We are 10 days away from Black Friday that American tradition that has reared its ugly head over this side of the pond. Has far has I’m concerned I wish it would have stayed in America because seeing the out and out greed is just not British.
It will be its third anniversary since its arrival in the UK. News crews are in training for the best footage of shoppers being dragged along the floor of a supermarket clutching hold of a 40” flat screen TV made by some unknown company. I never heard of a Blaupunkt TV until I saw a full on punch up over owning one on the news and left me wondering if I was missing out and a Blaupunkt TV was a must have item.
Watching the news from the comfort of my armchair and seeing people fight over some cheap crap that has a mark down was sad at least we could be thankful no one was killed unlike in America where shopping tooled (with guns) up is normal. I remember seeing people literally climbing over some old lady in a disability scooter while others clambered over people and that was on the opening of the doors. If you got anywhere near, the display that had something you wanted it was like one of those bar fights you see in westerns, a free for all. The frustrated shopping assistant shouting ‘One per customer’ trying to keep the peace with little joy.
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| Asda last year |
If you are lucky and get your much-needed bargains, you have to face the queue. Last time families were fronting up at the tills with a TV each so beating the one per customer rule. Then the green-eyed monster rears its ugly head and arguments and calls for managers to settle disputes.
We can expect utter chaos this time around although some shops are refusing to take part and others have said they have learnt from the mayhem last year. Tesco will be shutting there 24 hour stores for a few hours to give staff a chance to prepare for the onslaught. Asda have declared they will be bowing out altogether from Black Friday. Going on the past Black Friday’s it will be TVs other electrical items and kitchen gadgets most wanted. In the USA, this shopping bonanza is closely linked with Thanksgiving while here Boxing Day was the traditional sales day for us and still is for me.
The police criticised consumers and retailers alike after being called to multiple stores around the country last year to deal with out-of-control shoppers and there have been calls to cancel Black Friday.
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