Christmas shopping usually starts on "Black Friday" the day after Thanksgiving. It is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year as folks head out to catch early sales. Last year, however, Wal-Mart bucked the trend and put popular items on sale a few weeks before Thanksgiving, and, because they are the leader in the retail industry, other stores followed. But this year, Wal-Mart is putting popular toys on sale by October 10th. That's right, October 10th. That's three weeks before Halloween and seven weeks before Black Friday! SEVEN! For those of you keeping track, it's also just two and a half weeks after the start of fall, and 11 weeks before Christmas. The reason for this crazy move? Well, in short, Wal-Mart, and the rest of the retail industry, is desperate. With the economy in such dire straights this could be the worst holiday shopping season in more than 15 years.
What do you think? Will we see Christmas shopping starting in September next year?
Here are a few stories from Reuters and the Associated Press.
Posted by Taylor - October 1, 2008 09:32 AM - In The News
Wanted to let everyone here know that every time I see one of your commercials on TV -- you know, the ones with the contemptable distortions and outright lies -- you only increase my resolve to shop more often at Wal Mart. After I saw your ad showing communist Chinese soldiers, I started doing ALL of my grocery shopping at Wal Mart! (I never shopped for groceries there much in the past.) Last month I spent over $600 at Wal Mart.
I would like to support our local independent stores more, but your lies and distortions are making it very difficult for me to do that. I feel I have to fight you and your propaganda campaign. And the only way I know how to do that is to spend as many dollars at Wal Mart as I can.
Posted by Not Fooled - October 1, 2008 11:46 AM
Not Fooled:
What "contemptable distortions and outright lies" are you referring to? Can you give some examples of where the ads lied or distorted the facts?
As far as I know, the ads this group puts out point to facts like "Wal-Mart is the #1 importer of Chinese goods" or how many Chinese made products were recalled.
What exactly is your issue with this campaign, I'm curious.
Posted by BackStageLeftist - October 1, 2008 01:46 PM
This year Walmart allows to post their Black Friday ads, but not too early
http://blackfriday.dealspl.us/news?id=6
Posted by John - October 1, 2008 07:17 PM
Make sure you check your Christmas gifts for lead this year. China ain't gonna stop, as long as we keep buying from them.
Posted by Doug - October 2, 2008 11:04 AM