Black Friday shoppers lined up last year outside of the Springettsbury Township Target. My brother works there. Be nice to him, too, please. (York Daily Record – FILE)
As Black Friday sales get earlier and earlier every year, the stories of deal-chasers grow more and more insane.
In 2008, a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death.
Last year, a woman pepper-sprayed an entire crowd of people, injuring 20 Black Friday shoppers.
I know it’s a lot to ask, but could humanity please evolve just a little and remember to be kind and respect others? We’ve spent the entire day before Black Friday saying how thankful we are for family and friends and food and the things we have. However, less than 24 hours later, we are so discontented with what we have that we need to go out and grab more.
Maybe I don’t get it, because I’m on the other side. I don’t remember a single Black Friday since I was 16 that I haven’t worked. Whether I was keeping a meticulous list of customers in line for a fitting room or standing ankle-deep in discarded food, making sandwiches at a local sandwich chain or running the cash register at a retail establishment with a line practically out the door, I’ve always worked on Black Friday.
And one of the major things I’ve noticed is that people really just need to chill out.
I’ve seen sweaty women, eyes wide and bloodshot and crazed from the unusally high levels of caffeine running through their veins, speaking in hurried sentences, saying, “This is only our first stop. We’re not done yet. We still have to go to Target and WalMart and Old Navy and then down the road and maybe we will grab some lunch and I don’t know what we’ll get for Jenny’s boyfriend’s mom’s aunt’s grandma’s cousin’s bus driver and I’ve been up since Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Um, what? So unnecessary.
These Kohl’s employees look like they could use a break. Be nice to them on Black Friday, please. (York Daily Record – FILE)
And last year the computer system at Victoria’s Secret (or as I affectionately call it, “Vicky’s”) crashed from the overload of transactions from all the stores, all at one time. What would have been a manageable crowd quickly grew unmanageable and impatient.
I’ve been screamed at because the store ran out of the free item that was being offered for Black Friday. I guess the customer completely forgot, while staring wildly at the large font in the ad that said “FREE!” that below that it also said, (albeit in microscopic type,) “while supplies last.”
I’ve been scoffed at because the fitting rooms were full and the line was long. Really, it’s Black Friday. What else did you expect?
But three Black Fridays ago, a guy who was shopping with his son told me I looked tired. So he went up to the food court and brought me a sweet tea from McDonald’s. I’ll be forever grateful to you, sweet tea guy with the adorable little boy. (I think the little boy’s name was Lucas.)
Good things do come from Black Friday after all.
So when you’re out being crazy on Black Friday, reflect on what you were thankful for on Thanksgiving, just for a moment. When I talked about my holiday knitting in August, I wrote that you should knit because you love someone. And if you’re anxious, grumpy or uninspired, you need to stop. Shopping for the holidays is much of the same. If you can’t find what you want, go home, have a cup of hot cocoa, and enjoy your family.
Please be kind to your fellow shoppers and to the store associates who work very hard and extra-long hours for you. Remember that, while you might not have gotten that fancy gadget while blasting through the door of your nearby Target, there’s always next year.
