Black Friday Obliterated: A Sign of the Times

I think it’s appropriate to write this post today, the traditional beginning of Christmas shopping. Now, I’ve rarely been masochistic enough to get up at the crack of dawn to punch my way to the front of the Elmo doll line, but historically, this has been a tremendous day for shoppers looking to score great deals for the holidays.

This year? Not so much. With the economy down the toilet, retailers started pushing aggressive sales in early November. Stores like Kmart and Kohl’s started sales early, and Kmart even added prize giveaways with Disney to entice shoppers. Seems it’s like pulling teeth to get people to spend money these days.

Wal-Mart is creating Value Bundles of items that sell well to generate more sales. The Nintendo DS can be purchased with games and accessories for $149.

I could be wrong, but if you go out today, the crowds might be a little thinner. You might not break a bone this year.

If you’re sadistic enough to go out on Black Friday, check out this site that lists all the savings.