The Besiegement of Black Friday

On November 20, 2009, Associated Content published an article of mine, The Besiegement of Black Friday; The Downward Spiral of Holiday Human Behavior in Society. A torrid little tale of the ill's of human behavior around the holidays, in conjunction with the "Gladiator Match" that is most commonly called, "Black Friday".

In has come to recent light from various news agencies in many forms of print and broadcast medium, that the alleged "leaks" in regards to the spectacular "deals" that "maybe" found on Black Friday may have a catch. In fact there is a contradiction of terms here and that could result in no deal "catches" whatsoever to be had.

The keyword here now is apparently, "maybe", and the fuel of the proverbial fire has now been tossed to the open flames of what history has dictated so sadly in the past.

It is time for the eye-glasses and fine print time people. Some of these boisterous and salacious circulars that are leaving some "consumeroids" salivating over the alleged deals that can be had, only, "While supplies last," "Minimum two per store," "No rain checks" or "All items are available in limited quantities.

In an article written by, Parija B. Kavilanz, Friday, November 20, 2009: Dirty Secrets of Black Friday 'Doorbusters', provided by CNNMoney.com. She has quoted Craig Johnson, a retailing expert and president of retail consulting group Customer Growth Partners, as saying,"It's a sleazy practice.", by Mr. Johnson.

Ms. Kavilanz went onto also quoting Mr. Craig Johnson as saying, "I am old school," said Johnson. "If a retailer is advertising a juicy deal and they are not prepared to have in sufficient quantity, don't advertise it. Or give consumers a rain check.", and that Johnson said, "It's not enough for retailers to mention that they'll have such limited quantities of a product on one of the most-hyped shopping days of the year."

Further more, Johnson is quoted by Ms. Kavilanz that, "Retailers aren't winning any customers. They are just pissing off people," he said. "It's poor retailing practice."

Pissing people off and sleazy practices indeed and with that said, do these retailers not take any responsibility and or consideration as I mentioned in my previous article of the concern for said consumers at the door this coming Black Friday? Maybe the wild-eyed consumeriods will not be out for blood of fellow shoppers and deals in limited qualities but that of the store managers head on a platter and lynching in the town-square.

Again, as I mentioned in the previous article that each of these perspective retailers cannot be held accountable for said ill actions and behaviors of the past but based on the history of Black Friday's in the past what do they think their endorsing with these above mentioned key words of, "While supplies last," "Minimum two per store," "No rain checks" or "All items are available in limited quantities."

They will almost be sponsoring "Caged Death Matches" and murder and mayhem to come this Black Friday. Does one not think that now that this dirty little secret has reared it ugly head that this will not put the average Joe-consumer in a state of crazed retail frenzy as to be one of very few to obtain these "limited supply" of deals within their stores.

What does indeed piss me off was my objective stance between the consumer and that of the retailer, whom I soap-boxed a bit by saying that they too are in the midst of dire economic times competing for the almighty dollar and have to keep on the lights and salaries that have to be paid.

Any woes of the retailer from here on out fall on deaf ears and blinded eye's and any murder and mayhem that breaks out is falling right into the laps of any retailers. My heart will not bleed for any "consumeroid" that partakes of such ill mannered behavior either, for they have been warned of the, "While supplies last," "Minimum two per store," "No rain checks" or "All items are available in limited quantities." Breath deep people and take a collective look at the facts at hand. Will you allow the frenzy that the retailers are creating with this piss poor retailing practice. Do you really need that big-screen TV or the latest gizmo's that you're children are clamoring for? I beg to differ..

Sources:
Parija B. Kavilanz
CNN Money.Com