This guy was first in line at the Walmart. He reports he got there at 2 a.m. to make sure he got an Xbox and some games. Also some oranges and grapes, he joked. Bathroom breaks? Around the corner, at least until the line extended back there.
Not refugees. Walmart customers.
Shoppers at the Dedham Best Buy were luckier - the store provided a couple of port-a-potties. People there seemed to be there mostly for the wide-screen TVs. One guy said he didn't even need one, so his kid'll be getting a 40-incher.
Waiting for TVs.
God only knows what people at the Dedham Sears were waiting for. There were shorter lines at the nearby Toys R Us, Old Navy and Game Stop. And 2 people in front of the Radio Shack.
We couldn't believe Building 19 in Norwood was shut tight. And we couldn't believe the waste of electricity at all the closed stores and car dealerships along Rte. 1 - why do they have all their lights on all night? Props to Bezema Motors - their lot was dark.
Last year:
Occupy Best Buy.
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Comments
Those faces really bring out the warmth
By Brian Riccio
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 1:11am
of the holiday season, don't they?
This is insane!
By anon
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 11:25am
People go out of their heads flocking to the stores at midnight to line up for an X-box, a huge-assed TV, or whatever happens to be on sale that suits their fancy. It's crazy indeed! I'm reminded of the horrific tragedy when that temp worker at a Wal*Mart Store got trampled to death by a frenzied, unstable and unruly crowd who'd gathered outside the store in order to get one of their huge TV's that were on sale. Here's hoping that store managers have better ways of crowd control and are able to prevent, or at least minimize the chances of having a repeat of that episode.
Flood of people at South Shore Plaza
By adamg
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 1:34am
By Kevin Lilly
Don't get it.
By anon
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 8:44am
My idea of Hell on Earth.
Sheeple
By anon
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 10:43am
It is a phenomenon completely manufactured by the media, and the usual sheeple are more than happy to go along with it. They feel they are participating in something that is "the thing to do". The bargains offered are essentially no different than those that can be found a few days before or a few days after.
Crazy-as-bedbugs Sheeple is more like it.
By anon
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 11:29am
This:
is incredibly concise and to the point! Way to go, anon!
Serving their country
By BreadNButter
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 5:54pm
Sadly, our economy depends on this phenomena. These people in line are the true patriots who consumption ultimately trickles up to keep the rest of us employed.
I suspect
By anon
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 6:37pm
I suspect all this merchandise would have eventually been bought up anyway, without a specifically designated day for people to act like idiots.
We need more laws!
By btmitch
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 9:10am
Why aren't these people inside sleeping? Call your legislature! The time to fight is now! No one should be outside on Thanksgiving, because I said so! This is a family holiday, and we won't rest until everyone is forced to have a good time, goddamnit! The beatings will continue until morale improves!
What should really be done, regarding "Black Friday",
By anon
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 11:48am
is that store managers, especially managers of these huge box stores, should issue and firmly implement a "first-come, first-served" basis. A certain number of tokens or tags (one per person, of course.) should be issued out to people who arrive before the stores open up, thus limiting the number of people who enter a store at one time, and, when these tags or tokens run out, turn people away who came too late for the first-come, first-served policy.
Occupy Retail
By SwirlyGrrl
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 12:06pm
Camping out, standing in large groups, gathering to petition for redress of grievances per first amendment - MUST BE STAMPED OUT!
Camping out, standing in large groups, gathering to riot over cel phones and holiday "bargains" - SACRED.
Wide Screen tv
By Nancy
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 12:49pm
No one needs a 40 inch wide-screen tv. I'm a grown ass adult and I have a smaller tv than that yet somehow I manage to have a reasonably happy existence.
Well very clearly your life
By foxorian
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 6:11pm
Well very clearly your life would be ECSTATICALLY happy if you had a 40-incher.
You're missing out on MORE HAPPYNESS.
I'm 51 years old with a bum ticker
By Brian Riccio
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 1:15pm
and I'm glad I won't be around for the day these idiots riot over fresh drinking water and the thought of a 40 inch TV will be forever gone from their tiny little minds.
There's a simple fix, folks.
By FlyingToaster
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 7:01pm
And it doesn't require new laws, enforcement, or frankly, effort.
Don't shop. Stay home with your family or go out for a walk or something.
Or, as some wag said on Twitter today: "Millions of liberals thrilled to discover not leaving bed on Black Friday is suddenly a political statement."
First pic: immediate caption
By anon
Mon, 11/26/2012 - 11:10am
First pic: immediate caption should be "ridiculously photogenic early morning shopper"