Working retail on Black Friday brings many different emotions; frantic, confused, annoyed, amused and most importantly: exhausted. It's often very difficult for the caffeine crazed, determined shoppers to remember that the employees working in the store are just as tired as you are, and would MUCH rather be in bed than standing around for twelve hours a day watching people knock over a display that they just fixed about two minutes ago, and getting yelled at by tired, angry bargain hunters. I've worked two Black Fridays in my life, and have been a shopper myself. These are just a few things that I've witnessed during Black Friday.
1. Starbucks cups. Everywhere.
What would Black Friday be without infinite amounts of caffeine? Whenever I look around the store, there's probably about ten or eleven empty Starbucks cups people just throw around in the store to get rid of them, even though there is a trashcan right outside the store...seriously? I don't want to touch your gross, sticky frappucino cup.
2. People fighting over their place in line.
People will get very angry if they even have the slightest thought that you are trying to cut in front of them. Although I've never actually seen a physical fight break out, you always see some news story describing a full-out brawl over a discounted item. So sad.
3. People getting EXTREMELY excited about free stuff.
At the store I was working at this Black Friday, we were giving away free blankets with a purchase over a certain amount of money. Many stores will do this as a perk for shopping with them. I've truly never seen customers more excited over a free blanket. Almost every single customer eligible for a blanket was overly excited. I even witnessed someone screech.
4. Shoppers that wait in the fitting rooms...for over an hour.
Every time I look over to the line for the fitting rooms, it hasn't moved. At. All.
5. Sitting in parking garage traffic.
My commute time pretty much tripled. Far too many times have I sat in the same spot of the parking garage, waiting for it to clear out so I can FINALLY go home. People nearly fall asleep behind their steering wheel as they come down from their sugar high. But hey, at least they got some deals at some overpriced department stores!
6. People napping in front of stores.
Too much caffeine, too much excitement, and WAY too much shopping. Whether they're waiting for the store to open, or just need a break from the madness, you can find people slumped all over the damn mall.
7. People using expletives and getting very aggravated when they can't get what they want.
People swear, scream, hit things, and leave angrily when they wait all that time to buy absolutely nothing because something is sold out. It might be time to go back to bed.
8. Gift receipts on gift receipts on gift receipts.
Actual footage of me and all the gift receipts that I've printed. 'Tis the season to ask for gift receipts.
