Attention Shoppers

It was a first for me, braving the crowds for the almighty deal! Every Thanksgiving I'll dig through the Black Friday sales flyers to see what everyone has to entice shoppers and to get gift ideas. Even though, many of the major store deals have been intentionally leaked weeks in advance. I think the days of not knowing the deals until hours before they are available is more exciting with that last minute surprise. But, it is what it is, as stores try to get a leg up on the competition for shoppers. Walmart had a unique offer on some of their sales items with a one hour guarantee. Meaning, if the item sells out, shoppers would still receive a gift card to purchase the item at the sale price and to be shipped before Christmas. I thought, okay, I don't have to camp outside the store to save a few bucks, I won't be turned away dissapointed. Why not? I ask myself about taking in the hysteria.

I head down to the Northport Walmart and the first eye-opener was the amount of cars parked, spilling over into another closed shopping plaza. As I park, in the distance, is that it? Yes, it is the store. That far away. Once inside, I've never seen anything like it, the amount of people rushing around to get their hands on a number of 'deals.' Keep in mind, I enter the store only minutes after the 10 p.m. sale had begun and already the iPad, Blu Ray player and most of the tv's on sale were out of stock. I see all around me people with over flowing shopping carts with these items. It appeared everyone was buying a tv that night. All was good, as the Blu Ray player I had my eye on came with a one hour guarantee. I picked up the gift card and headed to the check-out. A first, every single register in a long row was open trying to keep up with the check-out demand. Still, each had a very long line flowing deep back into the departments. I pick a line, it moved a little a first, then it stopped. I can see in the distance a major hold up. The lines around me keep moving, as I'm in a complete stand still. I keep saying to strangers around me, 'this line isn't moving at all.' Oh, here comes the store manager to my line's register. Wait, wait. Still help up. I thought, the only way this line will get moving again is for me to jump out of this line. I did and it did. No biggie, it was all about taking in the hysteria.

I leave the store and I now get it. I get why some people become so excited about Black Friday shopping, even on Thursday night. It's a unique annual event to compete against massive crowds to score deals. The excitment of victory. I saw plenty of people leaving the store glowing, they won!