I got up at 3 a.m. once to go by myself... mostly for the novelty of it. It was an interesting experience.

I don't hate on people wanting to get a good deal. If 4 hours of sleep is worth however much they save - more power to them. 

I used to join the madness when the stores opened at 5:00 or 6:00 am on Friday morning.  Used to get some great deals and I got a good chunk of my holiday shopping done.  Was always fun standing in line chatting with other people.

It's been several years since I quit doing it because the stores have gone too far in my opinion.  Thanksgiving is a time for relaxing with family (for me anyway) and I just refuse to support what they are doing.  I also do not think that the deals are that great anymore either even if I decide to go out early Friday morning.  I can usually find better deals searching on line.

I voted never, but of course we have no such thing here.

Never. Sounds like my worst nightmare. I get up at 5:00 in the morning to avoid long lines at Wal-Mart for my weekly grocery shopping. On Thanksgiving I'm thankful to not have to be at Wal-Mart in a long line. I enjoy the black Friday online shopping deals that I can participate in from the comfort of my living room couch .

My wife has done it many years, because it used to be the only way to get great deal.  Now the deals are not that good and the frustration level is much more for her.  I stay in our small town of 6000 and go to work at my normal job 25 miles away and enjoy not being near any of the BS.

Have done a little shopping at times, but I was usually not after the big-ticket or hottest items.  

Last time, I was in a store, merchandise in hand and looked at the checkout line.  I put the stuff down and walked out rather than wait 30+ minutes.  The savings on the stuff I was holding wasn't worth my time in line.  

If I started thinking about shopping on Black Friday, first....

1. I would shave my eyebrows

2. I would break some beer bottles in the kitchen and walk across the glass

3. I would shove toothpicks under my fingernails

4. I would place whatever appendage was closest on top of the counter and hit it with a hammer as hard as I could

Only then, If I was still feeling like I needed some more pain in my life, or if I didn't feel like I truly hated myself enough,  would I head out to do bit of X-mas shopping on that day.

NO

I had a pt who's knee I had just reconstructed and he comes in the monday after thanksgiving weekend and it says on his intake form "Pt re-injured his knee when he was trampled on black friday"  Apparently he was after some deal on a TV.  I asked him if was worth it and he said "Yeah it was a really good deal"  MMMMMOK

I have gone a few times, but it was never for the door buster items.  Last time I went was two years ago.  Got a new bed set, and a television.  No plans on going this year, but I may just stroll in the store mid-afternoon to see what they have left.

i don't go because i can get most of the stuff i want for good prices from my computer and not putting up with the insanity that is black friday.  i don't really care about the sanctity of thanksgiving (although i do believe that thanksgiving dinner is a gift from god) as you don't know people's situations and complicated family lives, but i just don't want to be in that parking lot mess.  i worked retail in high school and college and i have no interest in going through that again.

So, put you down for "Always"?

Sure man.....I'll stagger in there.....not skeered.

I did once about 15 years ago.  That was enough to cure me.

Wal-Mart Spreads ‘Black Friday’ Over Five Days

http://online.wsj.com/articles/wal-mart-spreads-black-friday-over-five-days-1415768464  

There were some clowns on the news this morning who are already camped out at Best Buy - 16 days early.  I can't imagine a deal that would have me doing something like that - free house maybe, college scholarship...not $200 savings on some electronic device.    

There was a meme going around saying "lets get dressed up as bears and slash the tents of those camping out for Black Friday"

Originally posted by ChineseDemocracy

Originally posted by jeng

I voted never, but of course we have no such thing here.

If that's true, yet another reason Canada's better than the U.S.

Well we do have Boxing Day. It's the same thing I think, but the day after Christmas.

Originally posted by jeng

Originally posted by ChineseDemocracy

Originally posted by jeng

I voted never, but of course we have no such thing here.

If that's true, yet another reason Canada's better than the U.S.

Well we do have Boxing Day. It's the same thing I think, but the day after Christmas.

I think you mean to say that the "Boxing Week" sales start the day after Christmas...   

As for Black Friday in the US - nope.  I have no desire at all to get in the middle of that sh*tshow.  

The whole Black Thursday thing makes me not want to shop at those stores that will be open on Thanksgiving Day.  Black Friday should ONLY be on Friday, and the days following Thanksgiving if you want to continue to get people to shop.  Leave Thanksgiving Day alone.  

Depends on the deals but they have to be pretty good to put up with the crowds. Haven't done it in a few years.

I also agree with leaving it on Friday. The retail employees shouldn't have to give up their Thanksgiving so the stores can start making money one day sooner.