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Black Friday
If you can face the lines! Top deals on BLACK FRIDAY
Target
Canon T3 body, lens, memory card and camera bag: $499 – usually $749
Nook Simple Touch: $49 – usually $99
Best Buy
8GB iPhone 4S with a two-year contract: $1
Kohl’s
50% of all toys
60% off certain kids’ clothing lines
Discovery Kids Digital Camera: $19.99 – usually $69.99
Black Friday 2012 Top Deals
Amazon
Canon PowerShot s100: $309 – usually $429
Sears
Toshiba 50-inch LEDL: $299 – usually $849
Toys ‘R Us
Power Wheels Barbie or Silver Cadillac Escalade: $269.99 ($150 off)
DS, PS3 and Wii Games are buy one, get another for $1
Get a $15 iTunes gift card when you buy $50 iTunes gift card
Walmart
$75 gift card when you purchase the iPad 2
Millions of bargain-hungry shoppers are set to scour shops for deals on Thanksgiving as an increasing number of stores across the country throw open their doors a day early.
Some of the nation’s largest chains, including Toys R Us and Target, have nudged their opening times into Thursday in a bid to make more money than ever over the Black Friday weekend.
“Retailers are now commercializing Thanksgiving, giving the opportunity to the consumer who doesn’t want to watch 12 hours of football,” said Marshal Cohen from consumer research firm NPD Group.
“It’s no longer Christmas creep, it’s the Christmas crush. This is about beating the competition.”
Across the US, a staggering 17% of consumers – or 41 million people – are expected to shop on Thanksgiving, according to a consumer holiday tracking survey by The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs.
And for retailers, it makes sense. Last year, stores which extended their hours saw sales soar by up to 22% over the weekend, while those retailers that did not lost up to 8%.
The National Retail Federation predicts 147 million Americans will shop over Thanksgiving weekend, and that there will be an increase of holiday sales of 4.1% on last year.
Already queues are snaking outside large stores. Tents began gathering outside Best Buy stores on Tuesday as bargain hunters hoped to get their hands on gadgets when doors open on Friday.
Stores are enticing shoppers with discounts including $7 board games at Target, $19 sweaters at Gap and $299 Toshiba 50-inch LEDs at Sears – down from $849.
Aware that many customers plan to shop online, Target and Best Buy are also matching prices offered by online competitors such as Amazon.com, Bloomberg reported.
And in some stores, there will be kiosks and mobile checkouts to integrate online and in-store shopping, while Apple customers can simply scan their products and pay remotely.
Millions of bargain-hungry shoppers are set to scour shops for deals on Thanksgiving as an increasing number of stores across the country throw open their doors a day early
Independent stores and entire malls nationwide are also opening early. In South Florida, for example, Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater and Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise each open at 9 p.m. on Thursday for 24 hours.
With stores opening earlier, the retail industry has crossed the Black Friday barrier and it might creep further forward still, Kimberly Taylor, an associate professor from Florida International University, told the Miami Herald.
“It is becoming almost a whole season,” she said.
“Where is it going to end? Will it take away the whole Black Friday if it is the whole week or the whole season?”
There will also be early sales online as discounts are offered ahead of the internet’s equivalent of Black Friday – Cyber Monday.
The deals are expected to boost sales made on Thanksgiving last year, when online spending rose 18% to $479 million. On Black Friday, sales soared 26% to $816 million.
But not all employees are happy about the changes, with some workers signing petitions at change.org demanding stores including Target and Walmart stay closed on Thursday.
One petition started by a Target employee, Casey St Clair, was entitled “Target: Take the High Road and Save Thanksgiving” and had gathered almost 400,000 supporters.
But in response, Target told the Orange County Register that other workers were happy to have the overtime hours.
“When we made the decision to open our doors at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving, the first thing we did was reach out to all of our store leaders and ask them to have discussions with their team members and seek volunteers wanting to work,” Tina Schiel, executive vice president of stores for Target, said.
“We had so many team members who wanted to work on Thursday that hundreds of our stores are now keeping lists of volunteers who want to work if shifts open up.”
Retail Stores Open and Shopping Hours on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012:
N/A – CVS
CVS is definitely open on Thanksgiving Day, but their advertised store hours are “hours vary.”
N/A – Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter stores are definitely open on Thanksgiving, and most stores are open until 2:00 PM. Confirm store hours with your local Harris Teeter store.
N/A – Safeway
Safeway stores are definitely open on Thanksgiving Day, and most stores stay open until 5:00 PM. Check with your local store to confirm Thanksgiving Day hours.
6:00 AM – Albertson’s
Not all Albertson’s locations will be open on Thanksgiving Day. The ones that are will probably be open until 4:00 PM. Confirm store hours with your local Albertson’s store.
6:00 AM – Fresh and Easy Express
Advertised closing time on Thanksgiving Day is 6:00 PM
6:00 AM – H-E-B
Most stores will be open until 2:00 PM
6:00 AM – Kmart
Stores will close at 4:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day
6:00 AM – Meijer
7:00 AM – Big Lots
7:00 AM – Food Lion
Advertised closing time is 3:00 PM
7:00 AM – Fresh and Easy
Advertised closing time on Thanksgiving Day is 4:00 PM
8:00 AM – Bass Pro Shops
8:00 AM – Family Dollar
8:00 AM – Harris Teeter
8:00 AM – Whole Foods
Most stores will stay open until 5:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day, but you should check with your local store to confirm their exact store hours.
9:00 AM – Gander Mountain
Stores will be open until midnight on Thanksgiving Day, and then re-open again Black Friday morning
9:00 AM – Old Navy
Most stores open from 9:00 AM t 6:00 PM – confirm hours with your local store
9:00 AM – Walgreens
Stores open until 6:00 PM
10:00 AM – Gap
Some stores open at 11:00 AM, most stores stay open until 6:00 PM – Check for local store hours.
10:00 AM – Lord & Taylor New York 5th Ave. Flagship
No official word about whether all Lord & Taylor locations will be open Thanksgiving Day 2012
8:00 PM – hh gregg
8:00 PM – Kmart
After closing at 4:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day, Kmart will re-open at 8:00 PM and stay open through 3:00 AM on Black Friday (and then re-open again!)
8:00 PM – Sears
Will remain open overnight until 10:00 PM on Black Friday
8:00 PM – Toys ‘R Us
8:00 PM – Wal-Mart
Will remain open overnight and won’t close until 10:00 PM on Black Friday
9:00 PM – 2b Bebe *
9:00 PM – 7 For All Mankind *
9:00 PM – AIX Armani Exchange *
9:00 PM – Aeropostale *
9:00 PM – Aldo *
9:00 PM – All Saints Spitalfields *
9:00 PM – American Eagle Outfitters *
9:00 PM – Ann Taylor *
9:00 PM – BCBG Max Azria *
9:00 PM – Banana Republic *
9:00 PM – BareMinerals *
9:00 PM – Bass Shoes *
9:00 PM – Bath & Body Works *
9:00 PM – Bose *
9:00 PM – Brooks Brothers *
Retail Stores Open and Shopping Hours on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012
9:00 PM – Calphalon Kitchen Outlet *
9:00 PM – Calvin Klein *
9:00 PM – Carter’s *
9:00 PM – Champion *
9:00 PM – Charlotte Russe *
9:00 PM – Chico’s *
9:00 PM – Claire’s *
9:00 PM – Clarks Bostonian *
9:00 PM – Closet *
9:00 PM – Coach *
9:00 PM – Coach Men’s *
9:00 PM – Coldwater Creek *
9:00 PM – Cole Haan *
9:00 PM – Converse *
9:00 PM – Cotton On *
9:00 PM – Crabtree & Evelyn *
9:00 PM – DC Shoes *
9:00 PM – DJ’s Grill & Deli *
9:00 PM – DKNY *
9:00 PM – DaVinci’s Coffee & Tea *
9:00 PM – Designer Fragrances *
9:00 PM – Designer Studio *
9:00 PM – Disney Store *
9:00 PM – Disney Store Outlet *
9:00 PM – Dolce & Gabbana *
9:00 PM – Easy Spirit *
9:00 PM – Ecco *
9:00 PM – Ecko Unlimited *
9:00 PM – Ed Hardy *
9:00 PM – Erik’s Deli Café *
9:00 PM – Famous Footwear *
9:00 PM – Foreign Exchange *
9:00 PM – Fossil *
9:00 PM – Fox *
9:00 PM – Fragrance Outlet *
9:00 PM – Furla *
9:00 PM – Gap Outlet *
9:00 PM – Godiva Chocolatier *
9:00 PM – Gucci *
9:00 PM – Guess *
9:00 PM – Guess Accessories *
9:00 PM – Gymboree *
9:00 PM – Haggar *
9:00 PM – HanesBrands *
9:00 PM – Harry & David *
9:00 PM – Hugo Boss *
9:00 PM – Hurley *
9:00 PM – Izod *
9:00 PM – J.Crew *
9:00 PM – Janie and Jack *
9:00 PM – Jockey *
9:00 PM – Joe’s Jeans *
9:00 PM – Journeys *
9:00 PM – Juicy Couture *
9:00 PM – Justice *
9:00 PM – Kate Spade New York *
9:00 PM – Kenneth Cole *
9:00 PM – Kids Supercenter *
9:00 PM – Kristen’s Coffee Corner *
9:00 PM – L’Occitane *
9:00 PM – Lane Bryant *
9:00 PM – Last Call by Neiman Marcus *
9:00 PM – Levi’s *
9:00 PM – Lids *
9:00 PM – Lucky Brand *
9:00 PM – Maidenform *
9:00 PM – Maxstudio.com *
9:00 PM – Michael Kors *
9:00 PM – Naturalizer *
9:00 PM – Nautica *
9:00 PM – New Balance *
9:00 PM – Next Accessories *
9:00 PM – Nike *
9:00 PM – Nine West *
9:00 PM – No Fear *
9:00 PM – O’Neill *
9:00 PM – OshKosh B’Gosh *
9:00 PM – PacSun *
9:00 PM – Paolo Giardini *
9:00 PM – Papaya *
9:00 PM – Payless ShoeSource *
9:00 PM – Perfumania *
9:00 PM – Perfume Outlet *
9:00 PM – Perfume Outlet & Cosmetics *
9:00 PM – Polo Ralph LaurenPolo *
9:00 PM – Puma *
9:00 PM – Quiksilver *
9:00 PM – Ralph Lauren Children *
9:00 PM – Reebok *
9:00 PM – Rue21 *
9:00 PM – Saks Fifth Ave Off 5th *
9:00 PM – Samsonite *
9:00 PM – Shoe Palace *
9:00 PM – Shoe Studio *
9:00 PM – Shopko
9:00 PM – Sideline Sports *
9:00 PM – Skechers *
9:00 PM – Solstice Sunglass Outlet *
9:00 PM – Sony *
9:00 PM – Starbucks Coffee *
9:00 PM – Stride Rite *
9:00 PM – Subway *
9:00 PM – Sunglass Hut *
9:00 PM – International & Watch Stop *
9:00 PM – Sunglass Plus *
9:00 PM – Target
Stores will only be open until 11:00 PM and will re-open again on Black Friday morning
9:00 PM – The Children’s Place *
9:00 PM – The Children’s Place Outlet *
9:00 PM – The Fragrance Outlet *
9:00 PM – Tilly’s *
9:00 PM – Timberland *
9:00 PM – Time Factory *
9:00 PM – Time Factory Watch Outlet *
9:00 PM – Tommy Hilfiger *
9:00 PM or 10:00 PM – Toys R Us
Most Toys ‘R Us stores will open at 9:00 PM and stay open through 10 PM on Black Friday night. Some stores will not open until 12:00 midnight and stay open through 10 PM on Black Friday night.
9:00 PM – Toys ‘R Us Express *
9:00 PM – True Religion *
9:00 PM – Ugg Australia *
9:00 PM – Ultra Diamonds *
9:00 PM – Under Armour *
9:00 PM – VanHeusen *
9:00 PM – Vans *
9:00 PM – Victoria’s Secret *
9:00 PM – Volcom *
9:00 PM – White House Black Market *
9:00 PM – William Rast *
9:00 PM – Wilsons Leather *
9:00 PM – Zales Outlet *
9:00 PM – Zumiez *
* If marked by an * above… Stores locations open in Simon Premium Outlet Mall – check directly for other locations. Opening times may vary by location, contact your local store to confirm its Thanksgiving Day hours.
Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Thanksgiving. In 2012, it falls on November 26.
Cyber Monday was christened by Shop.org in 2005, because it’s known for online shopping sales. It follows the bricks-and-mortar shopping done on Black Friday, the first shopping day after Thanksgiving. Each year, new records are set as more and more people enjoy the convenience of shopping online.
In 2012, online holiday sales are expected to grow 12%, to $96 billion. That’s because 51.8% of people will take advantage of web-based sales, up from the 46.7% in 2011. On average, each person will do more than a third (38.8%) of their shopping online.
In 2011, Cyber Monday sales were $1.2 billion, up a whopping 22% over Cyber Monday 2010. On average, nearly 11% of shoppers used their mobile devices to visit retailers’ web sites. What were the most popular devices? The iPhone and iPad, followed by the Android.
Nearly 130 million Americans said they would shop on Cyber Monday – a third more than last year. More than half said they’d shop from work – naturally, during lunch hour or right after work.
The holiday shopping season is important for the economy because 19% of retail sales occur between Black Friday and Christmas. For some retailers, such as jewelers, it can be nearly 40% of their annual revenue.
Retailers Planned Bigger Sales
Thanks to the growing success of Cyber Monday, nearly 70% of online retailers expected their sales to increase at least 15% in 2011. This was even more optimistic than last year, when only two-thirds thought their sales would rise, and in 2009, when less than half thought so.
As a result, this year just about 90% of retailers offered great online sales. Nearly all offered free shipping, which was a large reason for the success of the record-setting 2010 Cyber Monday. This success spurred more than half of retailers to increase their “free shipping” budget, while one-third of retailers offered free shipping even earlier than they did last year. These retailers are smart, because 36% of shoppers surveyed said they’d increase their online shopping only if shipping were free.
Nearly half of the retailers offered coupons or a percent off deals (45.0%), while more than one-third had limited-time-only promotions. Fewer (15%) promoted a free gift-with-purchase.
Online retailers lured shoppers to Cyber Monday by promoting their sales even earlier than last year. More than half started their promotions by Halloween. These retailers are smart, since Halloween 2011 was the most successful spooky holiday yet. Nearly 40% waited a few weeks, starting their Cyber Monday promotions in mid-November. Just over half started promoting on Thanksgiving Day itself, while nearly all (92.2%) offered sales sometime over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Cyber Monday 2012
Why Holiday Shoppers Are Switching to Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday shoppers are very clear about why they like the day. More than 40% of time-strapped shoppers said the 24-hour convenience is their highest priority. Almost as many listed their desire to avoid the crowds on Black Friday as their primary reason for shopping online. Nearly a third of online shoppers said they like the ability to easily compare prices. A few online shoppers said they would buy less, thanks to expensive shipping charges, not being able to see or handle their purchase ahead of time, and having to wait for it to be shipped.
Shoppers are using social media more than ever. Nearly one third said they would go to a company’s Facebook page to get additional information about Cyber Monday sales. Twice as many would look at customer reviews on the company’s website before buying any products or services.
Growing Importance of Mobile Technology and Social Media
Online retailers are responding to shoppers’ use of mobile technology and social media by promoting there. More than half of retailers made sure their website sales were optimized for mobile devices. Another 20% were even optimizing for tablet device apps. More than a third used QR codes in magazine and billboard ads.
Online retailers also maximized their use of social media. Nearly three-quarters said they would promote sales on their Facebook pages, while more than 40% promoted on Twitter.
More than half (52.9%) of those who own smartphones, and even more (64.1%) of tablet-users will use them to do their holiday shopping. Nearly a third of smartphone users will research prices, while a fourth will find out store locations and sales. Only 15% will actually buy products with their phone.
With tablet users, on the other hand, the percentages go up,. More than 40% will compare prices, while 20% will redeem coupons. Most important, nearly a third will go ahead and buy online. (Source: National Retail Federation Annual 2012 Survey)
How to Get the Best Cyber Monday Deals
Retail sales can be found on CyberMonday.com, which features a schedule of what retailers offer deals at what times in a “Deal of the Hour” promotion. You can find sales from more than 800 online retailers.
While most Americans are preparing to break bread and offer thanks for their bountiful blessings on Thanksgiving, some are already looking ahead to what presents will sit beneath the Christmas Tree and forgoing a traditional feast in lieu of saving a place in line for Black Friday.
The start of the Christmas shopping season will kick off on November 23, the day after Thanksgiving, and eager customers have already begun camping out at their favorite retail stores to save a place so they can rush in to nab their discounted deals.
Tony Avitar, an Ohio father-of-five, has set up shop outside a Best Buy in Cuyahoga Falls. He pitched his tent on Thursday to become the first in line for what promises to be a shopping extravaganza next week.
He has camped out for the past nine years, before the busy shopping day, and his family will join him at his tent on Thanksgiving Day for a family meal, which has become a tradition.
“When you have five kids and you have limited income what you want to be able to do is – is want to be able to provide for them and get them decent Christmas presents,” he told WJW-TV about his motivation for coming out so early.
Though most of his time is spent inside the tent, he does venture into the electronic shop to scope out the options.
“Every year, I save at least a thousand dollars. I think this year the good sales are a 40-inch Toshiba flat screen that’s normally about $500 bucks, it’s $179. Also laptops. Anyone who can’t afford a laptop, I think there’s one for $180 bucks,” he said.
Tony Avitar’s friends and family help out and take turns staying in the tent so he can shower and get food.
But even his friend, Summer Morgan, told the local news station that he might be taking his bargain hunting just a tad too far.
“I understand the concept of saving money, but going out a week ahead is a little crazy,” she said. Other shoppers chimed in to agree, also calling it crazy.
But another local resident was inspired by the thrifty dad and a day after Tony Avitar’s tent appeared, another tent joined the queue on Friday.
Eager bargain hunters camp out for Black Friday more than a week before the Christmas shopping extravaganza kicks off
The store manager, Nick Dolansky, expressed his excitement at the scene and said the campers help kick off the season.
“It’s always great to see the passionate customers every year who are camping out, making the effort. It’s a tradition in itself,” he said.
Across the country in El Cajon, California – a pair of shoppers hoping to nab some steep discounts started a line outside a Best Buy on Thursday… but their hopes were soon dashed.
The two ladies, Rhiannon Buckingham and Alicia Gomez, were kicked off the property by mall security, who told them to go home and to return on Thanksgiving.
Rhiannon Buckingham and Alicia Gomez sat in lawn chairs and had packed a full bin of food in preparation for the wait.
“They said, <<You guys can’t stay here. You guys look homeless>>,” Rhiannon Buckingham told KGTV about what she was allegedly told by the security guards.
“I mean, I may be trailer trash but I’m not homeless,” she quipped.
Despite the frosty welcome from security and the jeers from other shoppers, Buckingham insisted that she is only doing what it takes to secure a decent place in line.
“Last year, I came on Tuesday and I was 17th in line,” she said.
“They only had 15 TVs,” she added about the disappointment she experienced.
Undeterred, Rhiannon Buckingham has moved to another Best Buy location in La Mesa, where she expects to save more than $2,000 when she purchases four TVs, a BluRay player and some earphones.
She arrived on Friday and soon another eager shopper, Jason Faust, joined her in line.
“I’ve got nothing else better to do,” he told the local news.
Down in Miami, local news reporter Betty Yu tweeted yet another photo of campers outside a Best Buy.
“Can you believe these guys are already camping out for #blackfriday? Guy took vacation to do this!” she tweeted.
Black Friday, the busiest day of the shopping year since 2005, marks the start of the Christmas shopping season.
Stores typically offer heavy discounts and open their doors in the wee hours of the morning to accommodate the massive demand.
The name indicates the day when retailers start to enjoy a profit or “are in the black” as hordes of customers rush in to nab gifts for the holidays.
It has become a cause for concern though, with violence breaking out and even deaths occurring from stampedes as some customers compete with other shoppers.
In response, heavy security has been set up to monitor the opening of stores and many customers are choosing instead to shop online.
Cyber Monday now indicates the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday when employees return to work and shop online – on the company’s time.
Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving and has earned the reputation of being the busiest shopping day of the year.
The name was adopted from an accounting term – red ink denotes a negative profit margin, where as “in the black” denotes a positive profit margin. Many retailers make or break their sales goals between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the season kicking off on the Friday after Thanksgiving, hence the name “Black Friday.”
1. Check Out the Ads:
Your local Thanksgiving Day newspaper will be stuffed like your Thanksgiving turkey with ads, coupons, and circulars. This will be your number one source to local Black Friday savings. It will also help you organize your day to maximize savings, since many stores offer special discounts that are time specific. Example: Receive an extra 10 percent off if you shop before 11 a.m.
2. Do Your Research Before Friday:
If you are hoping to scoop up a deal on Friday on a big-ticket item, go ahead and get your research out of the way as soon as possible. A bad product is a bad deal no matter how cheap it costs. Being knowledgeable about the products you want to buy will help you avoid being sucker-punched with loud advertising for poor products. About.com is chocked full of buying advice on a wide variety of products from professionals who have the knowledge to help you make good decisions.
3. Compare Prices:
Utilize price-comparison Internet shopping sites such as PriceGrabber.com to assist you in comparing product prices. Compare the “options” included with the product. Some retailers will low-ball the advertised price on a stripped down product, and then you will be charged extra for the necessary parts that will make the product perform as expected. A good example of this is often seen with super low-priced computer printers that come without the cable (cord) or printer ink.
4. Look for Early Bird Shopper Discounts:
The Early Bird Shopper will be the real winner on Black Friday. Stores offering early-day shopper specials usually run the deals from 5 a.m. until 11 a.m. and with no “rain checks,” which means once they run out of the products, you are out of luck. Scanning the ads and routing your trip based on your buying priorities will be important with the time-sensitive deals that will be offered.
Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving and has earned the reputation of being the busiest shopping day of the year
5. Beat the Crowds with Night Owl Discounts on Thanksgiving:
Internet shoppers can beat the early birds by shopping online in the pre-dawn hours of Black Friday. Many retailers will be posting their Black Friday specials, which can be ordered online and picked-up at your local store. Special “Web only” deals will also be available starting as early as Thanksgiving eve. Many of the aggressive outlet malls and factory stores will be opening Thursday at midnight, with early bird promotions in hopes of capturing your dollars before the competition has opened.
6. Bring the Ads:
Many stores offer a “lowest-price” guarantee; however you may be required to produce a copy of the exact product being advertised for less. Most local retailers will not meet Internet prices even when the product is advertised on the same company’s website, but it cannot hurt to try. Print the Web page that details the product and shows the advertised price. It may give you additional bargaining power and push the sales person into waiving other charges such as assembly fees.
7. Know the Store Policies:
Knowing the store policies on returns can help you determine where to buy. A previous trend of extending “return days” during the holidays is being seen less this year. Many retailers are including restocking fees and shorter return deadlines. Almost all of the major retail chains have clamped down on requiring receipts for returns and exchanges, and many keep a database of individuals who tend to abuse return policies. If you get onto an “abuse” list, prepare yourself to be turned down.
8. Ask for Gift Receipts:
Gift receipts generally include a description of the item purchased but do not disclose the price paid. Including gift receipts inside the gift box will make returns or exchanges easier for the gift recipient. Without proof-of-purchase, the recipient may be turned down for returning or exchanging the item or risk receiving an exchange for the current selling price of the item.
Since many retailers begin permanently slashing prices as soon as Black Friday is over, the difference between what you pay for a gift during December and what it sells for in January can be significant. Including a gift-receipt should help insure a hassle-free return experience for gift recipients.
9. Saying “Charge It” Can Pay Off
Obviously, there is no bargain in running up high credit card bills and paying big interest rates, however, with proper spending disciplines intact, using the right charge card can be of value to consumers. Many credit card companies entice consumers with free benefits, which include extended free warranties, return protection and sale price protection.
- Warranty Coverage – Your credit card company may offer to double or triple a manufacturer’s warranty for free on a product you purchase – a good option instead of purchasing a service contract that costs money and has a shorter duration period.
- Return Protection – A credit card company may guarantee a refund on a product up to 90 days where as the store may not. This is becoming particularly more important as retailers stiffen the allotted return days.
- Sale Price Protection – Some of the credit card companies will offer this protection and refund you the difference if a product you buy is marked down further than the price you paid within a certain time frame (usually 60 days).
An enormous amount of advertising, locally and online, can be confusing and nearly paralyzing to the Black Friday bargain hunter. To maximize the benefits of hitting the stores on a day where there are big crowds and a better deal around every corner, developing a plan and doing preliminary research will help insure that the day is a shopping success.
10. Have fun saving money while you shop!
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Wal-Mart employees are planning to stage their largest walkout ever on Black Friday, the biggest holiday shopping day at the world’s largest retail store.
Motivated by strikes at Los Angeles stores before spreading to 12 other cities last month, the walkout is warned by at least one expert to potentially threaten not only their workforce but customers caught in the middle.
Expecting 1,000 protests both at stores and online is watchdog group Corporate Action Network and Union-supported groups OUR Wal-Mart and Making Change at Wal-Mart.
Employees in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and D.C. have signed up in the walkout according to Making Change’s director Dan Schlademan. Work stoppages are also planned in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and Minnesota.
Dan Schaldeman said no specific store locations are being released for fear of worker retaliation ahead of next week.
To Wal-Mart the numbers projected are said to be incremental, with a spokeswoman saying those expected to strike are only a small percentage of their 1.4 million workforce.
“This is just another exaggerated publicity campaign aimed at generating headlines to mislead our customers and associates,” Wal-Mart responded to the strikes in a statement obtained by KNWA.
“Our associates care about providing a great customer experience on Black Friday and we’re confident that’s what customers will have at Wal-Mart this year,” they said.
“Even if there aren’t that many people, it could have an effect, because their campaign in front of stores could discourage shoppers,” Ken Margolies, senior associate at the Worker Institute at Cornell University told CNN.
Ken Margolies hinted it having a much greater impact if involving their supply centers as well.
Strikes did take place last month at one Southern California warehouse as well as at a distribution center in Illinois which supplies Wal-Mart stores.
The issues over pay, hours, benefits, as well as employees’ ability to speak up has rallied the workers.
“I kept asking myself, <<when is the retaliation for speaking our mind and acting on our rights going to stop?>>” William Fletcher, a Wal-Mart employee in Duarte, California told CNN.
With roughly half of Wal-Mart’s stock controlled by descendants of company founder Sam Walton, Wal-Mart’s labor practices have garnered criticism among consumers and have gotten attention in the press, but so far have not affected investors.
Wal-Mart employees are planning to stage their largest walkout ever on Black Friday, the biggest holiday shopping day at the world’s largest retail store
In 2008, Wal-Mart agreed to pay as much as $640 million to settle dozens of federal and state class-action lawsuits alleging it deprived workers of wages.
In the latest lawsuit filed in Chicago last month the corporation is accused of failing to pay temporary workers a minimum of four hours’ pay on days a laborer was contracted to work, but was not utilized for a minimum of four hours.
“It’s a successful company that profits $16 billion a year, that can afford to pay its executives $10 million while I can’t afford to support my family on $16,000 a year,” Sarah Gilbert a striking worker in Seattle told AOL.
According to Glassdoor.com, the average Wal-Mart sales associate earns $8.83 an hour.
If working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, their annual salary would be $18,400.
On Wednesday the latest public smear against the company came from the mouth and public arrest of a former employee seen handcuffed while visiting his old store in Orlando, Florida, to talk to workers about the planned strike.
Alex Rivera accused managers of intentionally misleading city police officers to cause his detainment, he told The Nation.
He now fears that with his former co-workers having seen him in handcuffs for voicing his support against the corporation they will be fearful of protesting alongside him.
“They’re going to say, <<If I join the organization and do something like that, this is what’s going to happen to me>>,” he said.
“Unfortunately the facts just don’t support what Mr. Rivera is saying,” a Wal-Mart spokesperson responding to his story told the Nation accusing Alex Rivera of ignoring a signed trespassing warning.
According to Alex Rivera, that warning was not signed until after his arrest, to the mutual described anger of arresting officers.
Cities expected to be involved
Walkouts:
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Miami
- Los Angeles
- Milwaukee
- D.C.
Work stoppages:
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
*specific store locations are not being released ahead of next week by Making Change
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Walmart workers are threatening to strike on the busiest shopping day of the year – Black Friday.
The walkout, scheduled for next month on the day after Thanksgiving, is set to cause chaos across Dallas, San Diego, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Today, a meeting at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas was interrupted by 200 protesters waving placards and chanting.
Walmart is the world’s largest private employer and has long been a target of workers’ rights groups, who advocate higher wages, more flexibility in hours and an end to punishments, such as reduced shifts, which they claim are meted out to staff seeking to unionize.
Evelin Cruz, a department manager, told ABC News that for many years she kept quiet about what she views as the company’s unjust practices because she was afraid of being fired if she spoke out.
Evelin Cruz, who works at the Pico Rivera Walmart in California, is one of thousands of members of Our Walmart, an organization backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
Leaders of Our Walmart, the National Consumers League and other groups today said they will join Walmart workers outside stores on Black Friday if their demands are not met.
Walmart workers are threatening to strike on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year
National Organization of Women president Terry O’Neill said her group would join in the action on Black Friday, to show “solidarity with the workers who are walking off the job”.
Last Thursday, about 30 employees from the Pico Rivera Walmart demonstrated outside the store with signs that read “Stand Up, Live Better, Stop Retaliation” and “Stop Trying to Silence Us”.
The protest over working conditions was coordinated with actions at eight other Walmart stores across California protesting against working conditions and treatment.
It was the first-ever walkout in the company’s 50-year history, said Dawn Le, a spokeswoman for Making Change at Walmart, a coalition whose mission is to change the way the firm conducts business.
“Everyone else has a union,” said Dawn Le.
“Workers in every other country – Japan, the U.K., Nicaragua, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina – have been able to form a union, except the U.S. and Canada.
“We just don’t understand the double standard Walmart has. How come those in other countries get to have a voice, yet not in the U.S., its home country?”
Walmart spokesman Dan Fogleman disputed her claims, insisting that most employees have “repeatedly rejected unionization”.
“They seem to recognize that Walmart has some of the best jobs in the retail industry – good pay, affordable benefits and the chance for advancement,” he said.
Walmart has hit the headlines on several recent occasions. In mid-September, warehouse workers in Southern California went on a 15-day strike that included a six-day, 50-mile pilgrimage for safe jobs.
Around the same time, hundreds of people marched in Dallas and San Diego, demanding better work conditions.
On Monday, Chicago riot police arrested 17 peaceful protesters blocking the entrance to a warehouse that supplies Walmart stores in support of striking workers.
The company is also now facing another sex discrimination lawsuit, filed on behalf of 100,000 women in California and Tennessee.
Dan Schlademan, director of Making Change at Walmart, said: “Workers find how Walmart has tried to retaliate by cutting their hours and not scheduling them for certain shifts when they tried to speak out, and they’re tired of it.”
The $16 billion company, however, argues that the California rally was simply a “publicity stunt by the UFCW to seek media attention in order to further their political agenda and financial objectives”, according to Dan Schlademan.
Evelin Cruz, who started on $7.40 an hour and now makes $13.20, said: “We just wanted to be treated like humans, not robots. We do have health insurance, but in most cases, you’re not even making enough to live on, let alone take anyone to the hospital.”
Although she worries about losing her job, she didn’t see another option but to voice her anger.
“We are still worried that they might retaliate,” she added.
“We know exactly how they operate. They wait until you feel confident, or put down your guard, and then they come after you one way or another. But that’s how tired we are of what’s going on in the stores.”
Dozens of Black Friday bargains hunters from a Wal-Mart store in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles were last night drenched in pepper spray when a woman looking for Xbox 360 console deals turned ugly.
Police is now hunting a female shopper who allegedly injured 20 people after a confrontation at 10:20 p.m. – just 20 minutes after Wal-Mart had opened its doors.
One witness described an “absolutely crazy” scene where the video games display was torn down and customers trampled over the computer games and DVDs that had fallen on the floor.
“I heard screaming and I heard yelling,” Matthew Lopez, 18, told the Los Angeles Times.
“Moments later, my throat stung. I was coughing really bad and watering up.”
Dozens of Black Friday bargains hunters from a Wal-Mart store in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles were last night drenched in pepper spray when a woman looking for Xbox 360 console deals turned ugly
Meanwhile gunfire erupted at Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at around 2:00 a.m. this morning near a food court entrance as Black Friday shoppers gathered.
Detectives are looking for two suspects. Several more shots were fired after one of the suspects ran inside the mall. But there are no reports of any injuries and no evacuation was ordered.
Back in Los Angeles, a police spokesman said the woman was using the spray to “gain an upper hand”. A fire spokesman said the injuries to least 10 people were due to “rapid crowd movement”.
The woman had been trying to keep fellow shoppers away from the electronics she wanted – and people were injured as they jostled trying to escape the spray in the crowded store, authorities said.
“People started screaming, pulling and pushing each other, and then the whole area filled up with pepper spray,” Alejandra Seminario, 24, told the Los Angeles Times.
“I just stayed in the toy aisle.”
Alejandra Seminario added that people started pulling the plastic off pallets on the floor and were “pushing and screaming” as they were shoved over.
“It was definitely the worst Black Friday I’ve ever experienced,” Joseph Poulose told LA Times.
Authorities are still looking for the pepper spray woman – who was one of millions of American rushing to the shops last night to snap up a bargain before Thanksgiving Day was even over.
An estimated 152million people are expected to shop over Black Friday weekend, up 10% from last year, according the National Retail Federation.
And in New York, Occupy protesters formed human barricades to try and block shoppers from entering stores – in particular targeting Macy’s department store.
The first chain to open up was Toys ‘R’ Us, which let customers – many of whom camped outside – in at 9:00 p.m. yesterday. An hour later, retail giant Wal-Mart unlocked its doors up amid a flood of customers, while low-cost rival Target let shoppers in at 11:00 p.m.
And at midnight, electronics retailer Best Buy along with departments stores Macy’s and Beall’s all opened – all hours before the traditional daybreak starts.
The early openings combined with greater than usual media coverage has prompted retail experts to predict record-breaking number of customers in U.S. stores.
As a record 212million actually showed up last year when the LRF estimated 138million, other analysts are predicting even more people hitting the shops this weekend.
“Black Friday will be strong because so many stores are opening Thursday and that gives consumers at least six more hours to shop,” Candace Corlett, of WSL Strategic Retail, told CNN.
“It will also attract people who may be willing to go out Thursday night, but aren’t about to get up early Friday morning.”
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