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Black Friday? Someone explain this to a Canuk will you?
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Black Friday? Someone explain this to a Canuk will you? |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada 
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On our local news it shows people who have been camping out in front of stores all night to get bargains in the States. I can not even imagine anything that would make me camp out in front of any store all night, unless they were giving away George Clooney clones maybe? Is this a media over-rated event, or is this for real down there? |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Thank you for the laugh! George Clooney, eh?! I have asked the same question to a friend who lives in Ohio but didn't get an answer yet, I imagine she is now sleeping!!! Love, Margherita  |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Margherita - Ohio is up - it is around noon over here for most. I just saw another news report here, and this is just an unreal concept, and I am sure waiting to have it explained. It is nothing new they say in the States, but darned if I have heard of it before. Must be some sale to camp out overnight. Even I wouldn't do that - and trust me - I was born to shop.  |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Oh, it's real, Sharon....as ridiculous as it is. Stores open at 4 am and people start lining up around midnight. Stores give big specials on limited items. Don't get there early and you're out. Just another example of how dumb some , waiting hours because McDonald's advertises 25 cent burgers. I've seen people drive 20 miles to get gas that is 5 cents cheaper. That's what people do. They call it black Friday because it is a day to put the stores in the black, I think. Not sure it will work this year... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I have been online researching this - and you still couldn't pay me enough, or give me a bargain that would get me out of bed that early at any price. I read about stampedes of people, and for what? A bargain? Very strange custom. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and my gift to you? Take Friday off, and relax. |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
quote: Sounds like the farther South you go, the saner the people are? You get in line at midnight in these parts and you likely won't even be able to see the store. They interviewed a guy on the news last night who set up his tent at Best Buy when the store closed last Wednesday. He spent Thanksgiving cuddled to a propane space heater and eating vittles he cooked on a propane hotplate. Nor was he alone. And, lest someone ask, Best Buy supplies the porta-potty. It's way over my head, but I get the impression it's not entirely about getting good bargains, perhaps in the same sense that tailgating isn't entirely about going to a football game. There was a strong sense of camaraderie among those waiting, again not unlike tailgating. I also noted a sense of pride. The guy they interviewed had been first in line four of the last five years and he made darn sure the television audience knew it. I could almost see myself doing it. If I knew I wasn't going to get too cold or too hungry, it would be a great two-day adventure. Trouble is, while I might be willing to set up a tent in the parking lot, no way would I actually go IN the store when it finally opened. Camping is one thing, but shopping with a crowd of yahoos is another thing entirely. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Ron you make me laugh! Only you would tent it out for the experience then walk away - yes, you would! I have been looking into this all morning and found a survival site for you for all you avid shoppers. SURVIVING BLACK FRIDAY I truly find this whole concept absurdly amazing. I guess being trampled is exhilarating for some? It is as they say, "the thrill of the hunt" I guess. Tailgating? Off I go to see what that is now. I wonder if Canadians have any weird traditions, can't think of any except for Polar Bear Swim. Okay I am back already, shaking my head at that one. Goodness, they have recipes, idea for, and sites to help out tailgaters! Good grief! Now I will spend all day learning very strange customs, look at what you did now. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Sharon, believe me, Canadiens know ALL about tailgating. We get tens of thousands of them down here working on that particular craft. (although Ron's talking about a different kind) Walmart decided to stay open for 24 hours on Thanksgiving to solve that problem, with the sale starting at 5am on Friday (to try to make sure no one gets trampled to death like they did last year there). So far it worked.... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
This is where I found out about tailgating was Michael? Tailgating We have football up here too, but I don't think they do that here? If they do I stand corrected. Then again, I may be the only Canadian that would sooner do anything else, than watch a hockey game, football game, stand in the pouring rain to watch soccer, lacrosse, or enjoy freezing to death when the Olympics come here and you can't find a parking spot for miles. Not looking forward to that scenario I tell you. Hey! Good for Wal-mart. On a final note and observation from visiting the USA, you guys sure can throw a great barbeque! That is your forte that's for certain. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Here's the tailgating I was referring to, Sharon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailgating |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Ohhhhh! We have that here too.  |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Apparently you guys don't have tailgate parties up there.. http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/tailgate-parties-football-college-help-a-canadian-poster-out They are actually a lot of fun....and LOTS of barbeque!  |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Love that link Michael, will read it all shortly. "Grill" is another one I didn't get but that was until I ate it. Then there was Nan referring to her pocketbook all the time, and I figured she had a Kindel she misplaced. It wasn't until Liz was looking for her pocketbook, that I realized what they were - purses, just plain old purses. Oh, and then there were the shrimps of Louisiana - good grief, we are lucky to get prawns any near that size! 50 of our shrimps would weight the same as one of those babies. Your College Football - is taking up my entire HGTV stations today, and had to figure that one out. Our Universities don't have football teams, and we sure don't take shows off for their basketball either. Thanks for the direction, going to read that blog, and not have too many more blonde moments, possibly.  Oh well, I love our differences, that is what makes it interesting right? |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 Hey Sharon, do you Canucks have "Buy Nothing Day" north of the border? I never buy anything on Black Friday! XOXO, Lisping Hibiscus "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" |
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sandgrain Member Elite
since 1999-09-21
Posts 3662Sycamore, IL, USA |
I'm with Noah. A couple of times Friday, I thought maybe I should run get my ingredients for cookie baking, or look for a couple of items I'd like in Michael's craft store. Then I'd remember it's Black Friday and all the crazies are shopping so instead I stayed home opting for another day. Sharon there have been tramplings and fights over the last toy offered at a greatly reduced price, etc. I just read where one woman says there needs to be at least three of them to make it work. When they enter, each knows which part of the store to go to for their assigned product. The one nearest the checkout counter, quickly gets in line, saving a place for the other 2. Then they're out the door and on to the next store with store maps and assigned products to do it again and see how many they can make before products are exhaused. Some buy these low priced sales, go directly home and list them on e-bay at much higher prices. I can always find something better to do even if it's playing solitare on the computer which I have never done yet. You know about Cyber Monday? God bless, Rae |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
There's even been stampedes at department stores where people who were there simply to try and get their hands on discounted featured holiday favorites got killed or badly injured in. I wish this was some Dada/Surrealist production satire, but alas it's exactly what happened at a Valley Stream Wal-Mart last year!  I choose to spend "Black Friday" instead taking on a holiday-centric volunteer opportunity, like a mitten tree drive at a local church, or serving senior citizens at the Twelfth Avenue Terrace which I did this year. That way, I feel spiritually in sync with the holiday season and not some commercial gimmick. There's always the 29 days between Black Friday and Christmas Day to shop anyway!  XOXO, Lisping Hibiscus "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Well now I get it. I was born to shop buy I am afraid I couldn't join in that custom. I would rather space it out and find bargains all year. Nothing is worth taking risks like that. I am with both of you! |
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