Please Boycott Walmart On Thursday

[signal]

    I don't work there. No one I know works there. I just
don't like the way they are messing with one of our few
real family holidays. I have worked retail for the last 17
years.
    Thanksgiving and Christmas (and Easter, the 4th of
July, Labor Day, Memorial Day and New Year's Day) are
times that families gather and celebrate. Dinners, or
barbecues, picnics, reunions, maybe some sports on TV,
you name it - that's what we do on these days (plus some
church services).
   When I started working retail 17 years ago, no one was
open for business on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or
New Years Day except a few convenience stores. Now look
at the private sector: Black Firday is turning into Black
Thursday. Walmart (and other retailers) want you to shop
on Thanksgiving at 6:00 PM. Ten years ago it was 6:00AM
on Friday. What's next? In a year or two it will start as 2:00
PM on Thanksgiving.
   Our local MacDonalds has a sign on their door that says
they will be open ALL DAY on Thanksgiving - and they mean
it, as they are now open 24 hours a day. Do we really need
a quarter pounder on the one day a year when people eat a
big dinner at home? Wendy's is open on New Years Day -
when most people sleep in late, and the men watch college
football all day. Going out for Burgers is NOT part of this
ritual.
  What is this doing to the people who work in these places?
How much disruption is it causing to their families? What if
you had to drive an hour to get to Grandma's house? How
can you eat there at 1:00PM, and then get back home in time
for an afternoon shift at work? Don't forget that if Walmart
opens its doors a 4:00PM, many employees will have to start
working at 3:00PM.
  I'm not saying shop elsewhere this holiday season. I'm
suggesting that the way to stop the erosion of these few days
of special family gatherings is to skip going out to shop or dine
on these days. There are plenty of opportunities to frequent
these businesses on the days before and after a holiday.

[2012Bedford]

I agree, we don't shop on Thanksgiving for nothing. I can see pharmacies, but I think it has gotten out of hand.


Shame.

[bedford wife]

Count me in.  I think it's nuts!  I will pass this on.

[BUZZARDCS]

Very nice post Signal and we thank you because it's true. I don't care how busy you think you are, take time for family and friends, the retailers can wait!  Our American values are what built this country as well as our heros who willingly enforce them with their lives.  Happy Holidays everyone !

[Hondo]

I will boycott every retailer on Thanksgiving.  In fact, just to show my support, I'll boycott Friday also!

[pinklady]

I totally agree with all that has been said.  For you baby boomers do remember when NOTHING was open on Sunday???  My mom worked in a grocery store and at least she was home on Sundays and holidays.  I think we might have had a Lawsons open on Sunday just for bread and milk etc.  I also would not shop in any store open Thanksgiving.  If I cannot be organized to get waht I need ahead of time then I guess we will do without.

[StopTheBurning]

Everybody wants to make sure THEY get your money and someone else doesn't.  Stores don't want to take a chance you'll go to a competitor because they are closed, then lose you altogether as a customer.

[DogLover]

I received Sundays flyers with my paper this morning and there is a
Kmart ad...they will be open all day Thanksgiving.. It sez doorbusters
start at 6 a.m.   So, I will not shop Kmart or Sears, and maybe next year,
if enough people boycot them, they will close and let their employees
have a holiday with their families.

[OnTheRun]

That's why I shop Amazon.  did all my Christmas shopping last year on Amazon and got unbelievable deals, free shipping, no tax and delivered right to my house.  Saved time, gas and didn't have to deal with crowds.  I could shop when I had the time and when the kids weren't around.   So love Amazon.  Groupon has some great deals also.  I know there will be those people who will chastise me that I am not giving the locals my business, I will shop where I get the best deals and if local businesses can give me those deals, I will certainly patronize those businesses.  Everyone is out for the best deal.

[Hondo]

Hey, it's your money!  Buy what you want where you want.

That's the way to do it.  I buy everything online.  Send the stuff to my neighbor's house and pay them to wrap the gifts.  I have all the time in the world.

[StopTheBurning]

Hondo,  I even found it better than buying anything since there an no little kids anymore.  Give them all cash and let them have fun after Christmas and they get twice the stuff for what I would have spent before Christmas.  Of course the wife wants stuff....

[J Hoffa]

As long as you are going to set conditions for holidays, how about veterans on Veterans Day.

If you are a public employee, you likely get a paid day off for veterans day regardless if you are a veteran or not.  On the other hand, If you are employed in the private sector, even if you are a veteran, you probably do not get a day off and you probably have to work.

So are we actually going to honor veterans or not?

I suggest we give all veterans the day off (with pay) and let the remaining work force (private and public) carry the work load.  No reason to give the non-veteran public sector a day off just because they work for the government.

[signal]

   Re: the comment on Veterans Day. I am a Vet, and I
don't remember the Army giving me the day off on Nov.
11th while I was serving in West Germany.
   Apparently the U.S. Government does not consider
members of the Armed Forces still serving as Veterans.

[bedford wife]

   Re: the comment on Veterans Day. I am a Vet, and I
don't remember the Army giving me the day off on Nov.
11th while I was serving in West Germany.
   Apparently the U.S. Government does not consider
members of the Armed Forces still serving as Veterans.

You aren't considered a "Veteran" until you go off of active duty.  We have service men and women who are "veterans" of specific actions (gulf war, Korean Conflict, WWII etc) but until you serve your initial service commitment, or are discharged earlier (honorably so) or retire, you are not a Veteran. 

[J Hoffa]

Signal,

I assume you understand that my remarks were fully intended to honor the service and commitment of veterans.

However, your response did cause me to search the net regarding the definition of veterans.  At lease from the government's standpoint, there doesn't seem to be a very clear answer.

The link below includes some interesting reading with associated responses from members of the service that just seems to generate additional confusion on the subject (which is apparently unclear to many).  Thought you might be interested.

http://armylive.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/11/what-im-not-a-veteran/

I see that BW seems to have a clear picture of when you become a vet.