Now I love the holiday season…don’t get me wrong. And I’m sure many of you do, too. (And if you live in Western Washingon as I do, you’re likely to be confused about what season this is anyways.)
However, am I the only one slightly annoyed by overly eager retailers such as this:
Yes…that’s right. This Friday Target has declared “Black Friday,” which I find completely ridiculous since Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, not some random Friday in July. Now I’m not opposed to seeing them do some killer one-day only type deals, but really…another name, perhaps? (Thanks for the heads up, Frugal Coupon Living)
Target isn’t the only one confused about the time of year, either.
The Consumerist reports that Sears “has already gotten up full Christmas-themed displays, just in time for Labor Day” and that Macy’s is already hyping up Santa’s pending arrival.
Last November, I decided to dedicate hours of my life to pouring over Black Friday ads. You can imagine my frustration when some stores *cough SEARS* decided to do “every Saturday is Black Friday!” type sales for the entire month. This made it extremely challenging to pinpoint when the best sales actually were occurring. Retailers, you keep this up and no one is going to give a fart about your Black Friday sales when November 26 finally does roll around!
So even though I woke up to fog and had to bundle my kids in coats and hats before heading out this morning, please stores, my calendar still says it’s July. Let’s live the dream of summer for at least a few more weeks. Please?
Are you already thinking about shopping for the holidays? Do you think tactics such as these demonstrate a certain desparation on the part of the retailers? Or do you wish “everyday could be Christmas?”
Photo credit Pit Klad
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I am not even thinking of that. I am thinking back to school and we are planning on hitting the outlets for black friday the true black friday
While I do not know if I will shop the Target sale, I do pick-up Christmas items year round. I don’t intentionally go shopping, but if I see something (normally stocking stuffers) I will pick it up. And I have been known to pick-up an ornament or memento on vacation for my kids’ stocking. And some of the back-to-school sale items make great gifts too! I have also eyed some freebies as gifts.
I do exactly what you say too. It’s just the retailers that are trying to promote “holiday sales” that gets me!
Ok, I’m must confess untill last year I was one of those who waited till the last week or two before christmas, But last year starting in May I was opended to the world of couponing and saving Money So I also started shopping for the holiday in July,
I thought and my husband did also that I was a nuts doing this, having 5 children and two grandchildren to shop for was 90% done by Sept. and let me tell you in years before we kept to 2 or 3 gifts per person, starting in July there were Double that person, Now All thats well and good right… in Sept My husband was laid off from his job he has had with the same company for 30 years We never thought it would happen to us, I mean 30 years going from $900 a week income to $349 a week thanks to couponing and stockpiling we made it Christmas was one of the best we have had in years, we were able to pay bills it was tight but not near what could have been if I had not found our new life style, Thanks be to God we were one of the lucky ones he found a job in jan, that was better then the one he laid off from a $5 and hour pay increase, am I shopping in July you bet!!! Black Friday here I come, Because you just never Know.
Again, I’m all for stockpiling gifts throughout the year…I just don’t know how I feel about stores pushing holiday themes way in advance.
I was driving up to Seattle yesterday and saw a sign for a Haunted House. In July? I thought it was an old sign, leftover from last year. But upon closer inspection, I concluded they were just advertising early. I’m all for stocking up on Christmas presents early as excellent deals present themselves, but come on, let me enjoy my summer!!
I agree with you about the merchants pushing Christmas too early. It has really taken the fun out of Christmas for me. I no longer look forward to Christmas. I have always bought Christmas presents throughout the year and will continue to do so but I find I am buying less and less each year because it isn’t a special time for me any more. My father once told me that his family didn’t even put up a Christmas tree until Christmas Eve and then there were few presents if any. Seeing Christmas being promoted so early annoys me because it is all about whether or not the merchants will make a profit. They really don’t care whether you have a wonderful Christmas or not. I think Christmas should be about making family traditions that your children will long remember and will past on to their children.
I think you understood where I was headed with this post! The only thing I’d say is…don’t let retailers take the fun out of the season for you!
ITA about making Christmas about traditions. Well said!
I do agree with you. No need to call it “Black Friday”- wouldn’t they have gone a lot farther if they called it something else and suggested stocking up for Christmas?
I stockpile all year round- in fact when Target had their clearance in February I got the majority of birthday gifts and some Christmas gifts for my kids, nieces and nephews. Planning ahead is great, and is helps the wallet, but lets not start up the Christmas music already, people!