Poll of the Day > I'm fine with Black Friday online sales, but mandatory retail shifts...

(+) Yeah! (+)

Really bums me out that people have to work on a holiday intended for family time just so people can buy stupid materialistic shit. I chose my wording carefully-- I'm cool with optional shifts if people get paid more. That's a bit different.

I'm guessing my sister-in-law is gonna pull this stunt today. We traveled 400+ miles across states to have our annual Thanksgiving with them, and apparently "they had their Thanksgiving last Sunday because they didn't know we were coming in."

We visit every year... maybe my wife will give her the benefit of the doubt with it, but I'm not. Pretty bullshit excuse considering she never bothered to ask us. So now we traveled 400 miles and we get frozen dinners because nowhere is open. She's as fake as they come.

People are so messed up.
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Well, if you believe those businesses, they would swear that all of their money comes in right at the time after Thanksgiving and on into New year's. And meanwhile I'm wondering how any store pays the light bills throughout the year if Black Friday is such a make or break day.

I guess if you're an injury attorney you probably like Black Friday too (for the usual traffic bang ups).

so you don't even call beforehand to tell someone you're coming?

you just...show up?

what the fuck, who does that?

call beforehand, make the plans. it doesn't matter if it's the same thing every year at the same time, make the fucking plans. it's no ones fault but your own if you miss it because you were too lazy to send off a quick text.
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helIy posted...

so you don't even call beforehand to tell someone you're coming?

This. I'm quite confused. Even if you do visit every year, you should still be calling to let them know in case they made other plans (or were dragged into something). You can't just assume that someone will be free if you show up at their doorstep unannounced.
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Exactly, 400 miles sounds like a large distance, why'd you drive that without guarantees?
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RedPixel posted...

because they didn't know we were coming in."

Just to be sure, did you actually informed them you were coming today or you assumed they knew you were coming?
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Lol I love it when topics backfire

I love working black friday/thursday.

why? its just so crazy. thats pretty much it. I really dont care about seeing family or eating food like that so i dont care.

I'd love to work on black friday but all the shifts are already full from where I work
:(
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Lmao you're really complaining about driving 400 miles without actually confirming your plans? And it's your sister's fault? People will do any mental gymnastics to get out of their own personal responsibility.
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i know i dont drive 6 or 7 hours without confirming with the other end whats happening, like thats ridiculous
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Obviously I left out a big chunk of the important part.

We were coming in anyway for family, and there was talk of when we would meet up. We were told the weekend BEFORE that they were already having it Sunday. We knew beforehand that we wouldn't be having Thanksgiving like a big meal.

Before last weekend, we had no idea she'd do this. I derailed my own topic cause it was originally about Black Friday and probably deserve the ridicule for this. Lol

Back to bitching about Black Friday... Everyone spends one day being thankful for what they have only to go out and buy materialistic shit the next day
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Frozen dinners? No Dennys or Boston Market around you?
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Like... actual frozen dinners? That's pretty shitty as a host, especially if you're used to turkey dinner lol.

Are you sure this wasn't some intentional ploy on their part to...maybe not have you guys come back...? Lol just throwing it out there, no idea what kind of family relationship this is.

Just the whole "no turkey dinner this year sorry guys!", then from you and your wife "okay, seen you next week anyway!" and then from them "alright... enjoy this awful meal!"... that's the scenario I'm playing out in my head...
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For retail, it's usually not so much "mandatory" as it is opt-in for actual Thanksgiving. For the Friday afterward (ie, the actual Black Friday), sure, that's just a normal shift.
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It is messed up. It should be online only. My girlfriend had to work tonight and gets out at 3am and then goes back in at 11am on Black Friday? C'mon. This is family time man.
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RedPixel posted...

Obviously I left out a big chunk of the important part.

We were coming in anyway for family, and there was talk of when we would meet up. We were told the weekend BEFORE that they were already having it Sunday. We knew beforehand that we wouldn't be having Thanksgiving like a big meal.

Before last weekend, we had no idea she'd do this. I derailed my own topic cause it was originally about Black Friday and probably deserve the ridicule for this. Lol

Back to bitching about Black Friday... Everyone spends one day being thankful for what they have only to go out and buy materialistic shit the next day

I'm confused by this. If you knew they already did Thanksgiving on Sunday, then what was the point of coming over?
What made you assume they would want to host guests?
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Thirty3_1Third posted...

It is messed up. It should be online only. My girlfriend had to work tonight and gets out at 3am and then goes back in at 11am on Black Friday? C'mon. This is family time man.

It makes more sense to me, honestly. Wouldn't they theoretically make the same sales at zero risk management of people killing each other, avoid spending more money on security, and making employees happy?

My wife was sneakily trying to get me a PS4 this weekend but thankfully I caught her (already happy with my PC, Switch, and 3DS; really didn't want one but appreciated the gesture) and said if she was planning on spending that money anyway on something we don't need, let's get her a Coach purse-- now a place like that, I can kind of understand might be preferable to go in and feel/touch versus online shopping. Still.

SusanGreenEyes posted...

If you knew they already did Thanksgiving on Sunday, then what was the point of coming over?

Just to visit. Appearances. I really hate going over there, my brother-in-law's a total dickhead and impossible to have conversation with. I'm always asking how his kids are for small talk to which he replies "a pain in my ass" or "being little shits." He made a Facebook post about how there's nowhere vegan to go out to eat on Thanksgiving (referring to my wife and I) and his wife made him take it down I'm guessing. We never asked to be catered to, he's just a complete jackass and easily the most negative person I've ever met.
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You mentioned Coach, and I see the point of going in to find what you like, but make it a weekend sale. Like Friday to Sunday only, regular shifts.
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Thirty3_1Third posted...

You mentioned Coach, and I see the point of going in to find what you like, but make it a weekend sale. Like Friday to Sunday only, regular shifts.

Even this. Yeah
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