I’ve wanted to go Black Friday shopping ever since I first found out about Filene’s Basement. As it seemed to me, Black Friday was the king of shopping holidays – like back to school, Boxing Day, various birthdays, etc. Black Friday seemed like the best time to get deals and stay up late. But as I came to realize, it’s all a bunch of bologna.
It all started on Thanksgiving Day; I was determined to get up early the next day for the sales – but to my surprise, I was told that most stores opened at midnight. And like a true Black Friday prospective enthusiast, there was no substitute for being there early.
The first obstacle came with finding out exactly when stores opened. Conversation at the Thanksgiving dinner table alerted me to the fact that in Massachusetts, it wasn’t exactly midnight, rather 12:30, 1:00, or even 4:00 AM. State law prevents workers from entering the store on Thanksgiving Day.
So when I got back home on Thursday night, it was only a matter of convincing someone to take me. An agreement to pay for a family member’s gas money in exchange for transportation a few hours later, and I was on my way to Black Friday.
Okay, so then there was the waiting. Waiting. More waiting. Feeling sleepy. I tried to stay awake watching “A Very Gaga Thanksgiving”, but to no avail. I left for Best Buy very tired, and very much not ready for the rush of Black Friday.
Upon arriving at Best Buy, however, I realized I wouldn’t be buying much. My ride dropped me off in lieu of finding parking. Lines starting at the store stretched out on either end farther than I could safely estimate. Raincoats, winter jackets, chairs, and even a tent or two populated the area.
I walked through the lines, seeing what I could catch. One woman in a bright green coat talked hushed into her cell-phone. She was planning her strategy for getting the best deal on a computer, like her life was depending on it.
And behind her, there was a family drinking hot cocoa. They were all bundled up, and the kids looked half-asleep. I couldn’t help but think, had these people even enjoyed their thanksgiving?
As for me, I left without deals, savings, or 52 inch TVs.