The Gadget Blog » Wal-Mart

Black Friday Sales Performance Key to American Economic Future?

Rico Mossesgeld — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:00:36 +0000

Over drinks yesterday, my friend shared an insight. Thanks to my hangover, I’ll have to paraphrase everything:

Him: “Would you know how well retailers did during Black Friday?”

Me: “Not yet, I think it’s too early to tell. I’m sure a report will come out soon.”

Him: “Well, all I’m saying is that if people don’t buy this year, even with the low prices, things must be really bad.”

Me: “From what I’ve seen, things look good. Did you read about that Wal-Mart temp employee killed in a buyer stampede?”

Him: “Oh yeah… so there were lots of buyers right?”

Me: “Well if that case is any indicator, yes. You need lots of people to trample someone to death.”

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Bloodsport Friday: Capitalism at its Worst

Rico Mossesgeld — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Great job America! Retailers become generous (or “generous”) for Black Friday and this is what happens? You’ve just played out Lord of the Flies for the whole world to see. And for what? Cheaper TVs to see grown men bang each other at even better detail? Computers to download porn?

First off, over at a Toys R Us in Palm Desert, bad blood between two groups of shoppers led to a gunfight that left 2 dead. Now it isn’t clear if these events are tied to Black Friday (in fact Toys R Us came out with a statement implying such to cover their ass), but the timing of the shooting isn’t just a mere coincidence, no? (source and image: latimes.com)

Next, an employee of the Wal-Mart Valley Stream outlet died during the 5am Black Friday store-opening stampede. The ugly mob smashed through windows, injuring four other people (including a woman 8 months pregnant) and “sending others scurrying atop vending machines to avoid the horde.” The poor fellow’s fellow employees had to fight their way through to rescue their doomed colleague from the crush. Worse, the crowd even stepped over some cops arriving on the scene trying to give the temp worker some CPR. Oh well, at least you can expect the Damours—family of said victim—to win a healthy settlement from Wal-Mart, especially after the grief caused by people screaming “I’ve been on line since Friday Morning” while the area was being cleared. (source and image: nydailynews.com)

Based on these new accounts, maybe stores should start providing personnel with guns. After all, guns are intimidating enough to keep the discount-starved wolves in line. It really was a Black Friday, folks.

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T-Mobile G1 Early Adopters Whining Like Apple iPhone Counterparts

Rico Mossesgeld — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:00:37 +0000

Remember when Apple slashed the price of the first-gen iPhone by $200? That led to a lot of whining by early adopters, who for some reason felt suddenly stupid spending a premium to be the first owners of the “exclusive” phone. And Apple caved in, giving the early adopters $100 credit for the Apple store.

Looks like the same thing happened with the T-Mobile G1, at least for one writer online. Originally offered for $180, Wal-Mart came along and spoiled the fun by offering it for $30 less. That prompted “Andrew R Hickey” to blast Wal-Mart for offering something cheaper, trying to disguise his disgust by raising—quite honestly—stupid arguments over Wal-Mart being Wal-Mart and the price drop coming a week after the G1’s initial release.

As commentor bug661 so aptly wrote: “‘It’s Wal-Mart’? How is that a reasoned line of argument? A store can sell whatever they want. Don’t whine.” Check out the whole brouhaha here.

(image from wired blog)

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