This past Friday, a “holiday” known to people all over the nation as Black Friday, stands to be the busiest shopping day of the year and the kickoff to holiday shopping season. Falling each year on the day after Thanksgiving, most major retailers open extremely early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer huge promotional sales on clothes, appliances, electronics and other valued goods. Last year, the Thanksgiving shopping weekend accounted for 12.1 percent of overall holiday sales, according to ShopperTrak, a research firm. Black Friday alone made up about half of that. These sales are often hard to miss out on considering the amount of money that is potentially saved. In this tight economy individuals are going to do whatever it takes to get the most amount of product, for the cheapest prices possible. Each year, there are even a variety of cases that make news headlines of violence, fights, and sometimes even deaths to get these goods—and nothing new has changed this year.
Scuffles broke out elsewhere around the U.S. as bargain-hunters crowded stores in an earlier-than-usual start to the madness known as Black Friday.
In Los Angeles, Walmart employees brought out a crate of discounted Xboxes, and as a crowd waited for the Xboxes to be unwrapped, a woman fired pepper spray at the other shoppers "in order to get an advantage," police said. Ten people suffered cuts and bruises in the chaos, and 10 others had minor injuries from the spray, authorities said. The woman got away in the confusion, and it was not immediately clear whether she got an Xbox.
Near Muskegon, Mich., a teenage girl was knocked down and stepped on several times after getting caught in the rush to a sale in the electronics department at a Walmart. She suffered minor injuries.
On Friday morning, police said, two women were injured and a man was charged after a fight broke out at an upstate New York Walmart. A man was arrested in a scuffle at a jewelry counter at a Walmart in Kissimmee, Fla.
Wal-Mart Stores, the nation's biggest retailer, has taken steps in recent years to control its Black Friday crowds following the 2008 death of one of its workers in a stampede of shoppers. This year, it staggered its door-buster deals instead of offering them all at once.
But is that even enough? Shouldn’t people feel completely safe when they are out shopping for gifts and should not have to feel as though their life is in danger? Do you think stores should take further measures to prevent injury and possibly even death on its customers? More security? And in the instance dealing with the pepper spray, should the women be charged, or have some sort of punishment for her harmful actions over an Xbox? Are these sorts of “accidents” justifiable to let them continue to occur every year on Black Friday?
Read more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/national/12005996942627/sharp-elbows-shoppers-scuffle-on-black-thursday/
I must admit: I was out and about before 12 A.M. shopping for good deals. Luckily, I only experienced waiting in line for two hours and avoided any crazed shoppers on a mission. It is crazy that a woman used pepper spray to get a discounted X-Box. Increased security could help, but who wants to go into work at 10 o'clock at night on Thanksgiving? Massachusetts was one of the only states not to open everything at midnight, because of state laws. If a store opens at midnight, all employees must report to work before that time (on Thanksgiving day). To me, it seems like each Black Friday is more popular than the past year: stores open earlier, deals are better, and more people attend. I do understand that Black Friday helps retail stores make profit; however, I think that stores should extend their sales so people do not have to resort to extreme measures to buy what they want. Also, I would suggest the media promote Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday as well, so Black Friday is not the only day to score a good deal. Let's hope the madness dies down next year.. until then, happy shopping!
ReplyDeleteBased on years of injuries incurred by many people over the many years during the chaos of Black Friday shopping, I believe that stores should take further measures to prevent injuries and possibly even fatalities. However, with that being said, there is very little that policemen and other authorities can do about the mayhem of Black Friday shopping. Nonetheless, the store should make a concerted effort to increase security, maintain organized lines, and regulate an even flow of admission of people into the store. Furthermore, in the instance of the pepper spray incident, the woman should definitely be charged. Authorities of Porter Ranch continue to investigate the issue. The problem with charging the woman in this case is “the key question is whether the woman used the spray to intentionally cause harm or if she believed she was using it to defend herself,” comments Defense attorney Dmirty Gorin. These incidences, which happen every year, need to be put to an end, because it is extremely dangerous and the lives of many shoppers willing to venture out on Black Friday are at risk.
ReplyDeleteI as well as Leanne was waiting outside my local Walmart in order to get some sweet deals. On security, I felt that I was completely safe. My father being a police officer decided to take the detail in which over ten police officers were hired to keep things in order. the police officers kept the people from going crazy and from turning into animals which made for no injuries so more security would make a difference. I believe that woman with the pepper spray should be punished for pepper spraying people in order to get an Xbox. Black Friday does offer many buyers great deals for Christmas gifts as well as house hold items such as a television and other electronics which help many people in tough economic times. I personally believe that it should be continued but store owners should hire police officers and maybe even canine officers in order to keep riots and stampedes to occur.
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday shopping is hard to resist. You can save 40, 50, or even 60% on some items that otherwise just seemed too expensive to buy. People do have a right to feel safe when they go out shopping but I think we all know that Black Friday runs a risk. Every year, as you mentioned, there are cases of violence, etc. and we hear about them over the radio, on the news, and in the newspaper. They are inevitable, however, people choose to take this risk to go for the best deals. This doesn’t mean that stores shouldn’t take further measures to try to prevent some of these incidences. The use of pepper spray by the woman was absurd and she should be charged with assault on the other customers; people were injured. Perhaps retailers could turn Black Friday into something like Cyber Monday. They could still offer great deals on items, but the items that run the most risk could be found and paid for online. This might reduce the amount of injuries but it doesn’t create the same experience as getting up at 12am and going to find that brand new iPad at a great discount that some people love.
ReplyDeleteI did not go out Black Friday shopping, I didn't see a point. People should be able to feel completely same when they are shopping. It's crazy that people get so amped up that they trample people just to get the item they are looking for. I think the stores should be partly responisble for injuries that acure because they are not controling the shoppers. I think the women with the pepper spray should be punished there is no need to do that just for an Xbox. From many past years of "accidents" the stores should have learned by now that something different needs to be done. Why are those items only on sale that day why can't it be for a few days so not everyone has to go at one time in order to get the item.
ReplyDeleteI went Black Friday shopping for the first time this year. My mother and I stayed away from Walmart and other electronics stores, and focused on clothes and department stores such as Macy's. My personal experience was positive; it was almost like an adventure. Everyone was running around trying to get deals, all the while laughing at how silly we all were. People were actually friendlier at 1:00 in the morning! However, I definitely want to avoid stores such as Walmart. Security should be beefed up to avoid incidents such as the one with the pepper spray. I think the way they spaced out deals was smart. There really is no way to avoid Black Friday, but there are ways to make it more organized and safe.
ReplyDeleteI honestly hate Black Friday. I think it is somewhat pointless seeing as though you can buy majority of the things online with all the sales going on. I understand there are also sales in stores that are not online. However, having the sales online could be one way for the stores to take further measures and prevent any injuries that occur on Black Friday. Although, I think people should realize from the news in the past that they should take precautions and be careful. I read recently that there was a shooting and robbery of one of the shoppers on Black Friday. It is ridiculous the things people do. I even remember going with my mom one year and worrying the whole time that someone could steal me or someone might be aggressive if I attempt to take anything from the shelves. After that, I never went with my mom. In addition, with hearing all these terrible things happening on the news, I worry that something occult happen to her. People need to feel safe when doing their shopping on Black Friday. If that means only letting a few people in at a time, then so be it; as long as everyone is safe. I also feel as though the woman should be dealt some kind of punishment for using pepper spray, because even if it was not Black Friday, I do not think it would go over well anywhere. People should not have to go to this extent to buy gifts for children who probably forget half the things they asked for Christmas. There are also millions of stores like Toys R’Us and Wal-Mart that they could easily go to another. It’s funny to think about, one day you’re thankful for everything you have, the next you going out and buying more things that you “need” (and in an unsafe and terrible way).
ReplyDeleteFirst off I do not feel that these acts of violence over some electronic gaming system or any discounted product are not justifiable. It's sad that a person could lose their life over the fact of buying soomething really cheap. I feel that big corporation's like walmart and target should limit the amount of people in their stores at a given time. I know when I went to target thit friday for the sale they would let 30 people in wait a minute and then let 30 more people in to stagger it but I feel that is not enough to solve this problem. They should have allowed the first 30-40 people in line first and then everytime a person of group came out another person or group could have came in therefore there would be less chaos. I definitely would have to agree with what Amy said it's pointless to go out Black Friday shopping because most of the items are online for the same price. I think in general there shouldn't be a Black Friday at all because with all the accidents that have occurred due to this day it's unbelievable. Also another issue with this day is the fact that many people consume alcohol on Thanksgiving and there's a big possibility of drunk driving accidents on black friday.
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday shopping, as well as waiting for midnight releases of video games, can actually be a lot of fun. I have done both. I hear about the cases of violence and it's actually kind of depressing. I have never seen violence when I shop during these times. Personally, I believe that it is up to the store to be able to handle how everything happens. Many stores have taken to organizing the mad occasions, also. When I stayed out all night for the Wii, we were organized into a line. On other occasions, there is a list that people can sign in order to reserve a spot, although the people need to stay present after signing. Other companies only allow a certain number of people into the stores at a time. These techniques make it possible for people to wait out all night and not be caught up in violence. People sometimes get caught up in greed and adrenaline. It happens. But it should be up to the store to manage these people, just like any other day. The business will see it coming and needs to be able to handle it.
ReplyDeleteIt is still way too much to try pepperspraying everybody around you just to get a headstart. That is out of control. If there is a case of violence, then the people themselves should be held accountable, of course. But businesses should do their best to lower all chance of violence.
In addition, the occasions are fun. A lot of fun. Waiting out all night and meeting random strangers that share a common interest is really awesome. Some people might say that they "do not see a point", but they need to try it for themselves. Not just showing up at midnight in front of a Walmart where everybody is ready to riot, but in a smaller company that is more specialized like Gamestop where everybody is just having a good time. It is actually really awesome, if it is done correctly.
I, personally, have never been out shopping on Black Friday. I understand that you can find cheaper deals but is it really worth getting trampled over? Not all stores are as crazy and chaos-filled as Walmart obviously as Lisa mentioned so it would probably be best to shop at places like that. People definitely should have the right to feel safe when they're shopping. Some stores do provide enough security to deal with crowds, but at places where the crowds are notoriously large, there should be heavier security around to avoid so much craziness. As for the woman with the pepper spray, seriously? For an Xbox? She should definitely be punished in some way for what she did. She harmed innocent people, just like the police officer with the pepper spray at UC Davis. Absolutely no reason for it because pepper spray is used as self defense pretty much. Nobody was attacking this woman, she was just way too concerned with getting what she wanted regardless if she hurt anyone.
ReplyDeleteI think stores should take further measures to help prevent any injuries or deaths happening on Black Friday. It is not right for people to fight over getting a "good deal" and injure other people in the process. Over the past few years, there have been many incidents of injuries and even deaths. If stores are going to choose to offer tremendous discounts, they should be required to have police and other law enforcement officials to be present to keep order and prevent fights and other instances from breaking out. I believe in the instance of the woman with the pepper spray, she should be charged if she is caught. That is just unacceptable to do something like that to a bunch of innocent people. Instances like this should not be tolerated and some sort of action should be taken.
ReplyDeleteI did not go Black Friday shopping this year but I can see why many people do. The sales on Black Friday can't be beat and it is just in time for the holidays. These deals are very impressive but it is in no way an excuse to forget our societal responsibilities. I agree with Matt in that it is wrong for people to cause harm to others over a simple "good deal." Its good that stores are taking measures to prevent future injuries, but people should be able to feel comfortable to go out and go shopping in this country. It is almost seems like people need to keep in mind that they are people and not animals in those situations. People are still responsible for their actions and people should be charged to the full extent of the law for the criminal acts that occur. That woman who used the pepper spray should most definitely be charged for her actions. So should the people who stampede others and not even have the common decency to try to help. These actions are an embarrassment to the human race. More security would be ideal but that is a lot of man power for only one day and for so many stores.
ReplyDeleteI believe that, although the deals are great, Black Friday shopping is getting ridiculous. The violence that it causes is awful, and people are putting their lives at risk when they go shopping. The women who sprayed the pepper spray should be charged, as she did not use it for self-defense but rather to get an X-Box. Also, stores should continue to improve safety, so shoppers’ lives are not at risk. Another reason why Black Friday is harmful is that parents take their young children out in the middle of the night to wait in line for stores to open. These poor children are forced to stay out in the cold, which deprives them of the sleep they need to grow and also puts them at risk of getting sick, just so their crazed parent waits in line to buy them the latest and greatest. Moreover, this year stores started to open as early as 10pm on Thursday night. This is starting to cause the American traditions of Thanksgiving to be whittled away, as the day is turned into waiting in lines and shopping for great deals. Thanksgiving is a day to relax and spend time with family and friends, and now the stores are starting to make it about shopping. Yes this year stores opened late on Thursday but what about next year or the year after? The times stores open are moving earlier and earlier.
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday shopping is absolutely insane. I have never gone before, until this year I went at midnight. My mom was nervous because every year so many people get hurt and sometimes die. She used the example of the pepper spray to try to scare me, but it didn't work. I heard about some guy that waited on a line the entire day before, which means he missed thanksgiving, just so he could be first. Its so crazy what people do to get discounts. When I was shopping, the longest line I saw was for a $20 gift card. Hundreds of people waited on this line just for that $20. Where I went, there was a lot of security but it also wasn't that busy. I think security needs to be increased in order to catch people to do things like spray pepper spray. Cameras should be installed all over the area so security can catch people doing these actons.
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday shopping seems to be a chaotic mess of people. I worked at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets for the last three Thanksgiving weekends. Over the years, I have seen numerous instances where people yell at each other for “cutting” in lines, “accidently” knock bags out of people’s hands, and seeing adults and children alike fight over merchandise. However, security has been increased over the last few years, and more stores are limiting the amount of customers allowed in at one time. These precautions seem to be helping to make Black Friday shopping a safer adventure. I feel as though more security will continually decrease the amount of injuries and fights shoppers face. I think more detail in security should be focused on parking as well as entering and exiting places such as the outlets. Too many times I have seen people rear end each other due to lack of patience, or seen people try to take a parking spot as another person is pulling in. When drivers are so anxious to find parking, they pay less attention to other cars and pedestrians; this issue needs to be addressed by shopping centers themselves.
ReplyDeleteI believe the woman that used pepper spray as a way to get an Xbox should be charged with battery or at least face some form of punishment. Any and all injuries deliberately caused by shoppers in order to get a particular item are completely unjustifiable. Black Friday shopping continues to warrant change, or at least, more security.
Black Friday has become synonymous with great deals. As a side people usually tell little anecdotal stories about who was rude to them while shopping. However like any thing involving money there are some that take greed to a new level. It seems strange to even think about someone being killed over a shopping day. This seems to say something about society, it is almost as if 200 dollars off on a new television takes away a groups humanity. To me it is shocking that a bargain has such a strong effect on people. It almost reminds me of the book Lord of the Flies where the children on the island loose their humanity just because there is a struggle for power. When it comes down to it black Friday deals are a power struggle, those who save the most money have the most power. It's in effect getting back at the stores that constantly make you pay more then the correct value. Black friday should be restricted more and their should also be a large amount of security in place. Because someone dying over a sale is something that should never happen again.
ReplyDeleteI think stores could do more to protect their shoppers on Black Friday. They could beef up security or limit the numbers of people in the store at a given time. Because none of these deals are worth a shoppers life. I also feel that the woman who pepper sprayed the crowd to get the xbox should be tried for assault with a weapon. There was no need for her to pepper spray a crowd to get an xbox because that xbox isn't worth as much as those peoples lives who she hurt.
ReplyDelete