The Water Street Market in New Paltz was busy on Black Friday
KINGSTON – For some, the Grinch stole Thanksgiving this year, as thousands of sales employees for several major retailers were forced to forsake part of their family holiday to get an early start on “Black Friday,” the traditional launch date for America’s seasonal gift shopping spree.
For some retailers, “Black Friday” began at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Some big box stores attempted to out-sell each other, being first to offer “hot ticket” discounted products. Eclipsing Thanksgiving into “Black Friday Eve” reduced the crowd density.
The Walmart parking lot in Kingston was full at midnight, six hours after the big ticket Thanksgiving sale was launched. Most of the popular items were electronic devices, such as flat screen televisions and video games. As usual, barely anyone in the store was smiling. Lines at the registers took 15 to 20 minutes for checkout.
One woman left her job late Friday night in tears, after a grueling 15-hour shift.
“I didn’t make any money, and managed to piss off everyone,” she said. “My whole paycheck was riding on this day.”
The employer, which sells electronics goods, supposedly pressures its salespersons to add $50 in accessories o every purchase.
JC Penney, Kohl’s, Toys R Us, Target, Sears, Macy’s Belk, Sports Authority, H.H. Gregg, Dollar General, and Best Buy, are among the other national retailers which joined Walmart in usurping part of Thanksgiving.
An online campaign called them the Dirty Dozen, and urged shoppers to protest.
Several other retailers bucked the trend and did not open on Thanksgiving, including Sam’s Club, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Barnes &Noble, PetSmart, and this year, Staples, which decided not to repeat last year’s Thanksgiving night opening.
Local retailers did well on Friday, despite having spared their staff the nightmare of working Thanksgiving proper. Water Street Market in New Paltz was thriving with shoppers and brisk business well into Friday afternoon. Restaurants were packed as well, with homebound holiday shoppers hungry and eager to taste anything other than leftover turkey.
