Holiday Shopping Frenzy

For the past two years, we have joined the throngs at really early shopping the day after Thanksgiving. We did it, the first time, for a portable DVD player and it was pretty busy at CompUSA. Last year we hit Best Buy for a MP3 player and $5 DVDs. That was a mob scene, starting with fisties in the parking lots and a long, long, long line. People would bring their cellphones, station one family member in line and then call each other with what they had gotten, ultimately piling it all on the person in line. I chatted with the airline pilot behind me as we waited as he piled up DVDs to watch on his layovers. My husband promises to bring his cell phone this year to make it easier, though we have not watched most of the DVDs we bought.
This Turkey Day we are planning to do lots of giveaways to local charities and thrift shops, as well as get some angel cards from the Salvation Army trees in the mall. But we will also be scouring the inserts to decide our destination early Friday morning. Target is trying to influence people their way with creative, free wakeup calls, timed to coincide with getting you there for their 6:30 am opening. Yes, we will be in line somewhere, clamouring for something we don't really need. But, for us, it is the excitement and curiosity of being part of the phenomena, seeing who is buying what and all the related buyer and seller dynamics.
I had to laugh out loud at the introduction to the holiday shopping on the Lands End website, one of my favorite online shopping destinations. I have included the portion that made me laugh, as I am guilty with participating in the annual consumer ritual of "Day after Thanksgiving" shopping.

" Friday, the doors of every store in America will open wide to the teeming multitudes. If you're not one to relish the press of the crowd, we're pleased to present you with a less tumultuous option. ....with this list of helpful hints:
• Sleep in! No need to get up at 5:00 in the morning unless you expect a crowd of several thousand lunatics to make a mad dash for your computer. And since your computer won't be standing on its feet all day waiting on overwhelmed shoppers, the chances of it snapping at you are slim.
• If shopping online feels strange to you, try this: after breakfast, get dressed, gather up your lists and get in the car. Drive around for half an hour. Park about three blocks away from home and walk back. Does that seem more familiar? Good. Next, pour yourself a cup of coffee, turn on the computer and relax. And if you choose to shop while wearing only your underwear, no one will run away screaming.".....

No comment on my part about shopping in my underwear, but the rest of it was too funny! Thank you, Lands End, for a great morning chuckle.