I am not sure shopping is worth it! - Montana Owners Club

sfretts · 12-01-2009, 01:03 PM

We all heard the stories and other post about Black Friday. I have succumbed to this ritualistic self inflicted pain for several years. Every year, Staples had something I just had to own (many items still boxed and in the drawer). I remember sitting or standing in line with hundreds of others in 30 degree weather just to get that door buster special. I even stooped to parking my kids in line telling them frostbite is good for you just so we could score 2 thumb drives. I was so sneaky!

This year I told the wife, I would not lower myself to that demeaning position in line right behind the family of eight who slept there over night and are wearing adult diapers so they dont have to leave the line. I would wait till Saturday and partake of what I titled it as 'serene' Saturday. We spent a few days at the cabin right across the river from Astoria, OR. Rumor has it, they built a new Costco and it's only a half hour to the outlet Malls were my wife assures me the deals will be great.

I chose to get the outlet mall thing out of the way. How many 50% off sales can there be. As I looked, that sweater was originally marked $75.00, wow what a bargain, only a few dollars more on sale than what we saw it for at that other store. Crowds didnt seem that bad here at the sale of the century. Maybe this will work out as I expected. We finished up and as usual, my wife walked away with several "good buys".

I'm getting hungry, so off to Costco. My neighbor told me he was headed there to 'graze' at the booths and told me of steak samples and the like that served up as full meals. He was excited that he could head over and just walk around eating. He did tell me hoped there would be a few more drinks available to wash down all that food.

When we arrived, the parking lot was huge, so huge, it seemed it was only about half full. We parked and walked past several people with 50" tv's on them and others with carts so full, they had trouble pushing them.

As I entered the massive fresh smelling store, I stopped dead in my tracks and realized why the outlet stores were so empty. This place was packed. I had three 'incidents' just entering the store. One lady rushed in front of me to get a cart 2.3 seconds faster and I was already loosing my serenity. As I made it past the hoards of tv shoppers and several just watching football, I managed to get to the jewelry counter where the wife ran full speed to. She already had a pair of earrings picked out. The wait was on to get someone to open the door to look at them. Shopping cart rage was setting in. As we headed through the store, it was worse than a New York traffic jamb. There were crowds of 50 to 100 people around the hand out vendors. I could'nt even get close enough to smell what they were offering. Soon dismay gave way to rage and I escorted my wife to the checkout. We stopped and bought a hot dog on the way out and went back to the cabin. I am a true believer now of Cyber Monday

Happy holidays everyone

Art-n-Marge · 12-01-2009, 01:33 PM

I am a believer that if any day around a particular Holiday has a name to it, then avoid shopping on that day! Black Friday, Gray Saturday (you call it "serene", I call it "not as black"), Football Sunday, Cyber Monday, all the Hump days, all Thank God it's Fridays, Christmas Eve, the twelve days of Christmas, the eight days of Hanukkah, etc. etc.

And then especially this time of year avoid the opening of a Costco, Fry's Electronics (mostly West coast) Walmart, Sam's, a new Mall, Huge Sporting Goods store or any other highly discounted Superstore with a parking lot larger than a small city.

You are way braver than I will ever be to venture in that way.

Other than that, Happy Holidays!

richfaa · 12-01-2009, 01:35 PM

We have never done black Friday's. We have done cyber Mondays. Ordered, paid, had wrapped and delivered without leaving the house. Now that's progress. We did most of our Christmas shopping at Disney's Cast connection store. A place where cast members(Helen is one) can buy Disney stuff at prices you would not believe like a 75.00 shirt for 20.00. We will hit down town Disney to hit the big Disney retial stores where Cast Members get 40/50% off for the rest.. We don't need no stinking black Fridays.

Trailer Trash 2 · 12-01-2009, 03:07 PM

Bah! Hum Bug.

Christmas is to commercialized get the rich richer and poor poorer. it's supose to be about the birth of the savior, it seems a lot have forgotten that. I'll buy a lot of gifts all year round and give them to me and the wife it dont have to be Christmas to do that.

bncinwv · 12-01-2009, 03:26 PM

I always procrastinate in shopping (like in Dec 23rd or something). However as was described in another thread I enjoy taking the women of the family shopping whenever they want to go, Black Friday, holidays, it doesn't matter. One thing I do try to do is encourage those grumblers, nay-sayers, and scrooges that are lucky enough to get in a checkout line anywhere in my vicinity. To me, there is no difference in waiting in line at a check-out than waiting in line at a popular restaurant, a sporting event, etc., etc. Most on this forum are well aware that I profess that each day is a bonus day that is given to us and should not be wasted. I will continue to use each and every day to hopefully add a little joy, laughter, and love into some unsuspecting persons life, and particularly those that I happen to meet in the check-out lines at this time of year. I refer to it as the spirit of CHRISTmas and wish all of the MOC a very merry one, regardless of your faith, since I have no doubt what the reason for the season really is!!! Oh, and I always correct the cashiers who make the mistake of telling me Happy Holidays (no offense meant Art, just giving my take!), I respond with a very hearty MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Bingo

grampachet · 12-01-2009, 04:52 PM

One CHRISTmas a few year ago my dear sweet understanding wife was going to help me find her something she could use and actually wanted. This was a few years when we were both working and actually making money. She took me into a really nice and expensive clothing store and picked out six costly beautiful nice sweaters that were the right color and size and she just fell in love with. Then she left to shop somewhere else and told me to pick out one and then she would be surprised when she opened her package and actually receive a gift she was happy with. Guys, you know what a challenge that can be eh? Well, I had so much trouble making a decision I just went and bought all of them. Boy was she surprised! Merry CHRISTmas.

Bill-N-Donna · 12-01-2009, 09:56 PM

I went to a black Friday sale about a year ago and actually got what I wanted but it just happened to be something that wasn’t a poplar mainstream item. I got in and out pretty fast but people were really carrying on trying to be one of the first to get what they wanted. It was really crazy the way people acted over saving a few bucks. It may be a while before I go back to one of those sales. I agree with what most has already said. Let us not forget the reason for the season.
Merry Christmas everyone!

ARJ · 12-02-2009, 02:31 AM

SHOP ONLINE! A lot more relaxing that clashing with a bunch of bargin hunting idiots.

Delaine and Lindy · 12-02-2009, 02:37 AM

As I have said before we don't do Black Fridays. Our Christmas shopping is done. Delaine and I have Chirstmas everyday, life is to short to celebrate a couple times a year. We try to live every day as if its the 1st and last day of our life. We do use the internet a lot. We are researching for a larger Tv for the bedroom to replace the 19". Went to a local store yesterday and showed them we could get it shipped to us for $70.00 less and if they would match the price we would buy from them, we will be using the internet price. GBY.....

Waynem · 12-02-2009, 02:59 AM

I'm with TT2, Bah Humbug!

With that being said, I did get out one of those days an picked up a 1tb hard drive. The wait at best buy for checkout was less than 10 minutes. Not bad for a black or gray day.

However, after the weekend Earlene wanted to go to the mall. Okay! I tagged along.

The eye ball liberty was great. After all, I promised to love, honor, and cherish, I never said a thing about going blind.

DarMar · 12-02-2009, 03:45 AM

As I mentioned in another post for us it was an experience this year. Being from Canada we had never been to Black Friday and as I understand things it was on the DW's "Bucket List". Now we totally avoided the 4AM camp out crowd at the likes of Wallmart, Target or Best Buy, to me those people have a real different type of mentality, actually behavior much like a herd of cows perhaps, JMHO. Then there were the 6am mall types hurrying around with a job to do, on cell phones, very isolated and keep to themselves, people of little or no conversation. Then after lunch, it was on to the DW's favorite store Joanne fabrics. There certainly were some good deals there but the lineup for the cutting table was always 30 minutes or longer. However, after the wait in line, we were back in our vehicle and the DW stated that she actually enjoyed here time in the line while waiting. Got to visit with a bunch of crafty ladies about many things and life in general, people who originate from all over the continent. Yes we do a bit of on line shopping but the experience of meeting people, both good and bad, can't and should not be replaced. It's worth it, after all that is why we are RV,ers.

Tom S. · 12-02-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by ARJ

SHOP ONLINE! A lot more relaxing that clashing with a bunch of bargin hunting idiots.

And you can do it in your pajamas! I love the internet!

HamRad · 12-02-2009, 10:15 PM

Oh, and I always correct the cashiers who make the mistake of telling me Happy Holidays (no offense meant Art, just giving my take!), I respond with a very hearty MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Bingo

Bingo, December has more than one day that gets celebrated. One of the main ones is, of course, Christmas. But it is not the only day that gets celebrated.

On December 7 there is the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. It is not a national holiday but is celebrated.

On December 10 there is Human Rights Day. Again not a national holiday but an observance is held.

On December 12 Hanukkah begins. This is a major celebration or recognition by the Jewish religion. It may not be a national holiday but it is extremely important to a large segment of our society.

On December 17 we celebrate the Wright Brothers and Pan American Aviation Day.

December 18 is National Regifting Day as well as the Islamic New Year.

On December 21 we have the first day of winter. It is also Forefather's Day. (I have no idea what that is).

Of course December 25 is Christmas Day.

December 26 Kwanzaa Begins.

December 27 is Islamic Ashura.

And on December 31 we have the ever popular New Years' Eve celebration.

Bingo I normally say Merry Christmas if I feel folks actually mean that specific Holiday. Otherwise I will wish folks a Happy Holidays salutation. So it may be that the lowly clerk is being a bit more broad minded in dealing with the holidays. Or, more likely, doing as he/she was instructed to do by her boss.

Either way to be on the safe side the Happy Holidays greeting is certainly appropriate unless the reference is being made specifically for Christmas or one of the other celebratory day.

No offense meant Bingo, just giving my take!

Have a Merry Christmas and Very Happy Holiday season.

Dennis

bncinwv · 12-03-2009, 01:34 AM

Dennis,
No offense taken and I agree with you about the clerk's, just doing as their boss says. It is so neat to watch their reactions, when I reply back as I always do. There are some who will even state that they are not allowed to use those "words". It still doesn't change my outlook on the one specific holiday that I believe is the central focus of this season. No matter how anyone twists the logic of that holiday, it doesn't change the fact (my personal perception), that it remains a Birthday Celebration. As I mentioned in a PM to another MOC member (we were discussing some of these very things), I fully respect the preferences of all people, and I fully expect the same treatment in return, however, this is never the case, and more particularly so in this day and age (I am not stating this as for the MOC but rather as it applies to the times we are living in). Those who know me, know that I am strong in my faith, am not afraid to say so, but that does not mean that I use this forum as a soapbox to promote that view (and I never will). I will however, continue to spread good will, acknowledge that everyday that we are given is a true "bonus day", and try to bring a little joy into the life of people whose path I happen to cross. Imagine the different world we would live in if by some miracle this characteristic was embedded in everyone!!! Now with all that being said, and back to the original topic, if you were in my line on "Black Friday", it was a pleasure being in your company!!

Bingo

Waynem · 12-03-2009, 03:00 AM

So sad to have censorship in a free society.

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

..... There are some who will even state that they are not allowed to use those "words". ....
Bingo

richfaa · 12-03-2009, 05:54 AM

Old dog new tricks.... It has always been merry Christmas , happy new year for us. It never occurred to us and we never remember being told that @ 1/3 of the total population of the planet can be identified as Christian..which means 2/3 are not... and the new year is not the same year for everyone... Oh well.it is still Merry Christmas and Happy New year. Applies to us.

SlickWillie · 12-03-2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Tom S.

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by ARJ

SHOP ONLINE! A lot more relaxing that clashing with a bunch of bargin hunting idiots.

And you can do it in your pajamas! I love the internet!

Me too! I ordered a couple things Monday.

My son was telling me that Best Buy had like 5 laptops at each location for a really good price. My response; "I wouldn't wait in that line if they were giving five away". I'm too old and short on patience to do any of the Black Friday stuff.

You may also like: