the other various reports on Black Friday shopping. Don't get me wrong, if anyone can afford it I could (should) care less, but how many people go way overboard and haven't got the credit cards paid off by the time the next Christmas season comes around and the commercials incite people to spend, spend, spend, because there will never be another deal like that. How many people have bought items, maybe even gone into debts for items that have never been used and have sat in a dark corner, accumulating dust and either no one knows how to use it or it is utterly obsolete and was pretty much worthless shortly after it left the store.

I have gone to the States to Grand Forks only for the purpose of shopping once. My wife wanted to go on September Long W-E about 6 years ago and I relented, I don't think she bought $100.00 worth of stuff and I spent about $25.00, but it was a W-E to get away, so I'm not completely lily white.

We do celebrate Christmas, although I take some pride that my family refers to me as the Christmas Grinch, I never been a fan, even as a kid, actually more so when I was a kid, I softened up when I had kids of my own and even more with the grand-kids.

While I try my best at being reasonably generous and shop for Christmas (I do it on week days morning, when the malls are empty, I despise crowds) and while not being stingy I haven't been extravagant over the years (OK, maybe once or twice).

Maybe being retired and living on a fixed income put on more focus on the issue than on previous years, but, bottom line I have never been comfortable or liked this whole Christmas shopping extravaganza.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Blow on November 26, 2011 at 8:18am

I don't understand why anyone would be 'livid' about what someone else wants to do.

 

I simply don't Christmas shop at all and if the others want to support the economy I am happy about it.

 

Christmas shopping seems to be a barometer of the times.

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Permalink Reply by Rocketship on November 28, 2011 at 8:07pm

I think that the whole concept of Black Friday ...and now Internet shopping Monday (whatever it's called) exhibits the total distain the retailers have for customers.

They're sitting around laughing at the mobs.... their customers!!!

Not only will I not participate, I would boycott any Canadian store that started that!!

These retailers could be passing on savings to their customers all year long by lowering their markups.

--just my opinion

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Permalink Reply by lorette terro on November 28, 2011 at 8:20pm

I agree with you Rocket. The wonderful world of marketing, anything to make a buck, I guess. I think its so sad that this is what Christmas has become. I remember a time when Christmas wasnt all about the presents, but mostly family time. I guess I can cherish those memories.

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Permalink Reply by Janet Auty-Carlisle on November 28, 2011 at 9:45pm

Wow lots of conversation here. So to shake it up a bit I'll tell you what I did. I sat in the comfot of my cozy little home north of Toronto and shopped for an ipad. I've been wanting to buy one for a while and on Black Friday they offered a couple of incentive deals to purchase them: one day only. I was going to make the purchase anyway so I feel it's a win/win for me. Shopping online meant no crowds and because it's Apple the process was simple. Didn't do any other shopping: that I do in person on other days.

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