YOUR TURN: Is Black Friday Overshadowing Thanksgiving?
Some big box stores are now moving up their midnight hours to 8 or 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving in other parts of the country. Thanks to Massachusetts Blue Laws, that can't happen here. But should it?
First, it was more of an unspoken rule. Get your shopping done early, get it done on your day off after Thanksgiving.
Then, stores responded in offering special deals to attract customers to their stores.
That's when it started getting a little bit crazy. Many of the big box stores such as Target, Walmart and Sears have pushed their midnight openings even earlier, onto Thanksgiving Day itself in some parts of the country.
Critics say Thanksgiving Day openings prevent employees from spending the holiday with their families, and call into question the true meaning of the holidays.
Massachusetts Blue Laws prevent stores from opening on Thanksgiving, but many will be opening at midnight or at 1 a.m. on Friday.
What do you think? Have we become a culture so obsessed with finding deals that we're willing to go to such extreme lengths, even at the expense of others? Or is Black Friday your most-looked-forward-to holiday shopping event of the year? Is Black Friday overshadowing Thanksgiving?
PGRD
6:45 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Nothing overshadows Thanksgiving, the most important family holiday of the year; black Friday appeals to those who let it. In any case the " true meaning of the holidays" is a personal matter different for each individual.
Stephen Smith
10:16 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Every year the Massachusetts Retailers Association tries to make the case about retailers wanting to be open on Thanksgiving day but are prevented by our Blue Laws. I doubt most retail stores employees are clammoring to work on Thanksgiving Day. With Black Friday stores open in the very early hours the day after Thanksgiving. Lets keep Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks
Robert Orthman
11:47 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Amen to that. People should not have to work on Thanksgiving. I feel badly for all these workers who have to go in early to satisfy people's retail appetites.
IresD
10:30 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Stores that are open on Thanksgiving have lost me as as a Christmas shopper. I hate that they force their employees to work on the holiday.
Kimberly Ashton
11:29 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
IresD, I, too, refuse to shop in stores on Thanksgiving. If there are no customers that day, there will be no reason to stay open.
David Ertischek
11:46 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Until I see mass Facebook postings, and lots of people talking about how excited they are to see family on Black Friday - I'll go with Thanksgiving being more popular and never being overshadowed by sale prices.
John D
1:31 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Blue Laws should be in place all over the country for Thanksgiving. it's a shame that corporate heaquarters are all closed so the six figure people can enjoy their Thanksgiving but the $6 per hour cashiers have to miss their family gathering for the sake of the almighty dollar. if all stores were closed, no competition exists, therefore no one store misses any potential sales.
Phoenix Boulay
3:20 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Yes.
Put the Thanks Back in Thanksgiving
OM Times Magazine | November 20, 2012 | 0 Comments
By Monette Chilson
http://omtimes.com/2012/11/put-the-thanks-back-in-thanksgiving/2/
Be sure to read the 2nd page that suggests "Boycott Black Friday".
Perhaps I will see you at the Pond, or hiking in the arboretum this long weekend. Have a nice holiday. ~ ♥ ~
Daren Lechner
6:39 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
As a retailer, I am in agreement with not opening on Thanksgiving, or even 4:00 am the day after. Be good to your employees...and their families! It's only one of the two days a year that everyone can be assured a day off to do as they wish. Watch, if this takes off, Christmas will be next. I am in support of the striking workers at Wal-Mart. Can't say you treat your employees well, them take this day away from them. ?!
You would think there weren't any days after Thanksgiving to do your shopping!
Support small business Saturday, employers who care about their staff and the community.
Daren Lechner
6:45 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Oh yeah...
Pura Vida!
And Happy Thanksgiving.