Bargain hunting – American style
Black Friday is said to be a big sales day after Thanksgiving in America.
In Valley Stream, New York, shoppers were so desperate to get some of those bargains, that a worker at the Walmart store there was crushed to death. A police statement said shortly after the store’s 5am opening time, shoppers "physically broke down the doors, knocking (the worker) to the ground". A 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital for observation, and she and the unborn baby were both reported to be OK, said Sgt. Anthony Repalone, a Nassau County police spokesman. Four or five other people suffered minor injuries, he said.
Apparently even as paramedics were trying to save the worker, shoppers continued to stream past them to get to the bargains.
To be fair, this sort of thing isn’t just an American thing. We have the post Christmas sales here and it gets a bit wild at opening time then. It was probably just a matter of time before someone was seriously injured or killed.
But the other shopping adventure is one that is classically American, because that is the only place in the world that is crazy enough to allow citizens to carry guns as they go about their daily business.
This happened in Palm Desert, California. Two women got into a fight. One woman suddenly started punching the other woman, who fought back as blood flowed from her nose. The man who was with the woman being punched pulled a gun out, and in response so did the man with the other woman. After a bit of a chase around the store (Toys’R’Us, by the way, so this would have all happened in front of families with children), the two men ended up shooting each other dead.
Initial suspicions by authorities are that these shootings were not over a disputed toy, but there was a pre-existing dispute between those involved.
Only in America!
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It’s so bloody ridiculous.No ‘bargain’ is worth that.To some extent though,the store owners are to blame with all the hoo ha.Rush in! Bargains!etc etc.And anyway,what’s the matter with you Ian?Doesn’t everybdy carry a gun when they go shopping? Sheesh!
It’s about time they came up with something called “shopper’s rage.” After all, we have road rage and if you saw some of these shoppers they aren’t much different!
Cheers!
I heard about these stories on the news this past weekend. I was completely shocked. Are material things really more important then a persons life. NO! So sad to hear the Walmart employee didn’t’ make it. I avoided going out this year on Friday. Saturday shopping was so much more pleasant.
Kezz – I make do with a knife and crowbar when I go bargain hunting. (Actually this reminds me of a sign I saw in New York a couple of years ago, that said No Weapons – I think it was on the fence of a park.)
Michelle – I hate shopping with the crowds. Much rather do it when its quieter and less crowded.
Hi there, first of all I love the name of your web site and everytime I think of it I laugh out loud. The contents of this posting would be comical if it wasn’t so serious. kind of like parents punching each other out at kids’ sporting events, which happens alot.
Everything I own was either handmade by me or somebody else, picked out of the trash or bought at a second hand shop. I can’t imagine anybody stampeding a Goodwill store….!
What in the world…??
Whenever there’s a HUGE sales or ‘up to 80% discount’ sales, count me OUT. I rather spent a little bit more and not getting hurt while enjoying my shopping. The tragic about the Walmart guy is so unworth it! pity..
Yes, it’s insane what happened. As consumers, we are all trying to make do and get as much as possible for each dollar spent. Lately my family and I have been doing more research before buying anything, and have also done more online shopping and looked harder for better deals. We have not stopped spending, however.
One of the online sites we have found to be useful is:
http://www.uberi.com
They do have some interesting bargains listed that are not available even on price search engines. We were able to get more for each dollar. Hope that’s useful info for some.