Speak Out: Christmas Shopping Starting Too Early?
Want a great deal? You may have to spend part of your Thanksgiving to get it. Tell us what you think about retailers pushing the start of the holiday shopping season onto Turkey Day.
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Looking to grab some great Black Friday deals? Better be prepared to scarf down the turkey and put away the pumpkin pie quickly.
It’s becoming a tradition for the holiday shopping season to start well before the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone. But your holiday food might still be warm by the time retailers offer the first “Black Friday” deal.
Take, for example, Walmart. The retailer is rolling out its first Black Friday deals Thursday—that’s Thanksgiving night—at 8 p.m.
Not to be outdone, Target is inviting customers to grab its Black Friday deals at 9 p.m. Thursday.
The early deals means those hoping to save money during their holiday shopping will be spending part of another holiday heading to stores, fighting the crowds and waiting in line.
The stores’ offerings also have an impact on employees. Instead of having a day off, many will be stocking the shelves, manning the registers and holding off the hordes.
Are stores going too far by pushing the shopping season into Thanksgiving? Are the early deals putting a burden on shoppers looking to save money? And how do you think the earlier store openings are affecting employees?
Share what’s on your mind with us, and then return here to see what your neighbors in Paulding, Douglas and Cobb have said.
MG
8:01 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
This is one year I will not be going out when the stores open. Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving. The Christmas season begins the next day.
Barbara L
9:25 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
It is hard to know when the Christmas season begins when you see a lot of the Christmas decorations come out around the same time the school supplies are being sold. I like to see the season open after Thanksgiving Day. If you like the rush of Black Friday, or Thursday then go for it. I shop all year round and look for sales for what I want to buy.
Danille
11:00 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
THe point is to let people enjoy a holiday with their families!! Christmas stuff comes out way to early! I saw Christmas stuff in the stores before Halloween- come on now- ONE HOLIDAY AT A TIME!
Dee
11:49 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
Most Black Friday deals can be bought online!! Don't waste time standing in lines @ the Hiram Target or Wal* Mart.... I got the same deals @ my house using my lap top!!!
PK
12:06 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
Totally agree! They start Christmas commercials and decorations so early I'm sick of them by Christmas. Let's go back to kicking off the Christmas season the day after Thanksgiving. Let's take time to enjoy Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Helen Chambers
1:04 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
I agree! Dee is right you can order online and avoid the traffic and crowds. I too think it takes away from the spirit of Thanksgiving. Some put the Christmas tree up after a big Thanksgiving dinner and enjoying watching family placing special ornaments on the tree. Really giving meaning to both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Too many have forgotten the true meaning of both.
P D Murray
8:21 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
It leaves nothing for kids to get excited about, by the time you start decorating and putting out displays in the store the same time as halloween, it's confusing. Let us have the opportunity to "Give Thanks" with our families. The poor folk who work retail deserve that time for themselves. Enough already!