Comments on: History of “Black Friday” Is Not What You Think

By: MikeNYC

MikeNYC — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:50:40 +0000

Seems like every time I hear one of these folk-loric sayings explained with a neat little (curve-fitted) explanation, it’s pure bullshit.

I was never sure why, but every time I heard that “it’s the day retailers go in the black” thing on the news the loudest little voice in my head would pipe up “yeah, bullshit.” Now I know. Maybe.

It often follows that the real explanation is a little less neat.

I plan no shopping on that day because I don’t like marketers telling me what to do and when to do it.

By: SINGER

SINGER — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:13:08 +0000

black friday dates from the 1869 gold panic where bankers were hung and the army was called in….

By: Mannwich

Mannwich — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:07:39 +0000

The wife just got back from a quick, brave run at Target (not holiday shopping but picking up other items for a little get together we’re having at our house tomorrow night), and said it “wasn’t as busy as it should have been” in there. A lot of cars in the parking lot but not crazy busy and no checkout lines. No wait. At all.

By: Stillaway

Stillaway — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:37:52 +0000

It was Red Friday here in SW Ohio where family values are held in high regard, especially when it comes to securing a value for the family…

My wife is a department manager at a local big box national retailer and at 4:45am this morning she witnessed a fight over the last “on sale” GPS receiver. The episode climaxed when one shopper bit the hand of the other to force release of the bargain. (The wound had visible teeth marks and bleeding.) To avoid negative PR the combatants were dissuaded from calling the police by the offer of coupons for additional merchandise.

By: barry33f

barry33f — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:07:27 +0000

some more history on ‘black friday’.. the day after thanksgiving was always the biggest $$ shopping day of the year because big item retailers would mark down refrigerators, washing machines etc., being this was the last day people would spend on themselves. after this day, all their money went for presents. once we stopped making stuff and became a consumer driven economy, marketing folks gave it a catchy name, retailers discounted gift items and people started lining up at 5a.m. to shop

By: Goldilocksisableachblond

Goldilocksisableachblond — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:51:29 +0000

“Since when is Banana Republic a ‘high end’ retailer?? ”

In a world where middle-income Americans are flocking to Dollar stores , Banana Republic is ‘high end’.

By: Jessica6

Jessica6 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:25:25 +0000

Since when is Banana Republic a ‘high end’ retailer?? Sure they’re more expensive than Old Navy but they’re no Dolce and Gabbana either.

By: Keroberos

Keroberos — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:57:57 +0000

Banana Republic is not a luxury retailer. It is a midrange clothing retailer, like J.Crew. Amusing that they’d lump it in with Nordstrom, Saks, and Neiman Marcus.

By: hue

hue — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:39:33 +0000

it’s now called Red Friday because everyone is in debt, or borrow to shop

By: Phillip

Phillip — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:27:25 +0000

Now we know