Every year, instead of sleeping off their turkey hangover and imagining all the ways to repurpose leftover sweet potatoes, there is a large population that is focused on one thing — how to get the best deal possible without being trampled.
Black Friday may be one of the craziest traditions we have each year. After a day of giving thanks for what we already have and love, we as consumers feel the need to go out and get the next greatest thing on the market.
In recent years, Black Friday has taken on a looser definition. Stores have been opening their doors as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night to excited shoppers, while most of the online sales do not even start until Monday. We as consumers have turned this into an entire weekend event.
I by no means am trying to claim that Black Friday is a bad thing. There are usually some pretty good deals that come from it, and I fully recognize that the day probably brings in the greatest revenue for many stores.
I do think we need to separate Black Friday from Thanksgiving, though. This year in recent weeks, certain stores have taken to protesting opening on Thanksgiving, giving their employees and shoppers quality time at home to be with their loved ones.
I believe that it's time for all store to make a pact like this. Many people do not realize that for a store to open its doors at 8 p.m., employees have to be there as early as four or five, and sometimes even before that. Customers start lining up days before the event, and at that point, what has happened to Thanksgiving?
It is time that we as consumers let companies know what we're thinking. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time with family in which we are able to reflect and enjoy ourselves. Giving up that time to go wait in line for a sale seems counterproductive.
It is time that companies keep Black Friday to Friday. Stop attempting to push it on to us earlier and earlier, because, at the end of it all, we turn into a people who forget why Black Friday is even a thing to begin with.
This year, enjoy some turkey and some time with your family. Save the shopping for the next day.
