Are You Going to Shop ON Thanksgiving Day?

[aviastar]

When I worked in restaurants in college, I LOVED working Thanksgiving day. I was too far away to go home and couldn't afford the time off work anyway. And I made probably double a regular evening shift in that one day, everyone is in a great mood, you also get to eat the yummy thanksgiving food at the restaurant...it was great.

But my mom is an RN, so my family is very familiar with Thanksgiving breakfast, Thanksgiving on Friday, Christmas presents at 8 p.m....we just worked around whatever shifts she worked. So I am not sentimental about celebrating on the day or at a specific time.

I am all about the citizen boycott- vote with your dollars! But I don't support legislating the operating hours of private business. If we demonstrate that there is no demand for them to be open, they won't be; but if there is a demand (and it appears that there is) why shouldn't they be able to meet it? And all the people in the Macy's parade- in costume, in set up, clean up, production, broadcasting- they are all working, too. As are the football players and sports casters, production crew, stadium staff, etc for the game on in the afternoon. And all the people at the networks who keep the programming going. So if you really want to boycott to support NO WORK on Thanksgiving, you should probably keep your TV off.

 

[HollyS]

HI:

What if one goes out to eat on Thanssgiving--does that count?

cheers--Sharon

I have been out on Thanksgiving. I'm not proud of that.

I will say that the places I went to have had their holiday dinners for decades, it was their tradition and special to them, and my NOT going wasn't going to stop it from happening. (I'm talking about country inns and places that specifically open for the holidays and count on people to book.)

But, chain restaurants? No. Don't go. Cracker Barrel can have turkey on Friday. Their workers deserve a day off.

 

[zoebartlett]

Holly, I'm with you in thinking that my NOT going won't prevent restaurants from serving holiday feasts.* I've been to a restaurant on Thanksgiving a few times, and they were locally owned places, not chains. Sure, it's not homey and it gives the day a different feel, but it was fine.

* I think that way about shopping on the holidays, too. I just don't see stores stopping this tradition they've set up. While it's not my cup of tea, I'm sure there are lots of people willing to get a bargain any day, even on a holiday. Plus, people who work in retail or other places where there's a chance to work on a holiday, might WANT to work then, for various reasons.

We have gone to the movies on Thanksgiving night, and it sort of a tradition for a few years. Why not?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

We have gone to the movies on Thanksgiving night, and it sort of a tradition for a few years. Why not?

Yeah, I was wondering about thoughts on movies...usually it's the day after for those in our family who go, but it's changed this year to thanksgiving day. Dh and I are going to watch Redbox movies instead, however our kids are going. I don't like packed theatres! I feel bad for the theatre workers...to work on that day and be stuck sweeping popcorn off the floor when they could instead be home with family.

 

[coda72]

I own a bar, and we are open Thanksgiving. Usually it's been my husband and I that work it. But you would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't) about how many people have nowhere to go on Thanksgiving, or don't have any family (or any close by). We are usually quite busy that day, and we give people free turkey and trimmings that come into our bar. This is one of the few years that we may not work since we have bartenders that are working it, but we may still stop in to see how things are going.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I own a bar, and we are open Thanksgiving. Usually it's been my husband and I that work it. But you would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't) about how many people have nowhere to go on Thanksgiving, or don't have any family (or any close by). We are usually quite busy that day, and we give people free turkey and trimmings that come into our bar. This is one of the few years that we may not work since we have bartenders that are working it, but we may still stop in to see how things are going.

That is really sweet of you guys! Makes a tremendous difference to those who don't have a place to go on Thanksgiving!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

[I'm actually very happy that a few of you have posted the same sentiment. I hope that, by having a bunch of people refuse to shop on Thanksgiving day, the stores will realize how wrong the situation is, and not open the next years. There are current lists of places to 'ban' on Thanksgiving, if anyone's interested. They're posted all over the web and on Reddit.

Wow, I just looked at and clicked on some links. Just bizarre comments...don't have much hope for humanity... lol!

 

[VRBeauty]

I own a bar, and we are open Thanksgiving. Usually it's been my husband and I that work it. But you would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't) about how many people have nowhere to go on Thanksgiving, or don't have any family (or any close by). We are usually quite busy that day, and we give people free turkey and trimmings that come into our bar. This is one of the few years that we may not work since we have bartenders that are working it, but we may still stop in to see how things are going.

What a wonderful tradition!

 

[Dancing Fire]

are there stores open on Thanksgiving Day?...

 

[Laila619]

H*ll no.






(Good one, Rosetta!)

Ditto!

 

[Laila619]

Not me! I hate crowds, but my DH says he is looking for a bowling alley for my DS. So he is considering going to sears to find it. Because DS is special needs and this is the first time he has ever brought an ad to DH and pointed out a toy. Now it is my DHs mission in life. Unfortunately, they are sold out everywhere

Aww, that's so sweet! I hope your DH finds one.

 

[Missy]

I just heard on the news (and not sure how they know this so might be totally wrong) that 2/3 of Americans will not be shopping on Thanksgiving thursday or Black Friday. That means the majority will not be shopping though 1/3 seems like a pretty significant amount of shoppers.

 

[Skippy123]

are there stores open on Thanksgiving Day?...

I just found out they are! people are shooting themselves in the foot!

 

[zoebartlett]

So I'm curious to see what deals people got.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

We went to a movie yesterday and there were lines around the block at Best Buy and people in tents. Then we drove by Toys R Us out of curiousity and there was a line also around that store AND when I came to a complete stop, a car came up behind me and honked for me to move! There was only that car and me and the driver was already super pushy! Made me glad I'm not going out today!

 

[lulu]

Nope. Never have. Never will. Don't get it.