Huy Vo stood sheltered from the scavengers ravaging his surroundings.
The scavengers had only one objective: to shop.
Barnes and Noble was chaotic, full of ravenous shoppers, their carts overflowing with discounted items. They frantically swiped every credit card in their wallets and strategically removed items one-by-one until they were able to escape from Vo’s register with their spoils.
“It was horrific. Those are some of the most terrifying consumers on the face of the earth,” said Vo, who is relieved that he won’t be working behind the register on Black Friday this year.
This year, some stores have decided to open on Thanksgiving night. Wal-Mart announced it will open its doors at 8 p.m. and Wal-Mart at 9 p.m on Thanksgiving.
Christina Zoch, a Cal State Long Beach junior fashion merchandising major and Old Navy employee, said the store’s management decided to hold a Black Friday debriefing meeting to prepare for the store’s opening at 12 a.m. on Friday. Employees role played different scenarios that included techniques for handling irate customers.
“A lot of customers are going to be frustrated,” Shelby Walker, a student enrolled in CSULB Open University and Macy’s employee, said. “[Macy’s] just hired hundreds of new employees, and they don’t know anything.”
Macy’s will open at midnight and continue its Black Friday sale until 1 p.m. Saturday.
Moji Majekodunmi, a junior political science major, said that she has never tried her luck on Black Friday.
“Although I’ve never attended Black Friday … I’ve always thought the sales were amazing deals that would be good for people trying to do some Christmas shopping, to increase their wardrobe or to haul in some electronics,” Majekodunmi said. “However, I’ve never gone because I’m either too broke or too tired.”
Oralia Rubio, a senior sociology major, said she will not shop on Black Friday this year either.
“I have shopped on Black Friday a few times,” Rubio said. The first time I went to Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. to get in line because I wanted to get a new flat screen TV.”
The following year, Rubio said she decided to shop online and she received the same deals she would have gotten if she braved the cold and crowds.
Gaby Martinez, a junior business marketing major and Abercrombie and Fitch employee, said she was warned by her managers for the upcoming shopping holiday.
“I was told by my managers that people line up like crazy, to drink a lot of Red Bull and to be prepared,” Martinez said.
