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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 07:39:31 AM

Title: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 07:39:31 AM
I'm currently on the odyssey from hell trying to get a new car seat for my son at Target. I stood in line yesterday starting about 30 mins before the store opened and they were sold out by the time I found the spot where they were supposed to be (though apparently they only had two to begin with). Then I went to another Target which had them in stock according to the app, but they were nowhere to be found. Now I'm back at Target waiting for them to open in 25 minutes. At least this time I'm the second person in line and I know where they are.

I also went to Macy's and they had what I wanted (a new set of kitchen knives), but the store was packed.

Anyone else make any Black Friday trips?
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: hotdogPi on November 23, 2018, 07:55:13 AM
I avoid Black Friday.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 09:47:59 AM
I hate Black Friday, although my wife did get an amazingly good deal on her wedding dress on Black Friday one year.

By the way, I suggest asking your friends for a hand-me-down child seat.  If you have friends who aren't planning to have any more children and theirs have recently outgrown a child seat, then there's a good chance they'd love to get rid of it for cheap and it still hasn't passed its expiration yet.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: MikeTheActuary on November 23, 2018, 10:23:09 AM
I observe "International Buy Nothing Day".
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 11:02:38 AM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 23, 2018, 10:23:09 AM
I observe "International Buy Nothing Day".

Second that for me. 
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 11:20:26 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 09:47:59 AMBy the way, I suggest asking your friends for a hand-me-down child seat.  If you have friends who aren't planning to have any more children and theirs have recently outgrown a child seat, then there's a good chance they'd love to get rid of it for cheap and it still hasn't passed its expiration yet.
We did buy his infant carseat used, which I wasn't too crazy about, since we didn't know if it had been in an accident. The one I bought today was 50% off full price and should last for 10 years, so I'm happy with the deal I got.

I am not happy with myself for voting for stores opening on Thanksgiving with my wallet, though, or engaging in a morally ambiguous move to get the carseat.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 11:25:15 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 11:20:26 AM
or engaging in a morally ambiguous move to get the carseat

Hey, for all you know, she was just faking being handicapped, trying to get sympathy from the other shoppers.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 11:32:33 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 11:25:15 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 11:20:26 AM
or engaging in a morally ambiguous move to get the carseat

Hey, for all you know, she was just faking being handicapped, trying to get sympathy from the other shoppers.
Haha. It wasn't THAT bad...
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: jon daly on November 23, 2018, 11:42:43 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 11:02:38 AM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 23, 2018, 10:23:09 AM
I observe "International Buy Nothing Day".


Second that for me. 

I have to gas up today, but I sympathize. I believe in regulated capitalism, but consumerism is not one of my favorite things.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: formulanone on November 23, 2018, 01:53:32 PM
I typically avoid shopping today. Then again, we're almost done.

When I worked at a grocery store, this day was traditionally the slowest day of the year.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: KEVIN_224 on November 23, 2018, 02:42:50 PM
I worked at a Stop & Shop in CT on this day a couple of times. Compared to the 7 Black Fridays I worked at a Walmart one town over, it was definitely easier on me. Walmart being open on Thanksgiving Day was only being proposed when I was fired in 2010. I believe Maine prohibits big box stores from opening on that day.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: 1995hoo on November 23, 2018, 02:56:33 PM
I'm sitting at home with a cold that appeared yesterday morning. Only place I plan to go is next door to feed our neighbor's cat because she had to go out of town for a family issue.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 03:12:41 PM
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on November 23, 2018, 02:42:50 PM
I worked at a Stop & Shop in CT on this day a couple of times. Compared to the 7 Black Fridays I worked at a Walmart one town over, it was definitely easier on me. Walmart being
open on Thanksgiving Day was only being proposed when I was fired in 2010. I believe Maine prohibits big box stores from opening on that day.
I really don't envy anyone working retail today or, worse, yesterday. I was shorter with some salespeople than I might have been otherwise over things that really weren't their fault.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 03:38:08 PM
Quote from: jon daly on November 23, 2018, 11:42:43 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 11:02:38 AM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 23, 2018, 10:23:09 AM
I observe "International Buy Nothing Day".


Second that for me. 

I have to gas up today, but I sympathize. I believe in regulated capitalism, but consumerism is not one of my favorite things.

Personally I'm just not a fan of crowds in general.  To a lesser degree I'm not exactly a fan of commercializing holidays.  So really there isn't much in this day for me outside of relaxing on the couch or going somewhere outdoors. 
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 03:47:22 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 03:38:08 PM
To a lesser degree I'm not exactly a fan of commercializing holidays. 

Same here.  It's one of the reasons I like Thanksgiving so much.  Pretty much all people do is get together, have a banquet, and sit around talking.  If they take the "thanksgiving" part seriously, then it only encourages them to be grateful for what they already have instead of rushing out to buy more stuff.  If only Black Friday weren't the total opposite of that...
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 05:06:56 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 03:47:22 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 03:38:08 PM
To a lesser degree I'm not exactly a fan of commercializing holidays. 

Same here.  It's one of the reasons I like Thanksgiving so much.  Pretty much all people do is get together, have a banquet, and sit around talking.  If they take the "thanksgiving" part seriously, then it only encourages them to be grateful for what they already have instead of rushing out to buy more stuff.  If only Black Friday weren't the total opposite of that...
And if they're responsible about the turkey they buy (if they buy one at all).
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: 7/8 on November 23, 2018, 05:53:53 PM
I saw this on Reddit :-D

(https://i.redd.it/wkyhfzo3uxz11.png)

I'm not sure if I've ever shopped on Black Friday, but I have shopped on Boxing Day (a similar ordeal). I remember the sales at Best Buy being very lackluster (not worth the traffic!)
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: jon daly on November 23, 2018, 06:06:49 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 03:38:08 PM
Quote from: jon daly on November 23, 2018, 11:42:43 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 11:02:38 AM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on November 23, 2018, 10:23:09 AM
I observe "International Buy Nothing Day".


Second that for me. 

I have to gas up today, but I sympathize. I believe in regulated capitalism, but consumerism is not one of my favorite things.

Personally I'm just not a fan of crowds in general.  To a lesser degree I'm not exactly a fan of commercializing holidays.  So really there isn't much in this day for me outside of relaxing on the couch or going somewhere outdoors. 

I worked. But it wasn't stressful. A lot of folks weren't in and I came in a little late and was out by 2:15. Traffic was a breeze, too.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 06:09:30 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on November 23, 2018, 05:53:53 PM
I saw this on Reddit :-D

(https://i.redd.it/wkyhfzo3uxz11.png)
If you like that, I recommend following Literally Unbelievable on Facebook or Tumblr.

I was disappointed to see Black Friday is a thing in the UK now when I traveled there two years ago.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: ce929wax on November 23, 2018, 06:15:07 PM
Other than a stop at Taco Bell for a non turkey lunch and to get gas, I have done nothing but play video games and work on a project.  I plan on playing hockey tonight and maybe watching a little TV.  Tomorrow, I will venture out to the dollar store for cat treats, some art supplies (I'm going to start drawing maps again), and part of Dad's Christmas present.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 06:47:41 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 05:06:56 PM
And if they're responsible about the turkey they buy

Would you mind explaining what that means?  I must be pretty dense.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Tonytone on November 23, 2018, 07:21:12 PM
Atleast gas prices are low!!! Thanks trump *pun*


iPhone
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 07:38:48 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 06:47:41 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 05:06:56 PM
And if they're responsible about the turkey they buy

Would you mind explaining what that means?  I must be pretty dense.
As long as they don't buy one of those genetically-engineered monstrosities, pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. To me that's as crassly commercial as getting in a fistfight over a Betsy-Wetsy doll.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 07:43:57 PM
And I will say that it was a lot easier to not observe Black Friday when I was childless, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how to handle Black Friday when my son is old enough to want to buy something that's part of a sale, as I drove from Target to Target yesterday and today. Maybe it'll end up being an important lesson in bait-and-switch sales tactics.

I support the principled stances those who choose not to observe it are taking.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: webny99 on November 23, 2018, 08:08:12 PM
Black Friday is an awesome day, but not because of the shopping.

Instead, it's a low pressure day at work and therefore a good chance to catch up. Also great: the lack of traffic. Probably the least traffic of any non-holiday weekday of the entire year. Note that is specific to freeways, residential and rural areas; certainly not traffic-free near a mall or shopping center.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: hbelkins on November 23, 2018, 09:04:43 PM
My parents always went shopping on the day after Thanksgiving when I was growing up, but it wasn't called Black Friday then. They were just called after-Thanksgiving sales. We usually had our letters to Santa written before then, my brother and I having perused the Sears, Montgomery Ward and JC Penney Christmas catalogs to find things we wanted.

Last time I went out into the mess was in 1980 (yes, that's not a typo) when I was a sophomore in college. I rode to Lexington with a friend of mine, and we actually ran into my parents and his parents in Fayette Mall. I also think I went to Walmart once or twice during the 1995-2001 period when we lived in Winchester and I was off, my wife had to work, and there was something she wanted me to pick up, but even 20 years ago it wasn't the exercise in lunacy it was back then.

My aversion to crowds and traffic jams means there's no way I would venture out into that madness. My wife loves it, more for the people-watching than finding bargains. I have neither the patience nor the tolerance for it.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: ce929wax on November 23, 2018, 10:19:43 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 23, 2018, 09:04:43 PMMy aversion to crowds and traffic jams means there's no way I would venture out into that madness. My wife loves it, more for the people-watching than finding bargains. I have neither the patience nor the tolerance for it.

I hear you, I hate crowds and shopping.  Usually if I want to shop for something, I hit up Amazon, unless it is something small. 
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 11:43:32 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 23, 2018, 03:47:22 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 23, 2018, 03:38:08 PM
To a lesser degree I'm not exactly a fan of commercializing holidays. 

Same here.  It's one of the reasons I like Thanksgiving so much.  Pretty much all people do is get together, have a banquet, and sit around talking.  If they take the "thanksgiving" part seriously, then it only encourages them to be grateful for what they already have instead of rushing out to buy more stuff.  If only Black Friday weren't the total opposite of that...

I wasn't even aware that there was such a thing called "Black Friday" until I stumbled upon it going into a Meijer in Michigan when I was 16.  I was just looking to get a soda and all I ended up with was an onslaught.  I didn't understand why anyone would want put themselves in crowds like that, nor do I now.  Thankfully when I was growing up my family never bothered with crap like Black Friday shopping, it was always about spending the entire weekend with family. 
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: wanderer2575 on November 24, 2018, 10:52:45 AM
Please be responsible:  Hold your phone horizontally when shooting video of other shoppers brawling.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: hbelkins on November 24, 2018, 05:41:43 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on November 24, 2018, 10:52:45 AM
Please be responsible:  Hold your phone horizontally when shooting video of other shoppers brawling.

So, how much violence was there this year? I heard a report of a fight at the Prestonsburg, Ky. Walmart. And saw a glimpse of a blurb about a shooting in Alabama somewhere.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: hotdogPi on November 24, 2018, 05:46:33 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 24, 2018, 05:41:43 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on November 24, 2018, 10:52:45 AM
Please be responsible:  Hold your phone horizontally when shooting video of other shoppers brawling.

So, how much violence was there this year? I heard a report of a fight at the Prestonsburg, Ky. Walmart. And saw a glimpse of a blurb about a shooting in Alabama somewhere.

42 million people dead, according to The Onion.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 24, 2018, 05:56:47 PM
Quote from: 1 on November 24, 2018, 05:46:33 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on November 24, 2018, 05:41:43 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on November 24, 2018, 10:52:45 AM
Please be responsible:  Hold your phone horizontally when shooting video of other shoppers brawling.

So, how much violence was there this year? I heard a report of a fight at the Prestonsburg, Ky. Walmart. And saw a glimpse of a blurb about a shooting in Alabama somewhere.

42 million people dead, according to The Onion.
1 million dead would be a tragedy, 42 million is a statistic.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: cjk374 on November 25, 2018, 12:52:51 PM
My father-in-law is an asst. mgr. at the Wally-Hell in Jonesboro, LA. He went to work at 11:30 a.m. Thanksgiving day. He called at 2:15, checking on the status of the delivery of his turkey dinner. He said tons of people had already filled their buggies with Black Friday merchandise, and planned on roaming around the store for 4 more hours waiting for the 6 p.m. sale start time so they could check out! That is freaking ridiculous!  :angry: :banghead:

I did not participate in Black Friday (or Thursday) anything. I was too busy frying turkeys. :cheers:
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: cjk374 on November 25, 2018, 01:02:30 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Including peace & quiet. Wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit if "cyber-Monday" completely replaced "black Friday"...I know it won't, but dreams can come true occasionally.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 25, 2018, 02:36:53 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.
Listen, it was a REALLY good deal on that carseat.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Tonytone on November 25, 2018, 02:44:54 PM
Ahh the commercialization of everything that requires spending money, I remember many years ago black friday started @12 Thursday night & maybe that caused more mess then starting @6 so multiple waves of people can go. But I also remember the holidays having more meaning then just shopping & eating, it was about seeing family & enjoying time off, as the jobs people have, only allow 5 real days off a year. Sheesh at least I work the other 360.


iPhone
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 03:14:47 PM


Quote from: Tonytone on November 25, 2018, 02:44:54 PM
Ahh the commercialization of everything that requires spending money


iPhone

Imagine that.

Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Then you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.  I'd rather see it, touch it, then buy it.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 25, 2018, 05:45:09 PM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PMThen you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.
And if you're lucky, you can return it to a brick and mortar store; if not, you have to pay to ship it back. Recently I bought some shirts from the Hanes website, realized upon delivery they were the wrong kind, and had to drive from Rogers Park to Aurora rather than pay an arm and a leg to return them by mail.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Tonytone on November 25, 2018, 05:57:22 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 25, 2018, 05:45:09 PM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PMThen you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.
And if you're lucky, you can return it to a brick and mortar store; if not, you have to pay to ship it back. Recently I bought some shirts from the Hanes website, realized upon delivery they were the wrong kind, and had to drive from Rogers Park to Aurora rather than pay an arm and a leg to return them by mail.
These two things right here ^^^ Online shopping is good for buying things for home & gifts, clothes is terrible to buy online, especially overseas. But if you have a store around, it would be easier.


iPhone
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: jon daly on November 25, 2018, 07:26:22 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 25, 2018, 05:45:09 PM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PMThen you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.
And if you're lucky, you can return it to a brick and mortar store; if not, you have to pay to ship it back. Recently I bought some shirts from the Hanes website, realized upon delivery they were the wrong kind, and had to drive from Rogers Park to Aurora rather than pay an arm and a leg to return them by mail.

My wife doesn't like trying on clothes in a store, so she buy's them online. I'm the opposite.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: MantyMadTown on November 25, 2018, 07:46:28 PM
I avoid any store that does their Black Friday on Thursday. I think it's wrong to make people work during Thanksgiving dinner so they can satisfy the needs of shoppers who aren't patient enough to wait a couple extra hours until midnight on Friday. They should be staying home with their families instead of doing shopping.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 26, 2018, 01:31:52 PM
Quote from: Tonytone on November 25, 2018, 05:57:22 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 25, 2018, 05:45:09 PM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PMThen you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.
And if you're lucky, you can return it to a brick and mortar store; if not, you have to pay to ship it back. Recently I bought some shirts from the Hanes website, realized upon delivery they were the wrong kind, and had to drive from Rogers Park to Aurora rather than pay an arm and a leg to return them by mail.
These two things right here ^^^ Online shopping is good for buying things for home & gifts, clothes is terrible to buy online, especially overseas. But if you have a store around, it would be easier.

I'm tall and skinny, so finding pants in a store that actually fit me is nearly impossible.  Western wear stores are my best bet, but the best one for that is about three hours away from me.  I wear a 29x34.  I think this year will be the first time I buy jeans online since high school (when I lived in a town of 1300 people, a couple of hours from the nearest mall, and was already tall and skinny).
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 26, 2018, 01:47:05 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 26, 2018, 01:31:52 PMI wear a 29x34
Yeah, that's an unusual size, all right.

Somehow I've found it even more difficult to shop for clothing online in smaller sizes than bigger sizes.  I don't know if bigger sizes are more consistent than smaller sizes, or if I just cared less about how clothing in bigger sizes looked on me, or what.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: SSOWorld on November 27, 2018, 04:17:16 AM
Stores have been moving anything except the most-selling off floor inventory and encouraging use of online shopping for the removed items. 
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 27, 2018, 06:48:04 AM
Quote from: SSOWorld on November 27, 2018, 04:17:16 AM
Stores have been moving anything except the most-selling off floor inventory and encouraging use of online shopping for the removed items.
Old Navy sure has - they've gone so far as to only sell slim-fit Oxford men's shirts in stores and direct customers to their website for regular-fit. Makes total sense from a business perspective, why waste retail store floor space on anything but the most popular items?
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:01:58 AM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Then you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.  I'd rather see it, touch it, then buy it.
I haven't had any issues with the few times I have had to return things.  Don't think I ever paid anything to return something to Amazon.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 27, 2018, 09:11:23 AM
Quote from: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:01:58 AM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Then you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.  I'd rather see it, touch it, then buy it.
I haven't had any issues with the few times I have had to return things.  Don't think I ever paid anything to return something to Amazon.
We had this delicate glass teapot that was on our Amazon wedding registry and one of our guests bought it.  Amazon had to send one to us three times because, the first two times, it wasn't packaged properly and it was in pieces by the time we got it.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:15:41 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 27, 2018, 09:11:23 AM
Quote from: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:01:58 AM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Then you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.  I'd rather see it, touch it, then buy it.
I haven't had any issues with the few times I have had to return things.  Don't think I ever paid anything to return something to Amazon.
We had this delicate glass teapot that was on our Amazon wedding registry and one of our guests bought it.  Amazon had to send one to us three times because, the first two times, it wasn't packaged properly and it was in pieces by the time we got it.
Ouch.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Brandon on November 27, 2018, 09:21:15 AM
Quote from: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:01:58 AM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Then you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.  I'd rather see it, touch it, then buy it.
I haven't had any issues with the few times I have had to return things.  Don't think I ever paid anything to return something to Amazon.

Well, I've got to return something purchased online.  They want the shipping fee and the restocking fee (a bullshit charge if there ever was one) deducted from the return value of the item.  It kind of sours me on online shopping.  If bought in store, then I could've looked at the item immediately and asked a clerk if it would fit my car.

I fear that as we go more online, we're losing the human interactions necessary for life.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: US71 on November 27, 2018, 09:31:46 AM
"Avoid the Line" so I ordered a new walking pole on-line from Dick's Sporting Goods to pick up in the store. I waited so long for someone to help me it would have been faster to have walked in, picked up the pole, and wait in line to check out. But I saved 30 percent by ordering on-line for pick up
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 27, 2018, 09:54:09 AM
Quote from: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:15:41 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 27, 2018, 09:11:23 AM
Quote from: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:01:58 AM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Then you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.  I'd rather see it, touch it, then buy it.
I haven't had any issues with the few times I have had to return things.  Don't think I ever paid anything to return something to Amazon.
We had this delicate glass teapot that was on our Amazon wedding registry and one of our guests bought it.  Amazon had to send one to us three times because, the first two times, it wasn't packaged properly and it was in pieces by the time we got it.
Ouch.
As far as returning items, it's miles better than it used to be now that you can drop some items off at Kohl's.  Before that, and after they stopped shipping items many items in reusable boxes and started using single-use envelopes, I'd have to scrounge for packaging I could use to send it back.

Free shipping on returns is a rarity with e-commerce.  Amazon, Zappos, Groupon Goods offer it.  With many other companies, you have to pay to send it back.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 27, 2018, 09:55:30 AM
Quote from: US71 on November 27, 2018, 09:31:46 AM
"Avoid the Line" so I ordered a new walking pole on-line from Dick's Sporting Goods to pick up in the store. I waited so long for someone to help me it would have been faster to have walked in, picked up the pole, and wait in line to check out. But I saved 30 percent by ordering on-line for pick up
I've had this happen with in-store pickup at Best Buy so many times, it's not funny.  Sometimes it's faster than wandering around the store trying to find what I want, sometimes, well, not.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: PHLBOS on November 27, 2018, 12:08:57 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 07:39:31 AMAnyone else make any Black Friday trips?
Short answer: no. 

For the most part, except when my nieces were very young (over 15 years ago); my Christmas gift shopping typically involves purchasing gift cards (this year, I purchased all of them several days before Thanksgiving) for family members which can be done at anytime.  While some will say such is too impersonal/practical/convenient, given that I only see my family members while in Massachusetts (I reside in southeastern PA) during most holidays; purchasing gift cards I know they'll actually use (be it from places I know where they shop or one of those use-anywhere types) makes the most sense.

Traditionally, the Friday after Thanksgiving was a time when my brother, father (prior to his 2012 fall, he died last year) & I would head into Marblehead, MA (where we grew up) and have lunch at one of the local restaurants near/at the downtown area.  This year was the first year we didn't do that (we stayed home (my brother's place in Sturbridge)); although last Saturday, my brother & I did drive to Marblehead to check on my mother's house (we're still in the process of emptying stuff out of it), we did not do the restaurant thing though.  Assuming that her house (she died about 3 months after my father) is finally sold this time next year (such is my family's only remaining tie to Marblehead); our traditional lunch day-trip to Marblehead may not happen again... at least not on the day after Thanksgiving.  Time will tell.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: hotdogPi on November 27, 2018, 12:58:03 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

I use a lot of parentheses, too. You might not have noticed it, though, as I usually don't post several paragraphs unless it's the OP of a thread.

I also use a lot of semicolons.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: english si on November 27, 2018, 01:03:21 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on November 23, 2018, 06:09:30 PMI was disappointed to see Black Friday is a thing in the UK now when I traveled there two years ago.
90% of it is emails from firms who have discounted Thursday-Monday (Cyber Monday after all). Outside a few independent shops trying to increase footfall, it's just supermarkets selling 'discounted' TVs that they charged a lot for in the first place, so the offer isn't very good.

There was that one bit of argie bargie at ASDA Wembley a few years ago, but otherwise it's next to nothing - it came, but didn't stick. My local Tesco had maybe 10 TVs at the beginning of the day, placed near the entrance with the former price and the offer price, but that's it - I saw a TV or two in trolleys, and there were only three left, but it was after lunchtime, so they didn't really go quickly. More publicity and hype was given to the fact the Christmas trees had arrived (as it was a month before), and more space at the entrance to the pallets of boxes of Christmas chocolates they moved in Nov 1 and have slowly gone down (that will speed up soon, especially as the offer they have on them only has about 2 weeks left),
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 01:03:39 PM
Quote from: Steven Wright
Sometimes you can't hear me, it's because sometimes I'm in parentheses.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 27, 2018, 01:03:53 PM
Quote from: 1 on November 27, 2018, 12:58:03 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

I use a lot of parentheses, too. You might not have noticed it, though, as I usually don't post several paragraphs unless it's the OP of a thread.

I also use a lot of semicolons.

I'm usually using a lot of parentheses as well (to fine tune my points, usually). 
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: formulanone on November 27, 2018, 01:24:13 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

Sparker is also fond of them (so I've noticed from my occasional abuse). (And misuse.)
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 27, 2018, 01:24:37 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 01:03:39 PM
Quote from: Steven Wright
Sometimes you can't hear me, it's because sometimes I'm in parentheses.
I hate when my leg falls asleep during the day, because that means it'll be up all night.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: ET21 on November 27, 2018, 03:09:16 PM
I go out with friends mainly, but avoid shopping malls. This year I was driving to Wisconsin so I missed all the mall nonsense
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: webny99 on November 28, 2018, 08:08:07 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

Well, he closes more parentheses than you, but I'm not sure he opens more than you.  :rofl:

I use plenty of parentheses, too (and sometimes I wonder if readers forget that it's a parenthetical and have to go back and piece everything together (like they are doing now, no doubt  ;-) )).
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: jon daly on November 28, 2018, 08:30:33 PM
I've used brackets, too (when I've had a parenthetical thought within a parenthetical thought,) but it never got to the point that the thoughts were so nested that I had to resort to {braces.}
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 29, 2018, 10:43:07 AM
Quote from: jon daly on November 28, 2018, 08:30:33 PM
I've used brackets, too (when I've had a parenthetical thought within a parenthetical thought,) but it never got to the point that the thoughts were so nested that I had to resort to {braces.}

I stopped caring long ago about nesting different shapes of brackets–instead just nesting round brackets (parentheses) inside other round brackets.  I tend to use square brackets and curly brackets (braces) for uses other than parenthetical phrases.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: english si on November 29, 2018, 12:28:58 PM
Went to the shops today - the amount of 'Black Friday' signs surprised me - not least as the offers they promoted were on until tomorrow (as the end of the month), and started the Monday before Thanksgiving - so nearly two whole weeks. Some even had 'Cyber Monday' (which the UK has had from day 1) even though it was in the physical shop.

I guess it's just branding for the "do your Christmas shopping early" sales that have been around for a while, but it irritates me that they just don't call it whatever they called it in the '00s and save 'Black Friday' for deals specific to the day.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Scott5114 on November 29, 2018, 02:21:02 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 27, 2018, 09:01:58 AM
Quote from: Brandon on November 25, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 25, 2018, 12:58:06 PM
Shop online.  I finally got sick of shopping and not finding what I wanted.  Online, ypu can find anything.

Then you get it, find it's broken from the shipment, find it doesn't fit, & then you've got to return it.  I'd rather see it, touch it, then buy it.
I haven't had any issues with the few times I have had to return things.  Don't think I ever paid anything to return something to Amazon.

I was going to ask where on Earth he was buying something from that required he pay return postage. Most of the returns my wife has done (I am usually too lazy to return things and will just repurpose them or give them to someone that can use them if possible) have either emailed us a prepaid return label to affix to the package, or will simply tell us to throw away the wrong or damaged item.

The only time I would expect to pay return postage is if I was simply returning an item that there was nothing wrong with (e.g. I didn't want it anymore, I wasn't paying attention and bought the wrong thing, etc.).  It would be unfair to expect the merchant to cover the cost of my error in those situations anyway.

Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 27, 2018, 01:03:53 PM
Quote from: 1 on November 27, 2018, 12:58:03 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

I use a lot of parentheses, too. You might not have noticed it, though, as I usually don't post several paragraphs unless it's the OP of a thread.

I also use a lot of semicolons.

I'm usually using a lot of parentheses as well (to fine tune my points, usually). 

I tend to overuse em dashes (–) myself.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: kphoger on November 29, 2018, 02:25:24 PM
A co-worker of mine mentioned just the other day that he bought an item on Amazon from a vendor that stipulated "no refunds for any reason."  His item was shipped to an entirely different state.  That vendor also apparently has a lot of poor reviews stating that their items were shipped to completely different addresses as well.  When he called Amazon, they said they'd attempt to get the money back from the vendor.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: abefroman329 on November 29, 2018, 03:11:04 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 29, 2018, 02:25:24 PM
A co-worker of mine mentioned just the other day that he bought an item on Amazon from a vendor that stipulated "no refunds for any reason."  His item was shipped to an entirely different state.  That vendor also apparently has a lot of poor reviews stating that their items were shipped to completely different addresses as well.  When he called Amazon, they said they'd attempt to get the money back from the vendor.
And that is exactly why I'd rather buy from Amazon than directly from the vendor: I'd expect Amazon to perform some sort of due diligence on my behalf to get my money back.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: sparker on November 29, 2018, 06:14:10 PM
Quote from: formulanone on November 27, 2018, 01:24:13 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

Sparker is also fond of them (so I've noticed from my occasional abuse). (And misuse.)

Yeah -- it -- and my propensity for semicolons -- comes from years of writing academic papers  -- and later position papers for clients.  A lot of my post-posting edits come when I realized I haven't closed a parenthesis, or the phrase would be better served by a semicolon.  OK -- I'm also guilty of using double-dashes on a pretty regular basis, for much the same reasons as the other stuff.  Oh well, I'm not about to change my writing style after 50+ years of submitting various pieces -- to reiterate an overused phrase, it is what it is! 
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: slorydn1 on November 30, 2018, 02:24:33 AM
Quote from: sparker on November 29, 2018, 06:14:10 PM
Quote from: formulanone on November 27, 2018, 01:24:13 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

Sparker is also fond of them (so I've noticed from my occasional abuse). (And misuse.)

Yeah -- it -- and my propensity for semicolons -- comes from years of writing academic papers  -- and later position papers for clients.  A lot of my post-posting edits come when I realized I haven't closed a parenthesis, or the phrase would be better served by a semicolon.  OK -- I'm also guilty of using double-dashes on a pretty regular basis, for much the same reasons as the other stuff.  Oh well, I'm not about to change my writing style after 50+ years of submitting various pieces -- to reiterate an overused phrase, it is what it is! 

Besides parenthesis (I mean, we all use them) my guilty pleasure is periods of ellipsis......

That comes from almost 22 years of sending PIN messages (aka teletypes in a much older era) where we don't actually type in full sentences (hell sometimes not entirely complete words, either)-but we still really feel the need to show that one thought has ended........

I am sure this drives the grammar Nazi's nuts but hey, this isn't the final exam for my doctorate in Language Arts, either.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: jon daly on November 30, 2018, 05:54:43 AM
Quote from: sparker on November 29, 2018, 06:14:10 PM
Quote from: formulanone on November 27, 2018, 01:24:13 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

Sparker is also fond of them (so I've noticed from my occasional abuse). (And misuse.)

Yeah -- it -- and my propensity for semicolons -- comes from years of writing academic papers  -- and later position papers for clients.  A lot of my post-posting edits come when I realized I haven't closed a parenthesis, or the phrase would be better served by a semicolon.  OK -- I'm also guilty of using double-dashes on a pretty regular basis, for much the same reasons as the other stuff.  Oh well, I'm not about to change my writing style after 50+ years of submitting various pieces -- to reiterate an overused phrase, it is what it is! 

I use three hyphens --- to represent a dash. I know there's a way to do it with ASCII, but I'm not the coding type.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: hotdogPi on November 30, 2018, 06:00:55 AM
Quote from: jon daly on November 30, 2018, 05:54:43 AM
Quote from: sparker on November 29, 2018, 06:14:10 PM
Quote from: formulanone on November 27, 2018, 01:24:13 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

Sparker is also fond of them (so I've noticed from my occasional abuse). (And misuse.)

Yeah -- it -- and my propensity for semicolons -- comes from years of writing academic papers  -- and later position papers for clients.  A lot of my post-posting edits come when I realized I haven't closed a parenthesis, or the phrase would be better served by a semicolon.  OK -- I'm also guilty of using double-dashes on a pretty regular basis, for much the same reasons as the other stuff.  Oh well, I'm not about to change my writing style after 50+ years of submitting various pieces -- to reiterate an overused phrase, it is what it is! 

I use three hyphens --- to represent a dash. I know there's a way to do it with ASCII, but I'm not the coding type.

On a Mac, it's shift-option-minus for an m-dash (the typical one) and option-minus for an n-dash. It's not quite as easy on Windows, though.

Also, it's not ASCII; ASCII only contains the characters you can type on your keyboard normally (plus a few non-printable control characters), as it has to fit within 7 bits.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: qguy on November 30, 2018, 06:53:52 AM
Quote from: 1 on November 30, 2018, 06:00:55 AM
Quote from: jon daly on November 30, 2018, 05:54:43 AM
Quote from: sparker on November 29, 2018, 06:14:10 PM
Quote from: formulanone on November 27, 2018, 01:24:13 PM
Quote from: kphoger on November 27, 2018, 12:56:29 PM
I finally found someone who uses more parentheses than I do!   :)

Sparker is also fond of them (so I've noticed from my occasional abuse). (And misuse.)

Yeah -- it -- and my propensity for semicolons -- comes from years of writing academic papers  -- and later position papers for clients.  A lot of my post-posting edits come when I realized I haven't closed a parenthesis, or the phrase would be better served by a semicolon.  OK -- I'm also guilty of using double-dashes on a pretty regular basis, for much the same reasons as the other stuff.  Oh well, I'm not about to change my writing style after 50+ years of submitting various pieces -- to reiterate an overused phrase, it is what it is! 

I use three hyphens --- to represent a dash. I know there's a way to do it with ASCII, but I'm not the coding type.

On a Mac, it's shift-option-minus for an m-dash (the typical one) and option-minus for an n-dash. It's not quite as easy on Windows, though.

Also, it's not ASCII; ASCII only contains the characters you can type on your keyboard normally (plus a few non-printable control characters), as it has to fit within 7 bits.

In Windows, ensure number lock is on, then hold the ALT key down and type 0151 for an m-dash and 0150 for an n-dash. (It's usually expressed as ALT+0151 and ALT+0150.) Just about any alternate character, as they are known (like é, ñ, ö, ê, ç, ï, etc.), can be inserted with an ALT+4 code.

Or you can open the Character Map function and cop something fro there.
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: MNHighwayMan on November 30, 2018, 08:21:27 AM
Quote from: qguy on November 30, 2018, 06:53:52 AM
In Windows, ensure number lock is on, then hold the ALT key down and type 0151 for an m-dash and 0150 for an n-dash. (It's usually expressed as ALT+0151 and ALT+0150.) Just about any alternate character, as they are known (like é, ñ, ö, ê, ç, ï, etc.), can be inserted with an ALT+4 code.

Or you can open the Character Map function and cop something fro there.

That's what I do. I have several ALT codes memorized for characters I use frequently, including the em and en dashes as well as the ellipsis...
Title: Re: Black Friday
Post by: Scott5114 on November 30, 2018, 08:52:47 AM
Linux has this nifty option called a Compose key that you can set to take over one of the useless keys on the keyboard–say, that pointless menu key, or one of the Windows keys. (I'm using a keyboard from 1987 so I use right Alt.) This allows you to build characters up from a number of keystrokes. For example, all you have to have to do to make an em dash is hit Compose and enter three hyphens.

Most of the key entries make sense: ø is Compose + / + o, ñ is Compose + ~ + n, → is Compose + - + >, etc. Amusingly, Compose + C + C + C + P creates ☭.

Far easier than memorizing alt codes, and I don't know why any other OS hasn't implemented it, considering Unix has had it since the 80s.