Black Friday coming soon to the UK. WHAT THE F***!! WHY?!?!

[runic knight]

Alternative solution?
http://v.cdn.cad-comic.com/comics/cad-20131129-048f6.png


On topic though, this is the fault of consumerism itself, not just a nation that embraced it. No one is forcing the companies to try to adopt the black friday one day/weekend of huge sales thing, businesses just see the mass surge in profits and want to capture it.

And it is the exception not the rule that they are chaotic messes. Vast majority of the time it is just the same level of awfulness to put up with as the last weekend before christmas. It is just some people get too competitive and tempers flair. Most of the time though the same occurrences of people getting into brawls and fighting over products happen regularly over the course of the entire year, and no one bats much of an eye when they show up. Get more people in the same spot (thus increasing the odds one of them will do something stupid and another will retaliate) and suddenly the day with a lot of sales is demonized as starting the end of the civilized world.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

A quick search yielded this story from a few years back, about a Wal-Mart employee who was trampled and killed by people stampeding into a store. http://m.nydailynews.com/1.334059

This video shows how crazy it can get, even to the point where the cords break the doors open to get inside just to buy things.

video snip

It truly disgusts me. I work in retail, and most people are nice enough, but the bad ones, they make your day pretty crap. If I was in that situation, I would have a hard time being nice to any of them the way they are acting in that video. Time and a half pay on retail wages don't make up for a lot of that kind of stuff.

Is it exaggerated by people as to how bad it gets? Of course. But that fact that at least one person has died due to the greed of others wanting a few bucks off something materialistic, is at least one person too many.

This is going to sound cold and heartless but I don't think there' any other way I could say it that doesn't sound cold and heartless...

This kind of stuff isn't Black Friday's fault. This is the cause of very stupid people (and sometimes stupid management from the stores). Fortunately, while the news would tell you that every place is a war-zone, that's not the case. These are isolated incidents involving very stupid people (many times they are also preventable but the stores choose not to implement the more sensible thing like ticket stubs for people in line). To cancel all of the events because of a handful of incidents is canceling all video games because a handful of stupid people decided that playing GTAV meant they should shoot up their school.

I do feel bad for incidents like these but these are the exceptions, not the rule and they are almost totally preventable with systems that many stores have started implementing

For example:
Walmart doors are open before the event starts so people are at the products they want in a line; no stampede because you're in a specific line for your specific product). The video shows half of that system where they put the items in the middle of nowhere and let people have at it but the Wal-Mart I went to had specific lines you had to go to for specific big tickets.

Best Buy has been giving tickets to people in line while they're still outside. Employees go to the front of the line with (let's say 20 big ticket TVs are available) 20 tickets and give them to the first twenty people. They do this for all the big ticket items and there is no longer any reason for the stampede.

Two different systems that I've seen in my area that have prevented the primary source of injuries; the stampede. Will this prevent everything? Probably not (there's bound to be a thug or two who thinks he can just punch an old lady to snatch the TV away during the event) but stupid people are going to do stupid things.

I said that's how crazy it can get, not how it always is. And I agree with you completely, it's just that you were saying people don't get killed etc, which kinda isn't true. I know that's not how it all goes, or it would make international news about hundreds dead due to shopping sprees XD I think the US needs to implement laws to do with stuff like this, that all stores should follow the ticket system or something or pay a massive fine to prevent this, the ticket thing seems like a really sensible idea.

 

[llamastorm.games]

I whole heartedly welcome this. Seeing as most online retailers do black friday deals as well i can get them without having to go anywhere and i also live in the UK.
I got double bonus points on Lotro
I got loads of deals through on Amazon
Loads of sales on Xbox Live
Loads of sales on Steam

I'm not going to then sit and complain about some people being rude.
I'm also not going to complain about shops hopefully doing a bit extra business in hard economic times
I'm not going to complain about such days usually falling on bank holidays and people getting paid extra to be in work, especially in hard economic times.

Get a grip and whine about something important...

 

[tippy2k2]

I said that's how crazy it can get, not how it always is. And I agree with you completely, it's just that you were saying people don't get killed etc, which kinda isn't true. I know that's not how it all goes, or it would make international news about hundreds dead due to shopping sprees XD I think the US needs to implement laws to do with stuff like this, that all stores should follow the ticket system or something or pay a massive fine to prevent this, the ticket thing seems like a really sensible idea.

I don't believe I said it didn't happen but if I did (or even if I just implied it with my post), that's my bad. I wasn't trying to say that this stuff never happens; just that it happens far far far less than what's implied by media.

Personally, besides for the two ticket ideas I've seen in other places, I agree with the laws thing. Specifically, I think a store that has more than X (I don't know what that would be, someone who has actually studied these things should figure that out) amount of people should be required to hire a couple of cops to babysit the event and if needed, arrest the dude who cold-cocks an old lady for her TV.

 

[Flames66]

From the Black Friday clips I have seen, it looks to me like everyone involved should be arrested for rioting. No we don't need that here.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I said that's how crazy it can get, not how it always is. And I agree with you completely, it's just that you were saying people don't get killed etc, which kinda isn't true. I know that's not how it all goes, or it would make international news about hundreds dead due to shopping sprees XD I think the US needs to implement laws to do with stuff like this, that all stores should follow the ticket system or something or pay a massive fine to prevent this, the ticket thing seems like a really sensible idea.

I don't believe I said it didn't happen but if I did (or even if I just implied it with my post), that's my bad. I wasn't trying to say that this stuff never happens; just that it happens far far far less than what's implied by media.

Personally, besides for the two ticket ideas I've seen in other places, I agree with the laws thing. Specifically, I think a store that has more than X (I don't know what that would be, someone who has actually studied these things should figure that out) amount of people should be required to hire a couple of cops to babysit the event and if needed, arrest the dude who cold-cocks an old lady for her TV.

It seemed implied, but that's okay, I get ya now. I know the media in any country blow things outta proportion, so it's all good, I understand your wanting to make it clear.

Yeah, there should be more security and such to control it, and the police should be on stand-by if they aren't usually near the big places where it tends to happen.

 

[Parasondox]

I reckon it's payback for Piers Morgan!

We still aren't taking him back.

Why? Because the UK needs to experience Dawn of The Dead in real life too!

Personally I am against it because, as a briton, I have a genetic compulsion to queue in an orderly fashion. All this faff with ripping doors off a storefront to get a bargain on cheap electronics I don't actually want is just not my bag baby.

There's no reason you can't have Black Friday and not queue. Hell, here's something that happened during the London Riots:

Spoiler

Queuing to loot a store with its windows smashed. Even in our darkest ours, we queue.

This is by far the most british picture ever. Americans fight each other to buy stuff while we queue up to loot stuff

Ironically black friday was the only day of the year where DFS didnt have a sale (UK people will get this joke)

Wait wait wait!!! So no Leather Sofa deals that was £1297 then £1047 and now a whopping £797, with typical 0% APR, 4 years free credit, first year payment free with all deals ending Monday? Well this country has now lost it I tell you, LOST IT!!!

 

[Sansha]

You're welcome

-Sincerely,
'Merica

Honestly, yeah the crowds suck but that whole "EVERY DIES! SHOOTOUTS AND TRAMPLINGS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!" is so stupidly overblown that I'm shocked that anyone still believes it. I've gone to a few events and I have yet to even see someone get hurt, let alone get killed like the news programs promised.

Ultimately, the beautiful part about it is that if you don't want to participate, you don't have to. That's what bugs me about people who complain about it all the time; don't want to deal with it, don't go. Bam! I just solved your problem. You're welcome imaginary straw-man I've built!

This guy basically said what I was going to. I, as a New Zealander, have been to one Black Friday 'event', and it was no more raucous than a Christmas shopping rush here.

And yeah, if the idea upsets you so much - don't go.

 

[shootthebandit]

"America sneeze, Britain catches a cold"

To be honest, i'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner.

I think this role is starting to reverse. British culture is becoming huge in america (or maybe just the impression I get from sites like this). Doctor who, top gear, one direction and many more are absolutely huge in america nowadays.

Im not saying that Britain doesnt slavishly follow american culture but its kinda getting better now and america is adopting a lot of our culture

 

[Psychobabble]

"America sneeze, Britain catches a cold"

To be honest, i'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner.

I think this role is starting to reverse. British culture is becoming huge in america (or maybe just the impression I get from sites like this). Doctor who, top gear, one direction and many more are absolutely huge in america nowadays.

Im not saying that Britain doesnt slavishly follow american culture but its kinda getting better now and america is adopting a lot of our culture

So now it's Britain sneezes and America catches chlamydia?

 

[jklinders]

I've been asking he same thing here in Canada these past 2 or three years. Why do we have this compulsive need to copy the same overindulgent herd mentality bullshit that the US does? Too late, we are doing it. people are acting like idiots over sales that are not even that good, the only good thing is, no one has died yet to my knowledge as a result of stampeding idiots who can't wait for a fucking door to be unlocked and an employee to get out of the way.

 

[Joseph Ashby]

"America sneeze, Britain catches a cold"

To be honest, i'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner.

I think this role is starting to reverse. British culture is becoming huge in america (or maybe just the impression I get from sites like this). Doctor who, top gear, one direction and many more are absolutely huge in america nowadays.

Im not saying that Britain doesnt slavishly follow american culture but its kinda getting better now and america is adopting a lot of our culture

So now it's Britain sneezes and America catches chlamydia?

That ... That wasn't a sneeze...

 

[fix-the-spade]

Comment below and thank you.

Rather sadly, ASDA took £90million on Friday and sold 99% of it's discounted stock, so it's probably an annual fixture now.

But, on the other hand, if it generates the same kind of chaos again next year that it did this year I can see ASDA getting prosecuted for causing public nuisance (much like pubs/bars that get a lot of trouble do), the police won't give a damn how profitable it is if it leads to a predictable spike in violent behaviour, they'll just order the shop closed.

They'd do much better to spread the discount over a few weeks, different items each day.

 

[Tono Makt]

Ultimately it's coming to the UK because shops want more of this:

Spoiler

As Tippy pointed out though, I don't see the problem considering none of us are obliged to go out to the shops on this particular day.

We have it here in Canada now as well. I'm not bothered by it. No one is holding a gun to my head, making me go out and shop. Don't like it? Don't go.

What about for those who work in retail and those stores?

They're going to be working extra hours those days and not likely getting overtime pay for it. Welcome to 21st Century Capitalism, American-style.

My advice to people at the lowest echelons of the world right now, particularly youngsters without huge amounts of important bills to pay? Save money, buy stocks in some of these larger companies. Buy lots of stock, and when possible buy the more important stock that gives you voting privileges. You'll make money when these companies screw over the low end employees for the bottom line.

Either that or join the Amish. (Which might be the better choice overall because when this kind of Capitalism comes crashing down around us, you'll have the skills and experience to live in a world without modern conveniences.)

 

[Veldel]

Ultimately it's coming to the UK because shops want more of this:

Spoiler

As Tippy pointed out though, I don't see the problem considering none of us are obliged to go out to the shops on this particular day.

I was fored to work on it and on thanksgiving and we had fights and ppl teased over towels

Its utter hell and whatnot it doesn't help we get no holiday bonus


Be happy you can stay in or livein sane part of town I'll be having nightmares

 

[marurder]

This is American culture invading other cultures. The people who say they don't have a problem with it tend to be from the US already, or those who don't care about an individual countries identity. I hope this doesn't get reproduced, but I am not naive. Money talks after all.

 

[Veldel]

Ultimately it's coming to the UK because shops want more of this:

Spoiler

As Tippy pointed out though, I don't see the problem considering none of us are obliged to go out to the shops on this particular day.

We have it here in Canada now as well. I'm not bothered by it. No one is holding a gun to my head, making me go out and shop. Don't like it? Don't go.

What about for those who work in retail and those stores?

They're going to be working extra hours those days and not likely getting overtime pay for it. Welcome to 21st Century Capitalism, American-style.

My advice to people at the lowest echelons of the world right now, particularly youngsters without huge amounts of important bills to pay? Save money, buy stocks in some of these larger companies. Buy lots of stock, and when possible buy the more important stock that gives you voting privileges. You'll make money when these companies screw over the low end employees for the bottom line.

Either that or join the Amish. (Which might be the better choice overall because when this kind of Capitalism comes crashing down around us, you'll have the skills and experience to live in a world without modern conveniences.)

If we work over 40 hours they force us to remove it by taking 3+ hour lunches which is utter bullshit.


Oh and are managers are a bunch of morons who all sit around on phones in office or play magic

 

[Billy D Williams]

I went to Micro Center on Black Friday last year. Got a great deal on PC parts and I went at 7 PM. Walked in, grabbed my shit, left. If you don't want to go, don't go. If you want to go but don't want to deal with crowds, don't go to the popular stores, go to places like Microcenter. Better deals and less people. If you still are upset about it, don't feign sympathy for retail workers just as an excuse to get angry about something. Sure, some people might actually feel bad for the people who work retail that night, but I doubt msot of the people who say they feel bad really do. People just love an excuse to be mad about something.

 

[Flutterguy]

I just avoid shopping that day, I'm Canadian and although a bit more civilized (Don't think we've had a trampling to death yet) its still a scene I am happier avoiding. However if you need a new TV or monitor go to a smaller electronics/bargain shop that's having sales that day. Got my new monitor and KB+M last blackfriday without even a lineup at a local electronic shop for under 100$.