Why I Support Stores and Malls Closing on Thanksgiving

[smahala1991]

Black Friday, the one shopping day out of the 363 days of the retail shopping year that retailers really attempt to draw consumers in, in the hopes they will be lucky enough to get a Smart TV at 50% less than the stores retail price. For many it is also the beginning of the holiday shopping season. More recently as of 2010 stores have started to open at 5 or 6 pm on Thanksgiving Day rather than waiting till Midnight-4am on Black Friday Morning.

I can remember a time when even Wal-Mart and Kmart were closed on Thanksgiving. I remember looking through the sales papers for Toys R Us, JCPenney, Sears, Target, KMart etc.... on Thanksgiving Morning, then getting up at 3 am to try to beat the Myrtle Beach shopping traffic because most of the time that is where we celebrated Thanksgiving. However, this year many malls and stores have decided to close their stores on Thanksgiving Day. The list includes: AC Moore, Barnes & Noble, Mall of America, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, Lowes,Petsmart, Nordstrom, and HH Gregg. A whole lis can actually be found here:

https://www.businessinsider.com/closed-on-thanksgiving-day-2016-10

I support these closings for two reasons.

1. Employees deserve to spend time with their families

As a retail employee myself I can agree with this statement. Thanksgiving Day is a day like Christmas that is meant to be spent with family. My little nephew will be here in time for Thanksgiving so I look forward to spending it with him. Also it's just fun to stay home all day and watch the Parade on TV and the Football games after dinner. Plus for many of these closed stores as well as mine Thanksgiving is a paid holiday whether they work or not. So even though were closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas we still get paid a normal days wage for it.

2. There's always the Internet

Brick and mortar shopping on Black Friday is not as popular as it once was and is quickly going the way of the buffalo. With the advent of Amazon, Walmart.com, and other online shopping sites you can now get Black Friday prices in the comfort of your home. Plus you don`t have to fight crowds. Which leads in less Walmart employees getting trampled, less campers outside the stores, and less WWE or MMA style action in the aisles. Let's face it is it worth body slamming people over an IPhone7?

While I'm not against Black Friday myself as it is usually one of the busiest shopping days of the year where most retailers recover their losses the most, I feel like over the years the openings on Thanksgiving have overshadowed the holiday traditions. So long story short, I'm glad these retailers have decided to close for Thanksgiving.

#BlackFriday

#NoShoppingonThanksgiving

[Saoirse_Nua]

Very good points - The only day in Ireland that is close to everything being shut is Christmas day (Only petrol/gas stations and 24 hour franchises small shops would stay open) - The only other day of note is the sale of alcohol is banned on Good Friday - Back to your question, yes let the staff have time with their families

[RainbowFanGirl]

That is so ironic. We're celebrating a holiday where we are supposed to be thankful for what we have, and then we go out and buy more stuff which defeats the purpose of being thankful.

[PrincessofNohr]

Totally agree. I think Black Friday used to be a bit fun when it was stores opening around 4 or 5 AM on that morning, but opening on Thanksgiving afternoon is a pathetic money grubbing attempt that leads to store workers getting shafted and people abandoning their families for 3 bucks off that new tv. It'It's everything wrong with American economics.

[Relentless_Hippie]

My family never did any of that Black Friday stuff, it's too dangerous.

I'm a small person, I'm not about to get beat up and trampled over just to spend a bunch of money.

[smahala1991]

We did it a few times mostly just to be spectators. Later on we did our Black Friday in a smaller town and it was actually rather peaceful

[Relentless_Hippie]

I have a few friends who participate but truthfully I'd rather just do online shopping if I want to get a deal. It's safer to me plus there's the excitement when your package arrives.

I've never been big on material items so these kinds of events weren't ever that serious to me. I know everyone loves a good bargain, but the fact that some people die on these days is disturbing to me.

[smahala1991]

Last time I really went was 2012. We went to get an Xbox 360 for $99 at Best Buy and thats where my grandmother tripped over a sidewalk brick and fell and pretty much hurt herself really bad. She never recovered and never went home as she was diagnosed with cancer while rehabing her injuries and sadly died 6 months later after being in a Nursing Home for 6 months

[Relentless_Hippie]

Oh that's so sad. Were you always close to your grandmother?

[smahala1991]

her and my grandpa raised me and adopted me so yes

[Relentless_Hippie]

Mine too, they're doing fine right now but the older they get the more I worry. My grandmother luckily survived cancer a few years back. She got it my freshman year in high school, I remember it was a very scary time for my family.

[ginny_weasley]

I totally agree. It always piss my mom off whenever any family members on Thanksgiving would hurry up and eat then Black Friday shopping.

[smahala1991]

I find online shopping to actually be more convient even onThanksgiving, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday. Even if you don't recieve it but 2 days-1 week later you don't have to beat the crowds or be in fights or risk your life over a 4K Television

[Bluemax]

I agree, but the best way to have retail stores remain closed on Thanksgiving is to NOT SHOP ON Thanksgiving. This doesn't seem to be the case. Quite a few get crowded on Thanksgiving.

[vishna]

The reason for Thanksgiving is lost as one rushes to buy 50 new things before the turkey is digested.
I agree with this mytake and support stores closing on Thanksgiving.

[Fathoms77]

I hear Cyber Monday is really starting to put a dent into Black Friday sales at brick-and-mortar stores.

[zagor]

Yeah this whole Black Friday crap has gotten so out of hand. I don't know many people who buy into that whole BS game. But then I don't shop as a sport.

[00Lelouchxx]

Lol they just dont wanna pay their employees over time lol or give them holiday pay

[smahala1991]

mine does. All emplyess get paid Thanksgiving and Christmas

[00Lelouchxx]

Game stop doesn't lol.

My job pay for it thought. Im just saying some jobs dont.

[Adigelunar]

god take*