The San Francisco Chronicle reports: “A Black Friday shopper was shot and critically wounded early today in a robbery attempt outside a San Leandro Walmart store.”
WSOCTV.com reports: “with shots fired at a mall in Fayetteville and a man arrested after an off-duty police officer used pepper spray at a Walmart store in Kinston” in North and South Carolina.
MSNBC reports: “An explosive device was found at a break room at a Wal-Mart in Cave Creek, Ariz.”
On one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year, Black Friday is not a pretty scene. Citizens across the country arrived in mobs, starting as early as midnight this morning, to be the first to receive discounted goods and low prices across the board.
Reports of injuries and hospitalizations due to this mob mentality, and related robberies, have been coming from states all around. The question one must ask is, is it worth it? Shortly after families calmly prepared a family meal, and shared pleasantries at the dinner table, it seems many put on their battle gear and stayed awake for a promised shoppers delight, though this was not a delight for all.
American consumerism is a strong force, and with a weakened economy it is no wonder many would flock to the chance to save some coin. The problem arises when shoppers take on an us vs. them mentality, and rationalize shoving granny out of the way to purchase that discounted toy or item of clothing. It seems this holiday becomes less of a bargaining tool, and more of a competition.
Remember, this is not the only chance for holiday shopping, more will be soon to come.
Cyber Monday is sure to be a safer bet, physically, as computer users will log on to find the best internet savings. The internet, unfortunately, is not completely safe either. Every year thousands are lured into scams and fraudulent activity on Cyber Monday by those who wish to take advantage of deal seekers.
For those of us in Oregon it is pertinent to report any problems to Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection committee. Stay safe, and be wary of anyone asking for personal information. For online shoppers it is best to Google any unrecognized emails or web addresses for reported consumer complaints, and check the web address to make sure it’s not a close imitation of an existing site. Happy Holidays.
Comments