JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I remember the first and only time Ross and I did “Black Friday.” I had just signed a three-book contract, and we were feeling mighty flush, and had decided to make several long-overdue home purchases. We were looking for a new mattress, a new dishwasher, and a modern TV set (ours still had the giant back; seriously, it was shaped like a block from a Mayan temple.) I did plenty of research, and we planned out the route and made sure our travel mugs were full of tea.
And… it was kind of fun. Standing in line outside Best Buy at 4am with a lot of other happy, talkative folks was cheerful, even if waiting to check out the new TV wasn’t. Everyone at Sears was headed for clothing, tools and jewelry, so the salesmen in Large Appliances were glad to see us. After we got our mattress at Macy’s (and I should mention these last two purchases were delivered later, thankfully) we got breakfast at a nearby coffee shop. I’m glad we did it, and the dishwasher, at least, is still going strong (thanks, Kenmore!)
But once was enough for me. It really did seem like a sales event perfect for buying necessary items for US, but shopping for presents for family and the kids? Not so much. We did pick up some toys and an electronic game at Target, but that was about it. Now, of course, much of the action has moved online, and I’ll definitely keep my eye on the sales. But - I’m bragging here - I’ve already gotten everyone’s BIG gift, and I’m down to Santa and gift cards for my nephews. So once again… I’ll be looking for stuff I need.
How about you, Reds? Are you a Black Friday Fan - in real life, or online?
LUCY BURDETTE: I can’t think of a time I actually went in person to a black Friday sale. I do keep an eye out for bargains online, but I tend to get sucked in and end up buying things I do not need. I have most everything purchased for Christmas, and even bought my son in law’s birthday gift today. (Poor guy was born on New Year’s Eve.) So I’ll stay home and eat leftovers and maybe write a few pages!
RHYS BOWEN: We tried it once when cash was shorter than it is now. We found fabulous items- I can’t remember what but good tech stuff. And then we saw the line going all the way around the walls of Best Buy or wherever it was. And then we decided no item was worth standing in line for two hours and left. Haven’t done it since but my kids enjoy scooping up bargains at Old Navy etc. I find plenty of Christmas bargains online or at Macy’s.
Our tradition today is turkey curry. Yum!
JULIA: Yum, indeed!
HALLIE EPHRON: I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything that was a Black Friday sale. I hate-hate-hate crowds. And usually I wait for the old thing to break before I shop for new. My dishwasher was 40 years old when it bit the dust. My dryer did it at age 30. I figure every year you get out of an old appliance is money in the bank.
JENN McKINLAY: No Black Friday for me. I loathe shopping to begin with so having to do it with the rest of humanity…um, no. Unless, it’s a bookstore! LOL.
JULIA: We have great independent bookstores where I live, and they're the place to go on "Small Business Saturday," Jenn.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I don't think I have even gone Black Friday shopping in person. Standing in long lines at 4 a.m. in the cold does not appeal at all! I have bought things online, especially as Black Friday seems to run from shortly after Halloween these days. We got a really great deal on our new TV, but that was certainly not something we'd planned for. I did mean to replace our Instant Pot, which burned up a couple of weeks ago (are you seeing a theme here?) but with all the TV hullabaloo I haven't gotten around to it. Next on the list. And, uh, the Christmas shopping.
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HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I have never ever done this. I cannot even imagine. Ah. The LINES. The angst. The battles over Cabbage Patch Kids. Or whatever. How much is it worth to pay to get it later in easier circumstances? I know, I am a wimp.
PS Online is different. Maybe. We just got a new TV, too, thanks to Debs’ post. CLick buy, click delivery, click set up guy, and now it’s here and working. THAT is my idea of shopping.
JULIA: This is making me wonder - is Black Friday shopping overblown? Or are we all introverted writers who would rather handwash every dish from Thanksgiving than brave the bustling, bargain-seeking throng? How say you, dear readers?
I'm not thrilled with big crowds of pushing folks, so I'm definitely skipping the Black Friday lines [but I definitely stood in line for Cabbage Patch dolls when the girls were little and those dolls were the only thing on their wish lists] . . . .
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness, yes. I missed the Cabbage Patch doll craze, but I remember hunting through something like nine stores to find the ONE transformer-type toy that was top of the Boy's list that year.
DeleteI did it once in person when I was much younger and luckily the lines weren't long and we tandem team with other family members so that we don't spend too much time looking for items. We went in and came out within an hour. Would I do it again? No, really hate crowds, the loud noise, being rushed, and rude people. Prefer shopping online in the comfort of my home and pajamas.
ReplyDeleteI think that's it for me, Dru. I work that way, why shouldn't I shop that way? I found during the lockdown that I could do the same thing for local stores - I would either shop their websites or call, pay for the gift(s) and then just show up and let a helpful salesperson load it into my car. I loved it!
DeleteI have never done Black Friday shopping. In normal times, I don't really like to shop. The crowds just wear me out, unless it's in small shops. Here in Braga, Portugal, "Black Friday" signs are up everywhere, but it seems to be an all month thing rather than a 4am thing the day after something thing, and the shops near us are small stores that specialize, so it's comfortable to browse. There are a couple of shopping centers that carry appliances and such, and all the famous clothing brands, but shopping just seems calmer here. I don't quite know why.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I'm not sure there are many cultures as consumption-focused as ours in the US; that may be part of the reason.
DeleteWell, I misspoke: As it turns out, some of the more famous shops (Zara, for instance) had long, long lines today. The smaller shops were still calmer, and I suspect part of it is that Portugal is not a rich country, so the shopping is rather circumspect: people have smaller wardrobes, etc.
DeleteI experienced US Black Friday once when I was in San Francisco on vacation in 2016. Frankly, regular prices in the US were already cheaper than in Canada, so I got great outdoor/workout clothes at REI and Foot Locker.
ReplyDeleteCanada started embracing the Black Friday sales about a decade ago. Most of them the sales have been online. It's Boxing Day (Dec 26) when us crazy Ottawans line up outside in the freezing cold for pre-dawn doorcrasher sales.
OK, I got my surprise desired Black Friday purchase online.
DeleteThree months of Apple+ TV free!
Looking forward to watching SLOW HORSES season 2 starting on December 2.
Nice, Grace! Be sure to try Ted Apple and For All Mankind as well.
DeleteJULIA: Thanks for the recommendations on what to watch after SLOW HORSES. I had a free 1-week offer in October so I did not really explore what is on Apple+ TV.
DeleteI've never done Black Friday - and don't plan to. Ugh! Like others I hate crowds and shopping! I don't know how much savings one really gets. Is it really worth it. Serious question.
ReplyDeleteI have read that for certain tech items and appliances, manufacturers actually produce Black Friday editions, so they take advantage of the good ratings of their regular products, but are really delivering something cheaper and, presumably, less well-made. It's the same sort of thing as clothing outlet stores - mistakes in manufacturing clothes have almost disappeared, thanks to computer assisted design and cutting, so those discounted goodies at Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers were made specifically for those stores.
DeleteColor me another crowd-hater. Black Friday? Just...no. I've been needing a new work laptop, though, and snapped up a Black Friday price on Monday this week. I think it arrives today!
ReplyDeleteMy ex-husband had an annoying mantra of "you can always return it," including when he bought me a very nice dress wool coat - in a size too small. I drove a long way to the store on the day after Christmas and made it through at least two hours of crowds and waiting in line to exchange it for the right size. Never again.
Oh, my God, Edith, Ross was the opposite - when he shopped for Christmas, he, for some reason I never understood, immediately threw away the receipt. Who does that? I keep mine in an envelope until the end of January! So of course, if something didn't fit, we had to swap it among family members to find the one person who could wear it...
DeleteThrew away the receipt??? That’s sort of cute… So you would not find it and know how much the gift cost? Awwww.
DeleteI’ve never done the Nlack Friday thing and never will. But when the kids were still a single digit age and there was a set of grandparents in residence for the holiday, I did late Christmas Eve bargain hunting. Gift being already bought, this was an opportunity to stock up for birthdays, two of the sprouts having been born in January.
ReplyDeleteMerry Black Friday to those who celebrate
😘
Ann, I do like getting out the day after Christmas - that's when I snatch up new decorations, cards and wrapping paper at 50% off!
DeleteI see a pattern!
ReplyDeleteWe never did the early bird BF shopping, but I think, when we were younger, we may have gone shopping in the afternoon for special presents.
Here's the real story: I worked in a very fancy jewelry store for a couple of years, and I also worked in a big box department store jewelry department for a couple of years. I actually loved being behind the counter during super busy sales days. My favorite was the big box store jewelry counter on Christmas eve. 🎄 Desperation and panic meets smiling (somewhat amused) but helpful clerk. Such satisfaction upon seeing panic turned to relief. That's me. A real live elf!
From the silly men who wait until the last minute, I guess!
DeleteJudy, sounds like the best-ever day for commissions!
DeleteEdith, yep, mostly men.
DeleteKaren, I also was the person who was a whiz at changing watch batteries and knew the shipping process, SO...I was not always getting the big commissions. 🙄 But, I loved the crazy. Go figure.
Judy, there are a lot of husbands out there who owe their continued marital happiness to you!
DeleteBlack Friday? No way! I don't want to share my early morning peace (I'd rather read this blog, among other things!) with crowds and for the purpose of shopping. None of it sounds fun. If it's your thing, please enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI worked in retail a couple of Christmas seasons and mostly had a good time, but I am not much of a shopper myself. When I was 18, my sister, a friend and I all worked at the store recently known as Macy's at Lloyd Center (RIP Lloyd Center) and another friend had a job as Santa Claus there. On our breaks or after work, we would go up to visit him. Hilarity ensued. I'm not sure Black Friday even existed then--it definitely wasn't hyped that much. The worst shopping day from the perspective of the lowly red card (someone who floated between departments) was the day after Christmas in the budget apparel departments. The lines for returns snaked throughout the store.
Gillian - ouch. Plus you have to deal with the post-holiday let down of everyone in that line. At least on Black Friday, shoppers are amped up and looking forward to Christmas.
DeleteHand me the dish soap, Julia, I'm not standing in line at 4 a.m. to score any kind of bargain price! Youngest nephew has done it--once. As a teen, he desperately absolutely positively needed a mini-fridge for his room (read: too lazy to walk to the kitchen for a drink). He discovered a great deal for one in a Black Friday sale and his dad agreed to spring for it.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lucy, my dad was born on New Year's Eve--it was a great excuse to party early and have cake! (Or my Aunt Mary's chocolate pie, my dad's preference).
If I amortize the standing-in-line time over the past twelve years of the dishwasher's life, I think I come out ahead, Flora!
DeleteHope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Ours was quiet but lovely, and my roast chicken turned out delicious.
ReplyDeleteI worked retail for a long time, and for a couple years that meant working nearly every single day between Halloween and Christmas. So am I going to subject myself to standing in line for something? Not on your life. I detest shopping, anyway, and have been a grateful user of the Internet for several years. The poor store employees who must be there at 5 AM to let in the hordes, and to have to take abuse from grabby, cranky, shoving customers deserve medals for just showing up.
Karen, I was happy to hear that in many places, stores were mercifully closed all day on Thanksgiving, because of difficulties finding retail workers. I hope that's a tradition that remains. I know there are some jobs that can't take off on major holidays - people will always need medical help, or firefighters, or emergency services. But no one really needs to go shopping on Thanksgiving Day. Let the store clerks have the same time at home as the rest of us.
DeleteSo agree, Karen. We didn't see much open yesterday afternoon when we made the drive to Thanksgiving dinner.
DeleteCount me as another who has never gone Black Friday shopping. (In person, that is. I think I have taken advantage of some Black Friday sales on line.) But I will say, I have a few friends who swear by it as a fun annual outing. To each her own, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI always hear about those shoppers, Susan, and I agree - À chacun son goût!
DeleteIsn't there a cyber Monday sale as well? I think we can drag our feet a bit...maybe.
DeleteSo it's Black Friday morning and despite having insisted that I do NOT shop black friday, I am shopping. Just bought my granddaughter's Xmas present (2/3 OFF!) on Amazon. Shopping for grandson. AND I'm planning to buy two beds.
ReplyDeleteToday.
Eat my words...
because this is so much easier than actually driving to the mall and commuting for the merchandise.
HA HA - Spell correct is an idiot savant... should be comPETing for the merchandise.
DeleteHallie, I've had "autocorrect" on my white board for a couple of years, waiting for inspiration for a crime story that I know is there somewhere. One of these days that idiot savant is going to be responsible for murder!
DeleteTwo beds! That is serious, competition-level Black Friday shopping, Hallie!
DeleteGood Idea, Edith!
DeleteOh, Hallie, now you've got me itching to take a look at what's online...
DeleteNo no no...argh, now I have to go see what's on sale online. Damn it! LOL.
DeleteAutocorrect! Played a big role in one of my Jane Ryland novels— so funny!…
DeleteBoxing Day was a very big thing for our teenagers, with Christmas money to waste and wish lists of presents that they didn't get. I was too busy hand washing the Christmas dishes..yes, I left them soaking.
ReplyDeleteOh, I always leave the Christmas dishes soaking (or stacked) overnight, Chris. Post-dinner is for 1) being with guests or 2) enjoying family or 3) diving into one of the new books I received!
DeleteOnce years ago I got up early and drove 45 minutes to the mall. I don't remember just what I wanted or how good the bargain was, but I got what I wanted and got out. And never did that again! My Christmas shopping, like yours, Julia, is finished, except maybe for some little items. And I still need something else for my son the new year's eve baby, poor guy.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who was born Dec. 22 and a cousin who's a Christmas Eve baby, Judi. The struggle is real. I've suggested going to old European catholic way and celebrating their name days, which are NOT close to Christmas. Haven't gotten it to catch on yet, though.
DeleteMy grandmother’s birthday was December 30 and her wedding anniversary December 20. She would never agree to switching either one, Julia! Elisabeth
DeleteAnd I know of no one who would have been brave enough to suggest it to her. Elisabeth
DeleteWe tried doing 'half birthdays for a while but then the other 2 wanted to do their half birthdays, too. So instead of 3 birthdays one year we ended up with 6! That was the end of that experiment!
DeleteI am not a big back Friday shopper, but have gone out a time or two. I am the person who puts their stuff back because the long lines to pay aren’t worth it. I do know people who enjoy it as an annual social event. Also a few who go out the day after Christmas and buy all their baubles and bows for the next year.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those, Brenda. Also? Christmas chocolate's half price on December 26...
DeleteYikes! Black Friday has become worse with recent rude behaviors and I still remember the tragedies of people stampeded to death 😭.
ReplyDeleteHATE HATE HATE HATE HATE crowds! Always steer clear of Black Fridays and try to stay home if possible unless I have a medical appointment.
However 💚💜🥰 shop small business Saturday is when I go to the Indie bookstores and sometimes we get to meet local authors 😊
Not a big fan of shopping though it is easier when there are few people. I once read that the Queen of England, who passed away in September, would get up early and stand outside the department store in London before it opened in the morning. I do not know if that was true. I think that was in the 1980s?
And regarding Christmas gifts,I usually buy gifts all year around and put them in a Christmas bag to be sorted later for wrapping. And I like to finish gift shopping in October. It gets worse in November and December, especially the week before Christmas!
Diana
Diana, I was much more rigorous about shopping all year when the kids were small than am now. It really is the best way to get gift people want for a smart price - as long as you have space to store them until December/birthday time.
DeleteI used to live across the street from the shopping mall. I would worry about being able to get out of my parking lot so I could make it to work on time. Since I, like so many others have mentioned, don't like crowds and working the day after Thanksgiving meant no Black Friday shopping for me unless it was to the grocery store, after work, for that quart of milk, box of cereal or loaf of sliced sourdough for my weekend's worth of turkey sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteTurkey sandwiches on sourdough bread! I'm drooling, Deana.
DeleteNot a crowd lover either, or a fan of shopping. I think they created Amazon just for me :). No? Well, maybe.
ReplyDeleteI did go to a Black Friday sale once in my life. It was 1992, my mother was ill and all she wanted was an all-in-one stand mixer, food processor, blender - remember those things? They weighed about 100 pounds. Anyway, Luria's had it on Black Friday sale for $100 - a huge discount - so I got up at to the store at 4AM for the 4:30 opening. I was shocked. There was no line, and the crush of employees couldn't get to you fast enough, I bought the mixer (lucky I was early, they only had five) and I got a battery powered TV to replace the one I wore out waiting for power after Hurricane Andrew. It was a great experience, a win/win, and I never participated again.
That's kind of how I felt about my one-and-only Black Friday shopping trip, Kait. We got in, got out, bought what we needed at a good discount and then made it out of the mall area by sunrise.
DeleteI have never been a power shopper, and I loathe the idea of standing in line to get anything. I figure, with my luck, they'll sell the very last one to the guy in line ahead of me, and I'd have to kill him, then escape from the store with the goods. Too much work, when everything is on sale online anyway.
ReplyDeleteHowever . . . I'm not completely immune to Black Friday sales. I woke up this morning with a fun idea for a new quilt top, spent a pleasant few minutes on my iPad designing the thing, then found a Black Friday fabric sale in my email inbox. So this is me, confessing that I just dropped $100 on quilt fabric for what is intended to be a scrap quilt. I can't wait for the bundle of beauties to arrive!
Nice, Gigi!
DeleteGreat shopping, Gigi! Good to see your post. Elisabeth
DeleteGigi, I have fabric envy :-) Looking at my stash and thinking, I need some new fabric to inspire me!
DeleteI have never, ever done Black Friday shopping. I don’t like shopping. I don’t buy new clothing until what I’m wearing is about to fall apart. I buy needed household items online. Before online shopping was available, I did a lot of catalog shopping for gifts. Even now, when I buy Christmas presents, a lot of it is catalog shopping. I live about two and a half miles from the local mall, but the last time I was there was a year ago this month. I’m visiting with my sister right now, and we plan on having a quiet day. (Yesterday I met my nephew’s girlfriend, and I think it’s the Real Deal! If things don’t work out between them, I’d be happy to adopt her!)
ReplyDeleteDebRo
Sounds like the best possible way to spend the day after Thanksgiving, DebRo!
DeleteWhile I have shopped on Black Friday, I've never done the get up real early thing. My fat lazy ass is contractually obligated to be asleep when all these stores open up at the witching hour or whatever.
ReplyDeleteWith most of the people I shop for now in the gift card stage of life, I don't really have to hit many stores. I have a nephew to buy for but he's done. I just have to wrap and send them. My cousin's two kids will get books if she ever gets around to sending me a list of what they might like. Other than that, GIFT CARDS!
I will say that I found the Barnes and Noble Black Friday sales offerings to be terrible. Nothing I wanted to buy that I didn't already have.
And being a music fan, I got email sales notices from a bunch of music websites. Most of them didn't have anything I really wanted to buy (though I have bought from two of them previously). But the Nuclear Blast Records US shop was running a big up to 75% off sale on nearly 500 albums so I did just order 5 albums from them. The most expensive one was less than 4 bucks, so SCORE!
I have to go out and do grocery shopping so I'm glad that my day is kind of just getting started. Most of the big crowd issues should be over by now so I can do the regular Friday errands without being catapulted into viral video madness at this point.
My former hairdresser was the only guy in his extended family. After Thanksgiving dinner, he'd spend the night with his aunts and female cousins. They would make their Black Friday plan, which stores for what things, then get up at 4 and hit the stores. They looked forward to this all year! I wonder if they still do this, when everything is available online.
ReplyDeleteRunning into, catch up, and I still love reading all of your comments! In the emails from the news room today, people are reporting stores in Massachusetts are not very crowded. I am trying to think about some thing that might induce me to stand in a line to get, and I honestly cannot imagine. I suppose, if a grandchild wanted some thing, that might be worth it to try to get it for them, but they have far outgrown that at this point! Hope you are all having a lovely peaceful day.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I ever got up early on Black Friday was when my son's girlfriend in high school and I went to Game Stop by 4:00 a.m. There was a new Nintendo or X-Box or whatever system, and it was hard to find. Game Stop had some for that morning, and we were about 4th in line and got one. Lots of disappointed people behind us. I can't imagine anything that would get me out on Black Friday these days. I'll shop the deals online, but they start way before Black Friday. The other day I bought my son a black leather (real leather) bomber jacket for $69 from Kohl's. The original price was $400, then it was on sale, and then there were some discounts, and then I use $90 in Kohl's cash I had. That will probably be my best deal this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do remember when the kids were growing up when I was looking for the hot toy and going multiple places. Online shopping wasn't a thing then. Ninja turtles is one hot item I bought, keeping my ear to the ground and finding out when shipments would be coming in some place.
My son just left to go back to Lexington (Kentucky), and I plan on sitting in my recliner and not moving the rest of the day. And, I'm having a piece of pecan pie with coffee.
No Black Friday for me (we're receiving emails for Black Friday from King Jouet in Paris where we bought some toys in October...it seems to be everywhere!) I remember giving my daughters gift cards for Christmas and committing Dec 26th to shopping the sales, with a late breakfast thrown in.
ReplyDeleteI’m with Hank. All the way. In fact, you won’t see me in anything other than a local arts or crafts event or a locally owned store - most likely a book store 50% of the time - after early November. I order from a few favorite catalogs if I see something unusual. Tge annyibg thing is that at least half of what I buy is for myself! Susan C Shea
ReplyDelete“The annoying thing” not that clumsy thumb gibberish!
ReplyDelete