I don't like Walmart. I never really felt comfortable shopping there, but I understand that sometimes it's the cheapest option for someone on a budget. But I always have had sort of a morbid curiosity about Walmart on Black Friday and the awful stories that came with it. I kinda wanted to see the horror for myself. I don't really know why...maybe it was the fact that I had the clear opportunity to do it and it IS one of those once a year things. So last night I actually went.
All the ads said sales were starting at 10pm, but I noticed a lot of items weren't going on sale until midnight. I admit, I foolishly thought I might be able to get my hands on some of that merchandise, because a $50 blu-ray player does sound like a great deal. I at
least thought I might be able to walk away with a few DVDs. Boy was I wrong. I got there right before 11 and the line went around the parking lot. It moved fairly quickly so I made it inside, where already people were starting to push and shove. I eventually made it to the electronics department. They had a bunch of merchandise that was wrapped up in black plastic, which obviously wasn't going to be uncovered until midnight. I overheard people saying that they had been standing next to this mystery merch for five hours. Yeesh. I'll wait in line for midnight premieres, but I don't think I would do that for a DVD player.
So when midnight hit, I got to witness the madness in all its glory. It was every bit as crazy as the news reports make it out to be - it wasn't just a mad rush, it was a fucking
free-for-all. People grabbing for electronics, blu-ray players, stereo systems like their life depended on it. I made no attempt to grab something myself since it actually ended up being more fun to watch. I think the best way to describe it was like watching a pack of starving hyenas descending upon a dying zebra. Security rushed in, they were threatening to clear out the store, and there was a group of teenagers on the side lines, video taping all of it on their iPhones. Come to think of it, I actually wish I had brought my video camera.
Maybe that'll be an idea for next year. I won't shop for anything, I'll just film. Because it really is like a train-wreck, it's horrible but you just can't look away from it. So after the displays had been stripped clean of all electronics, I decided I'd had my fill and walked out with nothing. I was there for less than two hours but hey I can kinda say I had fun, in a dark sorta way. XD
Tags: black friday, walmart
Current Mood:
busy