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Forum Post: Black Friday Retailers Lost

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 27, 2011, 12:49 a.m. EST by eyeofthetiger (304)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

no one was buying stuff that I saw this weekend they're waiting till the 24th of dec then you'll see the stores packed!!!

39 Comments

39 Comments


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[-] 2 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

This is completely false. In fact, according to the actual statistics this Black Friday was the biggest ever.

[-] -1 points by MASCEL (40) 12 years ago

It was more than likely the highest ever for inflation is more. Lets say last year they walk out with 10 one dollar items and I bet this year they walk out with 8 one dollar items which means your not getting the same amount for your buck...

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

I could see that, however if you look at the percentage of sales that were made compared to other years (I think combined with online sales) there was like a 16 percent rise in overall sales. And that's the highest of any other year; there's no way that's inflation.

[-] 0 points by MASCEL (40) 12 years ago

Where is the money coming from? I mean there are a lot more people in the world so they have to add money. I always wonder how they did that.

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

Haha well I'm no expert economist so I'm not going to pretend to know all the exact mechanisms that are taken into account. I can tell you however, that when it comes to good deals people have and will spend spend spend.

[-] -1 points by eyeofthetiger (304) 12 years ago

according to your dip shit mind

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

Check the facts before you start calling names; otherwise you look like a fool. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-26/consumers-in-u-s-release-pent-up-demand-amid-brisk-black-friday-traffic.html

[-] 1 points by bethlany88 (134) from Vancouver, WA 12 years ago

why does anyone on here feel the need to insult others period? I never did understand that mentality. Insulting a stranger? Judging someone you dont even know? Its bad enough when we do it to those we do know. Maturity and dignity shows ones strength, anyone can throw around mean words and hatefulness.

[-] 0 points by eyeofthetiger (304) 12 years ago

LOL

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

I don't see what's so funny?

[-] 0 points by eyeofthetiger (304) 12 years ago

Lol Lol Lol Lol

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

Who's the troll now buddy?

[-] 0 points by eyeofthetiger (304) 12 years ago

your not my troll

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

You're not my buddy guy!!

[-] 0 points by eyeofthetiger (304) 12 years ago

like I give a shit

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

Dude...South Park? Come on.

[-] 2 points by EricBlair (447) 12 years ago

They have done this like twice before.

People should keep in mind that this is grey/black propaganda. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_propaganda

One sock-puppet account posts how no one shopped on black Friday and how this shows "buy nothing day" campaign was a success.

Then another account posts statistics showing that despite "buy nothing day" sales still increased.

This is supposed to remind us that we are all naive hippies and failures.

If you consider the fact that "buy nothing day" was not a seriously organized or well coordinated boycott, it was actually fairly impressive, and negatively impacted sales.

Few people really took that much interest in it. I didn't buy anything, but I didn't give any effort into spreading the word either. Maybe next year we should give it more attention?

[-] 2 points by CrossingtheDivided (357) from Santa Ysabel, CA 12 years ago

Re: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_propaganda

. . .That's right, I agree. I was just on a thread that I suspect used the same tactic.


**Update: What's that little troll doing 'neath my post?

Oh, it's just my new cyber-stalker . . .suppose I should feel important that he takes the time to read so many of my posts and tries to discredit me by projecting and attributing his own bad habits onto me.

Confusing space this is, this cyber realm. So much paranoia, so little real communication.

I suggest more time in actual spatial reality attempting communication with fellow mortals. This is a method the troll below clearly hasn't attempted in a long while, if ever.

[-] -1 points by richardkentgates (3269) 12 years ago

you fall into this category "seem suspicious, or fail altogether"

[-] 2 points by EricBlair (447) 12 years ago

Now that I think of it...

Mooks has motivated me to actually give a fuck about this project. We have one year. Lets organize this shit and do a real boycott next time.

[-] 0 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

"Buy nothing day" did not negatively impact sales. This was the biggest Black Friday ever, which shows the Occupy Movement had little if any influence on any of the shoppers.

[-] 1 points by EricBlair (447) 12 years ago

As I mentioned above the fact that sales increased does not show that "buy nothing day" had no negative impact.

In fact, the negative impact is quite substantial considering that "buy nothing day" was not a serious well-organized boycott, but a random internet meme (which did not originate with OWS and was not promoted by OWS itself but rather was joined in by a few of its members.)

Neither myself nor anyone I know (the ones who even heard about it) really cared or bothered with Buy Nothing Day. I didn't shop, but then again I never make a special event to go shopping anyway.

However, in light the transparent attempt you trolls have made to dishearten people on this forum, I'm going to actively spread the word and encourage others to join in a serious boycott next year.

You guys are inspiring. Thanks a bunch.

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

Okay then, enlighten me. All the news articles I read said most people dismissed it, but I could have missed something. Show me some information that shows the impact of BND. And by the way, just because I'm pointing out a fact that contradicts what you think does not mean I'm a troll.

[-] 1 points by EricBlair (447) 12 years ago

That's correct. Few people took notice. I saw it shuffled around on Facebook once or twice. I think I saw it posted to this forum. I've never even had a conversation in person about it. No one at Liberty Plaza/zuccotti park has even mentioned it to me.

I'll make sure its brought up at the next GA and aggressively promoted to all the different Occupy encampments/supporters. I usually don't really care that much about boycotts, but next year I will.

[-] 1 points by Timmeh (39) 12 years ago

So then we actually agree.

[-] 1 points by kingscrosssection (314) 12 years ago

That happens every year anyway.

[-] 1 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

Actually, I know that out here it was nothing like it has been in the past. I do not think it is going to be picking up any time soon. This is due to the layoffs and I suspect that pretty much everyone is just trying to hang on to whatever they have. I think that at the end of this "shopping season" they are going to find that this is pretty bleak.

This is the time of the year where most people that I encounter use the excuse of the holidays to justify buying necessary household stuff that they need and wrapping it up nicely.

[-] 0 points by NonParticipant (151) 12 years ago

Everyone I know went shopping, so not sure where this news came from. Mall parking lots were 100% full, etc.

[-] 0 points by Mooks (1985) 12 years ago

Haha maybe you were at the wrong stores then because sales were up this year 6.6% to $11.4 billion which made it the biggest Black Friday ever.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/26/pf/black_friday_sales/index.htm?hpt=hp_t2

[-] 3 points by Shule (2638) 12 years ago

Or could the rise in sales be attributed to inflation? i.e. people bought less, but things cost much more?

[-] 1 points by Sinaminn (104) from Sarasota, FL 12 years ago

Stores also reported to be offering many more deals at steeper discounts this weekend compared to last year. Lots of shoppers buy their personal goods on Black Friday in order to capitalize on the discounts. The rest of the month will tell the real story.

[-] 1 points by divineright (664) 12 years ago

Good points. Even if people are pressed into having to seek out discounts on Black Friday, we won't know if they are spending more or less this year until the holiday season is over. There's still almost a month until Christmas. Hopefully people keep in mind the idea behind Buy Nothing Day throughout the holiday season and into the new year.

[-] 1 points by Mooks (1985) 12 years ago

What is so good about people buying nothing? Layoffs after the holiday season seem bad. So does a cut to profit sharing or other employee benefits. The stock prices of the retail stores (which probably make up a big percent of any retirement package for their workers) will tank. Kids will have a crappy Christmas. None of these seem particularly good for anybody.

[-] 1 points by Shule (2638) 12 years ago

I think the idea is that we all sacrifice a little to gain a lot. What we are talking about is remaking our economy; to be more fair to the people laboring, and less so for the profit takers.

By the way, what employees?, what retirement plans, what profit sharing? The labor making most of the stuff we by Christmas have none of these. They ain't getting the money we spend anyway, so then why spend it?

Remember the story about the Grinch who stole Christmas. One didn't need to have presents and toys to have Christmas spirit.

[-] 1 points by Mooks (1985) 12 years ago

I was referring to the employees in the stores. The people actually making most of it are not in the US. They may not be great benefits, but people working at retailers do indeed have them and they are a lot of them are tied to a store's performance.

[-] 1 points by Shule (2638) 12 years ago

Yes, that is true, that is a problem. Some innocent people do get hurt by this whole mess. Call it collateral damage in economic warfare if you like. I think we must look at the bigger picture. Most people working on the floor in most national chain retail stores are not getting paid enough to make it matter if they're working or not. They do not have sustainable wages to begin with. Thus most of them depend on other sources of income. Also, most are paid hourly, so a boycott ain't going to change their income in the short term. I also think as mentioned in the post below, we should be savvy as to who we boycott, and where we buy. Not every retailer is a bad guy. The important thing is to send a message to big national chain stores and corporations, so that ultimately the people working retail as well as the rest of us, may get work with fair and sustainable compensations.

[-] 1 points by divineright (664) 12 years ago

I think the name is a bit misleading but I understand they went for something short and catchy. What I support is moving my money out of the large corporations and into the hands of small business owners, trying to turn the corner toward some sort of sustainability.

[-] 0 points by eyeofthetiger (304) 12 years ago

I shop at Big Lots

[-] 0 points by Kickinthenuts (212) 12 years ago

Dollar general for me