Black Eye Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is frequently referred to as "Black Friday". One of the major U.S. holiday shopping days, it is the day many U.S. consumers begin their annual Christmas shopping. The day is heavily promoted by retailers both in newspapers and with television commercials. The origin of the term "Black Friday" comes from the shift to profitability many retailers experience during the holiday season. Black Friday was historically when retailers went from being unprofitable, or "in the red," to being profitable, or "in the black".

But this year I think we can officially call it "Black Eye Friday" since retailers in pursuit of having the best deal around have cause frenzied shopping mobs - fuelled by lack of sleep, large doses of coffee, hours of standing in the cold, pumped up sales promotions and very limited discounted products (example $250 laptops at BestBuy, only 18 per store) -- the day after Thanksgiving has turned into a melee of shopping madness.

And what do the stores gain anyway? I recall going to Staples one early morning with my Father and Father-In-Law. We grabbed the deals and went home. We didn't stick around and shop. -- EMF