Black Friday

Friday, November 25, 2005 » general

I can't remember the last time I went out shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. I always say that I'm making a point to avoid crowds, but the reason I usually end up staying at home is that I'm not one of those infected with the sale-induced shopping bug. Yes, sometimes an item that I desire will come on sale and I'll go out and get it, but generally my shopping expeditions are downright surgical.1

With that explained, I don't know what compelled me to head over to Fry's when they opened at 5 AM today. Sure, I like many of the things they sell at Fry's, especially since they're often sold at insane2 discounts, but this year's sale items weren't even that special. I think maybe I was just curious to see the amount of people that turned up. (OK, and maybe get a free 80-gigabyte hard drive. But, seriously, that's not that special.) Besides, Fry's is more of a specialty store compared to something like Walmart or Sears, so it couldn't get that busy, right?

RONG!! The first warning sign was that the parking lot was completely full. This was clear even when still on approach to the lot entrance. Then, what's that snaking out the entrance and around the corner of the building? The line to get in. Oh, and what's that that just appeared out from around the opposite corner of the building? The end of the same line. And this is after the doors have opened.

After witnessing the line, the inside wasn't too much of a shock. People filled the aisles, many clutching piles of boxes and plastic-enclosed peripherals. There were entire tables lined up of products that were free after rebates. And, of course, they were completely cleaned out of the 80GB drives. That was OK, though, since it meant I wouldn't have to wait in the checkout line, which circled the entire inside of the store.

So, that was that. I can't imagine the pandemonium that is likely taking place inside Walmarts nationwide at this very moment. Walmart is crowded enough even when everything isn't marked down.

I'm staying home next year.

1 LITERALLY!!!!!!!!
2 Wait for it... Wait for it... LITERALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!