RHYS BOWEN: It's Black Friday. So who has just returned from standing outside Best Buy or Target since four this morning?
Uh, not me. Not now. Never. At least, I confess John and I once got caught up in Black Friday, before we knew better Many years ago when money was tight we did go to Fry's electronics and bought several Christmas gifts at greatly reduced prices. Then when we went to pay for them we saw that the checkout line went around the whole four walls of the store. We put the stuff back and said nothing is worth that amount of inconvenience. We've never been back since.
I suppose Black Friday was a bigger deal before the internet. The only occasion when parents could score Christmas gifts for their kids at a price they could afford. Now so many things are advertised at Black Friday prices online that it's easy to get bargains without leaving the house. I remember from my childhood the whole spectacle of the January sales in London. Prices stayed the same all year in those days until January when all the winter items suddenly were reduced. Women (never men, you notice) would line up outside Selfridges and all the big department stores. They opened on the dot of nine and the crowd of hysterical women surged forward, not caring who they trampled underfoot, grabbing stuff they didn't really want just to get it before someone else did.
My family never went to the sales and only watched it on the TV news that night. I suppose we've never been that much into stuff. We now have two large TV sets, but only because our kind children have bought them for us. I've never owned anything by Gucci, Prada or any of those. Correction: when my first YA novel came out, back in 1980, I got a small box at Christmas time from my publisher, Bantam. I put it under the tree, thinking it would be a plastic something because it was so light. When I opened it on Christmas morning my jaw dropped open when I saw the Tiffany box. Inside was a silver heart that said, "We wish they all could be California Girls" (the title of my book). It's one of the nicest gifts I've ever received.
Actually I have a story about Gucci. We were on a flight and John was sitting across the aisle from an older woman, fashionably dressed. When we landed he got up and said, "Would you like me to get your bag down for you?"
"It's the Gucci," she said, waving a dismissive hand.
My British aristocrat husband said, "Madam, I have no idea who or what a Gucci is."
She was speechless!
So if you didn't go shopping today and the weather is fine do what I'm going to do and get out into nature. Go and breathe fresh air and relax after all that turkey and pumpkin pie. You'll find the trails and parks are empty because everyone else is shopping!
But do tell if anyone scored bargains today! I love hearing about others successes.
Happy bargain-hunting to all the early-morning shoppers; personally, I have no plans for any of that stand-in-line in the cold shopping today . . .
ReplyDeleteNo shopping for me today. I did that once with my mom many years ago - never again! Instead I'm taking a portion of yesterday's feast to my son and daughter-in-law who needed to stay home and be quiet with their brewing baby rather than joining us at the table. Looking forward to lunch with them.
ReplyDeleteHave a great time with your family today, Edith. What an exciting time for all of you!
DeleteWhen is the littlest one due, Edith? Safe travels!
DeleteHe's due January 2! They are only 50 minutes away, so it's easy to pop in.
DeleteA New Year's baby! Happy brewing, and happy second feast!
DeleteEnjoy your day with them!
DeleteEnjoy your day with the brewing family
DeleteI worked in retail for several years and loved these crazy days when the store was full of eager shoppers. I was a clerk, so my responsibilities were mainly to be helping customers and I really enjoyed doing that. On the other hand, I do not shop on black Friday except on line.
ReplyDeleteWe are soon going to see our daughter's family for the first time since June, so this will be Baking Friday at our house. Gramma Judy always brings cookies!
Baking Friday sounds better than Black Friday.
DeleteEnjoy your time with your daughter!
DeleteEnjoy your time with your daughter
DeleteI'm an early bird (it's 4:08 am here in Oregon) but I will never be a Black Friday shopper. Ugh. I'd rather pay more or go without than deal with crowds of ravenous bargain hunters. I remember working at Meier & Frank (which later sold out to Macy's) the day after Christmas back in the mid '70s. I was assigned to the "Budget Women's" department in the basement. The lines of people doing returns and exchanges was unreal!
ReplyDeleteNature yes! I will be outside today and hope for a break in the rain.
I don’t know how it works at Macy’s now as I can never find an employee.
DeleteA Tiffany gift from your publisher in 1980 was very generous, Rhys. Laughing at your Gucci story. I’m laughing because your British aristocrat husband said he did not know what or who a Gucci is. May I share this Funny story?
ReplyDeleteShopping on Black Friday is not in my DNA. Not shopping at all. Walking outside in nature sounds like an excellent idea.
I also love the Gucci story, Rhys!
DeleteThinking that this comment will only make sense to those of us who remember the 1950s and 1960s shopping. (Admitting that nostalgia may cloud memory.) There were no SALES before Christmas. The Christmas shopping season began the Friday after Thanksgiving…no Christmas toys, decorations showing up in August, September, or October. On that Friday after Thanksgiving, the merchants could see all their staff busy all day long. Cash registers rang. There were few stores with check out counters all in a rows by the front door. There were sales clerks, who wrote up your purchases, carefully bagged them, and “Merry Christmased” you all the way to the front door. Sales with deep discounts, “door buster prices” began December 26 with those same sales clerks following you around. So “bah humbug” to this Black Friday thing. Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteI remember at maybe age ten going shopping with my grandmother after Christmas - just the two of us, which was special for me, the third of four children - and her buying me a lovely wool skirt and sweater on sale before we went out to lunch.
DeleteEdith, grandmother shopping memories are special. Born in Portchester NY in 1885, she never learned to drive, so our shopping was always with my mother, who lovingly “lost” the two of us In the store. Most special times and gifts. Elisabeth
DeleteAnd I remember they put the money in a little cylinder and it shot on a wire across the store
DeleteRhys, and I remember the little cylinder went in the tube along with the payment and went whoosh to the central cashier and the change came whooshing back. My father and grandfather thought I was better at making change than selling! Elisabeth
DeleteNot a Black Friday shopper. The lines to pay are the killers.
ReplyDeleteElisabeth is correct. Before the late 1970's retailers had a strict calendar of sales: January white sales (for linens), Fourth of July sales (with marked down bathing suits, etc.), back-to-school sales, and after Christmas sales. Usually, stores would also have an anniversary sale at some random time during the year. All that changed when trade opened with the Far East, and insanely cheap goods were made and sold at the same prices as American-made goods, but for a deep, deep discount. I was in the buying end of retail back then, and witnessed all of this firsthand, both the pricing strategies and the grand plans of the importers,
ReplyDeleteIt was the death knell of modern retail, but no one recognized it at the time. Or if they did, they ignored it because the short-term profit was so wildly exciting. It also ushered in the "everyday" sales, which were not actually sales at all, just fake prices that hid the true wholesale cost of imported goods behind inflated ticket prices. The retailers basically trained the consumer to seek out sales, too, so they were their own worst enemy.
Because of being a buyer for three years I was expected to shop the competition, and to physically go to our own half dozen local stores to see why certain things were or were not selling. And to shop the NY markets six times a year. Basically, shopping for a living. Between that experience and having to shop for three daughters, shopping is one of my least favorite activities. Thank goodness for online stores and shipping.
It is sad that clothing now is cheaply made but still being sold at exorbitant prices. Most everything purchased today are comprised of synthetic fibers for convenience and less time spent at an ironing board. And still right up there in cost as if they were natural fibers. Thanks for your interesting story about being a professional shopper, Karen.
DeleteThat is an interesting lesson in retail history! I am often confounded by the "logic" of retail. A week ago yesterday I went out to purchase a new handbag, as I've been carrying my little travel cross-body bag for everyday wear for too long. I found a bag at Macy's, marked down from a crazy price to a price I was willing to pay -- about 40% off the original price, I believe. But when I went to pay for it, the clerk told me if I'm willing to come back on December 2 to pick it up, I could pre-purchase it at Black Friday pricing, getting an additional 30% off. I accepted the offer and now have a receipt with which to pick it up on Dec.2, but I found the whole concept just bizarre. I have a hard time seeing how that benefits them.
DeleteKaren, glad to know that there are others who remember shopping the calendar year sales. My dad’s family owned a small town department store. His dad’s favorite saying: “Well, 4th of July, the summer is over” as he headed into NYC to buy for winter and Christmas. Elisabeth
DeleteEvelyn I so agree about the quality of clothing. Absolutely no seams, cheap fabrics and no shaping. Remember when dresses had shaping for the bust? But then dresses were often half a week’s salary.
DeleteBust darts are a must for fitting! It's why I can never find anything flattering at Chico's, no bust darts. Which is annoying, because their stuff isn't inexpensive. Details like darts do add cost, but some lines drop the shoulders to compensate for the lack of fit across the chest. It is less flattering to most figures, though. And you can't go by their photos because you can't tell what they did to the back of the garment to make it look more fitted. Deceptive, if you ask me.
DeleteRhys ~ I remember a Postdoc at Harvard who was from Switzerland telling me that women in the States had "dumbed down" classic dressing. At the top of his "thumbs down" list were jeans which I wore daily while working in the research labs. But I also wore a string of pearls everyday as well which pushed it up a notch. Ha! When Kay left Harvard to return to Switzerland two of us women bought him a pair of jeans. :-) He ended up loving them.
DeleteI do miss many of the fashions from the 60's when we all wanted to emulate Jacqueline Kennedy. While watching a 1961 Doris Day film the other night I swooned over the beautiful dresses and suits she wore. Jackets lined with a pattern that matched another accessory, classic earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants worn "just so" and beautiful lingerie. I loved the fashions both the women and men wore in the 30's and 40's too. And James Bond who would conquer every fist fight in a suit and tie with a Trilby hat to match!
Karen ~ You are spot on! I agree with you 100%.
DeleteMany decades ago (in the early/mid 70's) I would drive to my parents home to pick up my mother and we would take the train into downtown Boston to Christmas shop at Filene's Basement. Our only break from competing with the horde of pushing and shoving bargain hunters was a late morning trip to Jordan Marsh Department Store where we would enjoy hot coffee and their famous blueberry muffins. Then back to fighting the holiday crowds in pursuit of more bargains. We'd then return home on the late day commuter rail with armloads of Christmas gifts. I have no idea where we found the energy or the desire to make those annual shopping trips into the city after all the hard work involved with preparing Thanksgiving dinner the day before. I also can remember sitting in a line of cars trying to find a parking space at the local Mall in pursuit of reduced Christmas cards and wrapping paper (for the following year) the day after Christmas. Years later my day after Christmas trips to Copley Place in Boston with my husband to purchase cards and gift tags on sale at Crane Stationery were far less hectic and more enjoyable as the day ended at Atlantic Fish Company our favorite seafood restaurant. Or trips to Faneuil Hall (Quincy Market) and lunch at the Chart House on the waterfront. I think those Boston trips were more to enjoy winding down after a busy holiday season. Now with online shopping delivered right to one's home address I can't imagine fighting holiday crowds anymore especially since Black Friday sales are now being offered nearly the entire month of November. I'm nearly finished with my holiday shopping all conveniently purchased from the convenience of my office desk. So today I am looking forward to relaxing, watching a Christmas movie or two and enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers stuffed in the kitchen fridge. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas shopping ever was a Christmas market cruise through Europe. Now that felt like Christmas shopping
DeleteI remember when I was a student shopping at Filene's basement once and having a woman literally rip something out of my hands that I'd picked up from a bargain bin. First and last time I was there!
DeleteRhys ~ That sounds heavenly!!!
DeleteKim ~ It definitely often took nerves of steel...as well as a death grip...to hold onto a prized treasure to keep the "vultures" from swooping in and swiping it right out of one's hands. Filene's Basement was also famous for its annual "Running of the Brides" event that began in 1947. Hundreds of brides-to-be would line up before dawn to wait for the store to open its doors at 8AM to try to score a designer wedding dress for a fraction of its original cost. It was a one-day only, once a year occurrence that turned sane women into insane lunatics as they rifled through racks of deeply-discounted gowns, trying them on in the store aisles and then bartering with each other to find the perfect bridal gown. Many of the prospective brides flew in from other states in the country to attend the sale. Just plain plum crazy...
DeleteI was never a Black Friday shopper, though I have had quite a few friends over the years who relished the experience as part of the season. At my brother-in-law's house for Thanksgiving yesterday, his youngest daughter, a junior in college, was desperately seeking a Black Friday shopping partner. After being firmly refused by everyone in the family, she finally got a male friend on the phone who agreed to accompany her. I couldn't help but wonder whether he had any interest in shopping at all or just a day accommodating a pretty girl...but whatever his motivations, she was happy. I will be seeing them all again tomorrow for an OSU football viewing party, so I'm interested to see if she found bargains worth her effort.
ReplyDeleteOur younger generation seem to buy online only
DeleteAlso a big no to Black Friday shopping. Youngest nephew did it a couple of times to score specific items in his younger days, but the novelty has worn off and the convenience of online shopping spelled the end of those days for him. Today I'm nursing some chest congestion with hot tea, maybe a roll or two from last night's sumptuous meal, and a nap or two or three with an assortment of cats joining me. I hope everyone here has a day off to rest and enjoy whatever you fancy!
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better, Flora. John is still fighting that lingering coughing
DeleteThanks, Rhys! So far, it's very mild! I've been taking zinc and elderberry religiously since I had covid and I think it's paying off--what normally would've been days and days of misery seems to be reduced to a day or two. Hope John's cough soon clears up!
DeleteIf you are doing the 4am wait in line kind of Black Friday shopping, yes there are definitely going to be lines and utter pandemonium. And so I avoid it.
ReplyDeleteBut I was typically off on the Friday after Thanksgiving when I had my old job. We traded Veteran's Day for the day to get the long weekend. And since Friday was both payday and grocery shopping day, I did have to go to the stores. But I would wait until later in the day and by then most of the crazy shoppers were gone and I could shop in relative peace.
And yes, the Internet has changed thing. As has the inevitable creep of just how long Black Friday is now. It's most of the month for a lot of places. The streaming services run their sales early. Hulu, Peacock and others have been running since Monday or Tuesday. I know HBO Max is doing $2.99 a month for a year and that started on Tuesday.
But I don't need anything that would make me crawl out of bed so early in the day and probably couldn't afford the crap they are offering for big discounts anyway. As it is, I have just 3 gifts left to buy and all three are gift cards. I have to figure out how to buy an Amazon gift card online so that I can send it to my best friend Ann since she's in Mexico until spring. That's likely the biggest challenge for me.
Oh, and I will be in a store today a bit later on. I'm helping my friend out at his record shop. Besides Black Friday, it is also Record Store Day and a bunch of albums being released for the event are hitting store shelves even as I type this. So I'll be there to help him out in whatever manner he needs even if it is just making sure the bins get stocked or re-stocked as much as possible.
I didn’t realize there were still record stores and albums being released, Jay. How interesting
DeleteIn a deliberate effort to avoid Black Friday lines, I finished all my Christmas shopping a few days ago. My aversion stems from the time more than fifty years ago that my not-yet wife took me to the original Filene's Basement in Boston an a sale day; it was not on Black Friday, but the lines, the people, the shoving, the fighting, and the ladies stripping down in public to try on new clothes traumatized me to the point when I think of Black Friday, I relive that horrid experience. Although I forgave Kitty for that day, and later married her, the darkness etched on my soul has remained. The closest thing to that experience for me today is Black Friday. Not for me, thanks. For me, the day after Thanksgiving is justly celebrated as It Doesn't Matter, Take a Nap Day.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!
DeleteYou couldn't pay me to go into a store today. In fact, I intend to do my utmost to avoid in-person shopping until January. Not just because of the crowds in the stores, but because of the insanity in the parking lots. No thank you.
ReplyDeleteRhys, I adore John's Gucci exchange! I only went to one sale like what you describe, when Macy's in New Haven was closing. It was filled with frantic, grabbing shoppers. I did come out with a pile of sweaters but I will never do it again!
ReplyDeleteNot me. No mark down is worth the pushing snd shoving
DeleteI have never been a Black Friday shopper. I’m not really a shopper at all-unless it’s independent bookstores or our local hardware store. I did work retail for 6 years at the Harvard and MIT Coops in Cambridge, MA, and 4 years at the B.U. Bookstore back in the 70s and 80s. Nothing online the, and college bookstores did have the crazy after Thanksgiving weekend sales that downtown stores and malls had. Once I was a publishing rep I always had the day after Thanksgiving off so used to start writing my Christmas cards. Today will be a mostly lazy day. With at least a couple of hours to get back into Julia’s At Midnight Comes the Cry” Have a lovely weekend all!
ReplyDeleteAh yes. Christmas cards. I need to start too. Perhaps I’ll put some good music on and attack the pile.
DeleteWhen I shop on Black Friday, I'm like Jay. I wait until the initial feeding frenzy is over and then mosey in around 2 pm and get what I need. I suspect for rabid shoppers, that initial frenzy is like a drug fix. They really need the thrill of the hunt. Me? I need the thrill of walking in unmolested, grabbing what I need, going directly to the cashier and getting back home. Mission accomplished without any bloodshed. -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteYou’re lucky if you can find the cashier these days!
DeleteI love your husband's response Rhys!!
ReplyDeleteNo, I have never shopped on Black Friday - in fact, I rarely shop at retail stores unless it is from a local retailer.
I remember growing up in the 50's on basically is an island across the bay from San Diego (reached by ferryboats), and we shopped at the local pharmacy for Christmas gifts. We also had the Navy Exchange - which meant you didn't have to pay taxes.
Like so many of us "old timers" (ok boomers!) remember Christmas sales, ads, decorations, songs didn't start until after Thanksgiving.
I agree. I hate seeing Halloween decorations in August and the Christmas in December. When I was growing up we shopped for Christmas presents the week before Christmas
DeleteWoke up with a head cold ( sad face). Looks like I will not be doing anything lbut drinking fluids and sleeping all day. Wishing I could go outside for a nature walk. As soon as I get better I’ll do it!
ReplyDeleteFeel better. John is just getting over his
DeleteWhen I was in college, Black Friday was a thing with my Mother. I only had one day to shop, so we'd hit the stores early, stay all day, take our time, have a nice lunch and even dinner if we weren't worn out by five. Now you couldn't pay me enough to venture outside today. I did buy a washer/dryer set from Home Depot at on a huge Black Friday price reduction years ago, but I did it on the internet and it was delivered the following Monday. I don't think that counts.
ReplyDeleteThat is scoring the sensible wsy!
Deletehttps://www.npr.org/2025/11/28/nx-s1-5604862/black-friday-sales-forecast
ReplyDeleteThis is an NPR short news story, "What will the holiday shopping say about the state of America. An expert from the Kearney Consumer Institute hunts for clues."
When I was growing up, there were no malls. No Internet. My big shopping day was the day AFTER Christmas… We had a Saks fifth Avenue Within walking distance… And the day after Christmas, everything was marked down by 50%. Which meant anything that had been previously marked down was quite a bargain. so that was my shopping day. It never would’ve occurred to me to take a nature walk.
ReplyDeleteBut I never feel in the shopping mood after Christmas!
DeleteI went out on Black Friday once, years ago when my son was little, and I was looking for toys for him. I don’t remember anything horrible which either means nothing of significance happened (except getting a few deals) or I’ve just forgotten.
ReplyDeleteToday I am making our turkey dinner. We usually go out to eat on Thanksgiving but decided this year to make our own feast. Our other tradition is to go to the movies and watch a new release. I couldn’t decide if we should eat before the movie or after (and did I really want to leave the house with a turkey cooking?! No!!) so my husband wisely suggested that we eat at the movie theater after the movie (when food is 50% off with your ticket!). Thus I was very relaxed yesterday and we can eat any time today! — Pat S.
You have a movie theater with food? I’ve never seen that
DeleteWe have a movie theater here that has large comfy reclining chairs with a side table. The movie theater has waiters that take your (ordering food is optional, of course) order and deliver your food. It is not junk food but nice restaurant food. It's super expensive and the movie tickets are astronomical too. It's a rip off IMHO.
DeleteTo clarify you can order food to eat while you watch the movie OR you can eat at their restaurant which is attached to the theatre. The restaurant is very nice.
DeleteSorry, just now checking back in. Yes, they have real food (sandwiches, burgers, a couple of unimaginative salads, and I think dinner items; we usually go to the matinee so looking for a light meal). And they don’t bring it to you in the theater. To get the 50% off, it has to be ordered AFTER the film is over. I’m sure there are people who order something other than popcorn to eat during the film, but I am content to stick with popcorn. — Pat S
DeleteI'm up early and I did it once and never again will I do it a second time. Today it is about relaxing.
ReplyDeleteTo my astonishment, several years ago, Switzerland discovered the concept of Black Friday and started advertising pre-Christmas sales, even though there's no Thanksgiving here. This year, the US shopping day falls on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, which gives it some definition. I even saw posters about Black Friday Week! I'm still not shopping today, mainly because I'm working on some writing in between cooking for our Swiss/US potluck Thanksgiving tomorrow for 18 people.
ReplyDeleteWell, I had to go to the grocery on wednesday--with everyone else on the planet! I have to confess, I adored it. It was kind of a sense of community, with everyone on the same mission, and sharing cooking times and which green beans were better. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteBut Black Friday shopping? Nope nope, a million times nope. (Although I did get new sheets on line----$55.00 reduced to $9!! Yes. I love cotton sheets. But that's the extent of my black friday. Oh, wait, I got slippers, too, on line. $15 that were once 50. But all the prices and reductions are made up anyway, don't you think?.)
Love to you all!
No Black Friday shopping for me. My sister, who has a retail Tack Shop in Raleigh is visiting me and I asked her how she handled Black Friday. Sometimes she closes and says, see me on Monday and I'll give you the Black Friday discount. This year she made a list for her staff and is keeping her fingers crossed that she has customers because the tariffs are "killing" her business. I don't shop on Black Friday. I was trying to remember when all that craziness started. The only time I remember thinking I should get in an early am line for something was when my daughter wanted a Cabbage Patch Kid.
ReplyDeleteThe only shopping I'm doing is to pick up the evergreens for church . And the drug store for more cold medicine and tissues.
ReplyDeleteNo sales for me. Hub and I planning to walk around the Phoenix Zoo (we have a source that told us there's a new baby giraffe about to drop).
ReplyDeleteFirst comment in 8 years. Where is Grace? I miss her.
ReplyDeleteI was asking myself the same question. I hope she is okay.
DeleteYou're right. What a good question. I hope she's traveling somewhere exotic.
DeleteNo shopping for me. I'm not doing cybermonday either. I'm watching my spending. The weather here today on the San Francisco Peninsula is foggy and chilly. I've walked the dog twice so far. After lunch he'll get his 3rd walk. I hope to have the day organized enough to spend part of the afternoon reading.
ReplyDeleteReading some of the comments about Filene's basement reminds me why I never shop Black Friday. No competitive shopping for me!
ReplyDeleteI might go to our local and wonderful gift shop for a couple things on Small Business Saturday tomorrow. That's a good day to shop independent bookstores, too.
No Black Friday shopping for me except a couple of things online. I've mostly avoided Black Friday shopping during my life. I did get up to be in line by 4:00 at a game shop with Kevin's girlfriend to get the new X-Box or whatever it was at the time. We were second or third in a long line and snagged our target item.
ReplyDelete