The following is more of a "train-of-thought" rant, than a well thought out article. Please forgive me if it lacks greatly in style and grace.
Last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I sat down to write my column for next weeks edition of the Pioneer Tribune. I would like to mention now, in brief, the context of the column and I think that I can do so without giving the whole thing away in advance. I wrote about the Christmas shopping season being upon us and I touch lightly on what has become known as "Black Friday", and the insanity that goes along with it. Those of you who know me will surely understand how the following will only add fuel to my disdain for the "big box" stores.
As it would turn out, Friday truly would be a black day and it was due to the frenzy that is created by the corporate retail industry and the people waiting like wolves at doors of these establishments on Friday morning.
As you have probably heard by now, a temporary worker at a Wal-Mart store in New York was trampled to death by a savage crowd of 2000 "bargain hunters", who literally destroyed the front doors of the store and stampeded into the building. Obviously the old saying "it's the thought that counts" was lost on this group. there was no thought into their actions, it was wanton mindlessness. As far as I'm concerned, there was no thought in the actions of Wal-Mart, locally or corporately, either.
I know that this is a bit of a "chicken or the egg" scenario but if the major retailers weren't promoting 2 hour sales that required the mindless shoppers to line up at the door and wait until the store opens, this death most likely never would have occurred, Likewise, if the mindless shoppers didn't line up for these sales, the retailers wouldn't have them and once again, death averted.
So angry was I when I read about this tragedy that I immediately went to Wal-Marts website to find an email address where I could lodge a complaint against their practices. I am not a person who uses foul language, in my speaking or my writing, but it was everything I could do to not tell Wal-Mart what I really thought of their practices and what i really thought of the greedy animals that wait at their doors.
Here is the letter I sent to Wal-Mart:
SHAME ON YOU WAL-MART! SHAME ON ALL RETAILERS WHO PROMOTE THIS SHOPPING BLOODBATH! SHAME ON THE GREEDY BASTARDS THAT PUSH THEIR WAY INTO YOUR STORES ON BLACK FRIDAY! Now someone is dead as a result of the greed of you and the animals who force their way into your store. Please tell the family of that poor worker to have a Merry Christmas, I'm sure they will understand. It truly is black Friday. I am so angry but I will refrain from telling you what I really think of stores like yours and the people who line up waiting for the doors to open. I hope you are sued to the point that you lose everything you may have gained on this day. Whatever you pay will never be enough.
I doubt that my letter will do anything, if it is even read, but I couldn't just sit there and not say something. I don't know how many people will read this and I have lees of an idea of how many people will agree with my opinion on this subject but I would hope that if you do agree with me, even only in part, that you too will contact Wal-Mart and let them know how you feel.
I hold all of the retailers who use these sales tactics and all of the people who line up for these sales equally responsible. You can't have one without the other.
I can't imagine being the recipient of a "gift" that was purchased at that particular Wal-mart store on Friday morning. I can't imagine having the nerve to have even made a purchase. Shame on those animals.
If you would like to let Wal-Mart know how you feel, you can leave feedback for them at this link http://walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx
Last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I sat down to write my column for next weeks edition of the Pioneer Tribune. I would like to mention now, in brief, the context of the column and I think that I can do so without giving the whole thing away in advance. I wrote about the Christmas shopping season being upon us and I touch lightly on what has become known as "Black Friday", and the insanity that goes along with it. Those of you who know me will surely understand how the following will only add fuel to my disdain for the "big box" stores.
As it would turn out, Friday truly would be a black day and it was due to the frenzy that is created by the corporate retail industry and the people waiting like wolves at doors of these establishments on Friday morning.
As you have probably heard by now, a temporary worker at a Wal-Mart store in New York was trampled to death by a savage crowd of 2000 "bargain hunters", who literally destroyed the front doors of the store and stampeded into the building. Obviously the old saying "it's the thought that counts" was lost on this group. there was no thought into their actions, it was wanton mindlessness. As far as I'm concerned, there was no thought in the actions of Wal-Mart, locally or corporately, either.
I know that this is a bit of a "chicken or the egg" scenario but if the major retailers weren't promoting 2 hour sales that required the mindless shoppers to line up at the door and wait until the store opens, this death most likely never would have occurred, Likewise, if the mindless shoppers didn't line up for these sales, the retailers wouldn't have them and once again, death averted.
So angry was I when I read about this tragedy that I immediately went to Wal-Marts website to find an email address where I could lodge a complaint against their practices. I am not a person who uses foul language, in my speaking or my writing, but it was everything I could do to not tell Wal-Mart what I really thought of their practices and what i really thought of the greedy animals that wait at their doors.
Here is the letter I sent to Wal-Mart:
SHAME ON YOU WAL-MART! SHAME ON ALL RETAILERS WHO PROMOTE THIS SHOPPING BLOODBATH! SHAME ON THE GREEDY BASTARDS THAT PUSH THEIR WAY INTO YOUR STORES ON BLACK FRIDAY! Now someone is dead as a result of the greed of you and the animals who force their way into your store. Please tell the family of that poor worker to have a Merry Christmas, I'm sure they will understand. It truly is black Friday. I am so angry but I will refrain from telling you what I really think of stores like yours and the people who line up waiting for the doors to open. I hope you are sued to the point that you lose everything you may have gained on this day. Whatever you pay will never be enough.
I doubt that my letter will do anything, if it is even read, but I couldn't just sit there and not say something. I don't know how many people will read this and I have lees of an idea of how many people will agree with my opinion on this subject but I would hope that if you do agree with me, even only in part, that you too will contact Wal-Mart and let them know how you feel.
I hold all of the retailers who use these sales tactics and all of the people who line up for these sales equally responsible. You can't have one without the other.
I can't imagine being the recipient of a "gift" that was purchased at that particular Wal-mart store on Friday morning. I can't imagine having the nerve to have even made a purchase. Shame on those animals.
If you would like to let Wal-Mart know how you feel, you can leave feedback for them at this link http://walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx
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