Walmart employees, the new Gestapo for Black Friday

My sister is at Walmart (a 24 hour store) for Black Friday. She arrived at 8:00pm today - Thursday the 24th of November, 2011. We had previously looked through their online ads www.walmart.com... and since I had to work, she was going to go and also get the items I wanted. I just spoke to her on her cell. She was able to get only one ticket at any one time. She had to get in line with her ticket for the 40 inch flat screen TV, of which I also wanted. She can only get one TV even though the ad did not indicate one item per person like it did for the $248.00 lap top for instance. All the areas are roped off so people are funneled to their respective “item” lines. The ticket holder can do no other shopping while standing in line waiting for the ONE item to “go on sale” at a particular time (midnight). If you have to go to the restroom you have to get a pass which is good for only ten minutes. If you are gone longer, your place in line is removed. You are allowed to use the restroom only once every 45 minutes. The whole time, employees are watching, making sure you don’t step out of line or go to the bathroom too long/too often. There are employees guarding stacks of plastic wrapped merchandise. I find this incredibly Gestapo-ish. I have never previously gone to nor wanted anything from a Black Friday sale. This whole scenario guarantees that I never will. The whole treatment seems degrading. In fact, the whole idea is degrading. Why not have their items go on sale like the day after Thanksgiving or 10:00pm the day of Thanksgiving, whatever, and when the product is gone, it’s gone. I don’t see a 24 hour Walmart or other stores like them losing money by changing the procedure of their sales.

reply to post by Gridrebel


They did the same thing last year, nothing new here. I absolutely hate black friday and no longer participate in that mess. Now online deals thats where it's at!!!

Quit bitching! If you want a tv then go stand in line like everyone else. Also 10 minutes is plenty of time for a restroom break, if not then you probably need more fiber. The employees are trying to make it fare for everyone by not letting greedy people hoard a bunch of crap.....don't like the rules then shop elsewhere.

reply to post by Gridrebel


The people shopping at Walmart on "Black Friday" believe they are sane.
I'm not sure they are correct.


Now,.. where was this at, and is there a link to anything that shares this same information about the treatment of consumers at Walmart?

I have been completely unfamiliar with the whole thing until now with the exception of hearing of a man being killed at a stampede a couple years ago. It's too bad people let themselves be diminished to the greedy riotist mob mentality for some crappy cheap items.... from Walmart. I'm so disgusted now that I even considered purchasing the items I wanted from them in the first place.

reply to post by Gridrebel



Pics or it didn't happen..... lol.
Everyone should buy from a local store/shop anyway.
Support small businesses!!

reply to post by Fitch303


I'm not bitching about standing line. It is the degrading treatment. People never stampeded in an almost riotous fashion until they started having these "timed" sales. Have these type of sales created a new “hell shopper”? Also, what exactly is more "fair" about it? It's still the same old 'early bird gets the worm' principle.

I don't care how much you can save by shopping tonight.
I tried that madhouse once, made it into the store about 20 feet and that was that. went home.
Never to try that again.
claustorphobic, hate people in general, totally not worth it to me. I'll pay double before I try that scenerio again.

It's easier to make homemade Jam...

reply to post by LeRoy1968


I practically begged her to email me some pics but she is a bit of a fuddy duddy so I don't know. If I do get them it will probably be tomorrow and this thread will be dead.

Originally posted by LeRoy1968
reply to post by Gridrebel

 

Pics or it didn't happen..... lol.
Everyone should buy from a local store/shop anyway.
Support small businesses!!

edit on 24-11-2011 by LeRoy1968 because: buy not bye....

Exactly. I still do not understand why anyone in this day and age would shop at Walmart knowing full well what it does to the rest of our fellow local, hard working American business owners.

I mean, in the event of a hurricane warning the National Guard is actually stationed to keep watch at Walmarts, isn't that a red flag?
I have yet to see them gurading a local Mom and Pops super market.

reply to post by Gridrebel


Theres a simple way to not be degraded by it. Say to yourself "screw this im not that desperate for a TV" turn round and walk out the door you came in by.

I just got out of one at 12am and its fun for some people i guess. for me its about being amongst the people the common folks everybody running around talking and yelling. if you haven't done it you should try it you might like the action. They were kinda gestapoish the trick is to strike when all is chaos and what are they gonna do throw you in the Walmart gulag.