Should we open or close Thanksgiving Day

***hey_moe*** · November 17th, 2012, 23:15

Where does it stop. If you can remember retailers use to be closed on Sunday and all holidays. Then they fought over that Blue law and started opening on Sundays. Then came just about all of the holiday except for the biggest ones which are Thanksgiving and Christmas. But now here is where the greed starts to come in. Opening Thanksgiving evening. Toy-R-Us started this crap and now you guessed it, Walmart Target, Kmart, Sears ect..ect..follow the pack. Now we have only one Holiday left that is closed. I wonder how long it will take before the retailers open for Christmas and pull families apart.

***TARPSBird*** · November 18th, 2012, 00:43

I work at Barnes & Noble and we will be closed on Thanksgiving - all day.

**yank51** · November 18th, 2012, 02:48

Moe, the answer is easy. Don't visit the stores on the holidays is all. They will get the message. This "black Friday" thing has gotten way out of hand in my opinion....

**papab** · November 18th, 2012, 02:53

Originally Posted by yank51

Moe, the answer is easy. Don't visit the stores on the holidays is all. They will get the message. This "black Friday" thing has gotten way out of hand in my opinion....

+10!
Rick

**stansdds** · November 18th, 2012, 03:44

Originally Posted by yank51

Moe, the answer is easy. Don't visit the stores on the holidays is all. They will get the message. This "black Friday" thing has gotten way out of hand in my opinion....

Absolutely!

I don't shop on "black Friday", at least not until after 10 AM Friday. I well remember when the blue laws were in effect and we all seemed to do well. I also remember the excitement of lining up to see Santa on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Stores and malls opened at 9 AM, a full hour before they normally opened. It was great and retail employees still got to spend Thanksgiving day with their families. This "black Friday" mess is simply driven by greed, at least that's my opinion.

**Terry** · November 18th, 2012, 04:22

Unless we were privy to the bottom line at a given store I would be hard pressed to call it greed, it may be necessary.

**TeaSea** · November 18th, 2012, 04:34

Terry has a big point often overlooked....it's called "Black Friday" after all, because that's when most retailers actually move into the "Black" financially.

They've operated in the "Red" on their balance sheets all year. Most retailers desperately need to pull those margins and when you're talking margins that close every single day is significant.

Also, while many of us would rather not see retailers open on Thanksgiving there are plenty of folks who will jump at the chance to shop that day.

**brad kaste** · November 18th, 2012, 04:52

It must be a real kick in the teeth for the employees of these stores to come in to work on this day of family and friends gathering to give thanks. I feel for them. Yes,....a certain sacredness seems to be slipping away in this country of ours.

***Dangerousdave26*** · November 18th, 2012, 04:56

Originally Posted by yank51

This "black Friday" thing has gotten way out of hand in my opinion....

You bet it has I would like to see them do away with Black Friday sales competely or start them earlier in the week, don't put everything on sale at once stagger it.

That way they could reduce the mayhem.

BTW Publics shopping centers are all closed Thanksgiving. http://www.publix.com/

As I remember back in 1985 the grocery store I worked for was open Thanksgiving day until noon. We only had a skeleton crew to man the store. It worked out well.

I am all for closing down the whole holiday but that's just my opinion.

**beana51** · November 18th, 2012, 06:08

Like every thing else,the ultimate responsibility for these questions are the people...The majority of them want this....and those who can provide it will!...I 'or we may like it,or not like it,but thats how it is...All federal holidays,traditional holidays are now engaged in business as usual...What does that tell us?..the adherence,and respect to tradition,our myths,and hero's. has been waning...Minimize them you minimize a nation.......Meanwhile those who celebrate THANKS GIVEN, with family will do so!...and those who do not? will not!...Such is the face of a Changing USA! In any case HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!

**gradyhappyg** · November 18th, 2012, 06:59

Shopping on Thanksgiving day?
Or the day after? No way!
My wife and I host Thanksgiving dinner for our family and have several relatives who either won't or can't come to our house so after two days of cooking,packing,delivering,cleaning up,playing referee and suffing the fridge we are worn out the last thing on our minds is a trip to the store.
Any store.

**Daveroo** · November 18th, 2012, 08:04

i have to say...in years past,there were many times my family were thankfull for the local 7-11 on both thanksgiving and christmas day,,because some food item was allways missing and was desperatly needed...but as far as needing to buy a new HDTV on thanksgiving?....i could wait a few days...

**Dain Arns** · November 18th, 2012, 10:50

Closed.
And no opening at midnight.
6am earliest.

I really miss the days when the after Thanksgiving Day sales were semi-pleasant events to go to.
Now you risk being knifed/shot/trampled to death.
I just don't bother anymore.

I'm sure we'll hear about a violent incident again this year. :isadizzy:

**magoo** · November 18th, 2012, 11:13

Friends arrive here from Asia, can't believe how early we roll up the sidewalks. Visit Hong Kong, Singaphore, Beijing....those towns thunder twenty four hours a day.

It's Capitalism isn't it?

Hours of operation legislated by any government is an antiquated process. Let the operators decide what hours will generate a profit and allow that they pursue it.

Now...a government's place is certainly to ensure that employees have rights, and those right are respected, and that becomes part of the equation as to whether a retailor can operate 24/7 and generate a profit.

If they can, you and I get convenient retail access, governments get (theoretical) tax generation 24/7.

**Roadburner440** · November 18th, 2012, 11:59

Originally Posted by Dain Arns

Now you risk being knifed/shot/trampled to death.
I just don't bother anymore.

This is why I hole myself up in the house for the entire weekend, and we do not leave for any reason. Nothing in this World is worth it as it seems people have lost all decency and respect when it comes to these sales. I am sure this year just like last we will have people trampled to death and so forth. Is just all so sad that things are slipping away in this nation.

**RedGreen** · November 18th, 2012, 12:50

I saw on the sign of a Wendy's restaurant that it's going to be open from 10 PM Thanksgiving Day to 6 AM Black Friday Morning....just to serve all the crazies that forgo sleep in the name of cheap merchandise.

My sympathies are with those workers who are going to be forced away from their families on this holiday in order to work in the wee hours of the morning and deal with a rabid mob of consumers.

***PRB*** · November 18th, 2012, 13:07

As a couple others have already noted, this may be more a reflection of the terrible economy in which we find ourselves over the past few years... And, as others have pointed out, we get to "vote" with our credit cards in this "election". If nobody shows up to buy stuff, they won't be open next year... I don't go anywhere near malls between Thanksgiving and New Years, period.

- Paul

***Moses03*** · November 18th, 2012, 13:30

This is a little off topic but at a large discount retailer that has already been mentioned in this thread, there was a large sign that said "Happy Harvest". Not "Happy Thanksgiving" as it should have read. Happy Harvest? What are we, children of the corn now? I guess it might offend someone to give thanks.

Makes me sad that all the great holiday traditions in our country are slowly fading away.

**Gdavis101** · November 18th, 2012, 13:52

I refuse to shop on a holiday simply because I feel that it is more important for families to be together on a holiday like Thanksgiving, and to not be worried about having to be at work. When I worked in Law Enforcement it was required, but that comes with the job and when I had my own company I worked on Christmas day so my employees didn't have to.

**EasyEd** · November 18th, 2012, 14:47

Hey All,

It is just silly - all they need to do is start Christmas season before halloween like some places are. Then you have plenty of time to shop and can be closed Thanksgiving.

-Ed-

**Kiwikat** · November 18th, 2012, 14:59

The good thing about our country is that you have a choice to go if you want. I'll stay home. :mixedsmi:

***The B24 Guy*** · November 18th, 2012, 15:21

It's really a question of freedom.

We should give thanks that retailers have the freedom to be open, and we as consumers are free to shop or not.

Regards,
B24Guy

***hey_moe*** · November 18th, 2012, 15:32

I wonder how much freedom the employees have to say yes or no for that holiday?

Originally Posted by The B24 Guy

It's really a question of freedom.

We should give thanks that retailers have the freedom to be open, and we as consumers are free to shop or not.

Regards,
B24Guy

***Willy*** · November 18th, 2012, 15:46

Originally Posted by Moses03

This is a little off topic but at a large discount retailer that has already been mentioned in this thread, there was a large sign that said "Happy Harvest". Not "Happy Thanksgiving" as it should have read. Happy Harvest? What are we, children of the corn now? I guess it might offend someone to give thanks.

Makes me sad that all the great holiday traditions in our country are slowly fading away.

I've seen a few of those too. They won't see my business.

Originally Posted by Hey Moe

I wonder how much freedom the employees have to say yes or no for that holiday?

Some of my daughter's friends work retail at major stores and the ones that are having to work Thanksgiving say that the choice is to either work the holiday (some on a double shift) or find another job.