Attention bargain shoppers – Black Friday is coming to a Thursday near you. That's right, Walmart is getting this year's shopping party started early by throwing open its doors on Thanksgiving Day.
"Our customers told us they would rather stay up late to shop than get up early," a Wal-mart press release explains. So starting at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday, they're offering "Black Friday" deals on everything from big screen plasma TVs (only $489!) to DVDs (starting at $1.96!). Wal-mart isn't the only retailer jump-starting the holiday shopping season by holding earlier-than-ever openings for savings-hungry customers. Oh no. Kmart and Toys "R" Us are also planning to get in on the T-Day action. And for the first time Best Buy, Macy's, Target and Kohl's say they'll open at midnight on Thanksgiving.
Cue customer backlash. While it's true that millions of shoppers have made a sport of Black Fridays in the past – this year, some consumers are saying enough is enough. They don't want the shopping frenzy creeping into their Thanksgiving festivities or ruining the holiday for retail employees who might have no choice but to work. Nordstrom, meanwhile, seems to be taking the slightly higher road. Signs in their stores say, "We won't be decking our halls until Friday, November 25. Why? Well, we just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time. From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving."
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What do you make of all this? Will you be lining up for hot deals, turkey leg in hand? Or are retail giants going too far this year?