Walmart Black Friday: Discount giant to keep stores open 24-hours on Black Friday
Filed under: Shopping, Black Friday
News crews everywhere must be very disappointed. In an effort to avoid the stampeding crowds on Black Friday, Walmart will keep most stores open for 24 hours, beginning Thanksgiving through the end of the following day. Sales begin at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, but lining up and rushing the doors won't be part of this year's festivities.
Walmart is busily implementing safety precautions after last year, when a store employee was trampled to death in Valley Stream, N.Y. Walletpop has been providing some fun tips on how to handle Black Friday, but not getting killed is certainly top of that list. With bargain hunting at a fevered pitch, Black Friday safety is more important than ever.
Walmart hasn't yet identified which stores will be open for those Black Friday hours, but those normally open for 24 hours will not have any changes. The retailer announced it is developing a plan with safety experts in the sports and entertainment fields to develop better ways for shoppers to get into, and navigate the store, including around promotional displays.
Maybe this Black Friday will more closely resemble a shopping event than the running of the bulls.
Watch "The Black Friday (Can't Get No Zhu Zhu Pet) Blues
An original music video from WalletPop.com to get you in the Black Friday mood!
Click here for more great Black Friday coverage!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-13-2009 @ 7:27AM
Nick P said...
This is nothing but a ploy by walmart to take their employees away their families and mess up their Thanksgiving. Stores that were open 24 hours in prior years still had people trappled in the store but fortunately no one was killed by the penny starved "customers"
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11-15-2009 @ 3:18PM
a walmart employee said...
we have always been a 24 hour store. the number of associates on thanksgiving day is mostly volunteers to work the holiday. on the friday afterwards is when we all are there in the early hours for the special shopping hours(5-11) then most of them go home. we do not take the associates away from family dinners unless they want to work that day.
11-13-2009 @ 8:04AM
lorrie said...
i'm sorry to say whats the bog deal most walmart stores ARE always 24hrs!! get on with something that might really make us excited!
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11-13-2009 @ 8:42AM
Robert said...
people getting trampled to death in a retail store shows not only how stupid people are but how far we as a civilization have come from the stone age..... NOT VERRY FAR.
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11-13-2009 @ 9:52AM
queenwoowho said...
I agree with you Robert, it's very sad.
11-13-2009 @ 9:40AM
Monika said...
Walmart always claims to be family oriented!!!!! What a bunch of crap, employees cant even enjoy Thanksgiving with their families. And I understand,if you dont show up for work on Thanksgiving, you are FIRED.So much for family oriented Walmart. How greedy can you get?????
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11-13-2009 @ 11:01AM
Scott said...
You sound like an ungreatful lazzy American! Whos loves to say "It's NOT MY JOB!".While there are tens of thousands who are unemployed. Then complain when Mexcans come and take our jobs. Or complain when they forgot somthing at the last second, and all the stores are closed. I was born & raised in the USA by a single mom who had to work 3 part time jobs to put a roof over our head & food on the table. She never took a dime from ssi or unenployment. That is what I'm thankful for, a loving mom who tought me how earn my own way! I have worked on thanksgiving before, and when I got home there was food in the fridge & a fridge in the house that I payed for.
11-13-2009 @ 2:09PM
janette said...
I am upper management for Wal-mart and in being in retail working Holidays is just part of it. This is all up front when you accept a position with us. We serve dinner to our associates Thanksgiving day and Black Friday. And no they don't get fired if they don't show up!
11-17-2009 @ 8:52AM
yaz cordo said...
Nurses, doctors and other hospital workers work all holidays-get used to it.
11-13-2009 @ 10:11AM
Artist said...
Horrible...these employees have to take time and not enjoy Thanksgiving with there family...why because of a bunch of Greedy people!!! can you just take a day out of your life and not do business give it a rest, there is happiness in the world too and money and material things are not the only thing that give happiness. Our family takes a day out of the week where we do not conduct any business and we do not buy things, it really feels good to take a day and get away from all that, not even window shop or grocery shop or work, just relax a day!
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11-13-2009 @ 10:37AM
Laurie Sterritt said...
Thats why I don't work retail!!! I got out of that after I started a family!! I guess its your turn!! We are NOT greedy just tyring to save $$.
11-13-2009 @ 3:24PM
Beth said...
There are all kinds of jobs where holiday work is part of the job. You know that when you accept a position. Don't whine when you have a job just because you have to work on a holiday.
11-13-2009 @ 10:40AM
Mary said...
My gosh! This not being able to spend a holiday with your family! In my day there was no such thing!
People always got the BIG holidays off.........Thanksgiving, Chirstmas, New Year's and even EASTER!
Does anyone remember the "Sunday Blue Law?" Remember when you couldn't even buy MILK on a Sunday? Imagine implementing that in these days........how would people even cope?
I believe in making stores accessible with today's so busy lifestyle, but within reason as it only benefit's the corporate mogul's of these companies and robs the people from their families.
NOT good!
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11-13-2009 @ 12:55PM
susan said...
My husband doesn't work retail, but still doesn't have any of the major holidays off. He works at a state park and has to be there to cook for the people who are staying at the state park that day. When he gets home, there's always food in the fridge for him.
Many people do not get the major holidays off. It's nothing to whine about, it's just something that people have to do. What about all of those people who do not have jobs this holiday season who would be thrilled to work on Thanksgiving? There's more to life than a holiday where one sits and eats WAY too much.
11-13-2009 @ 1:02PM
Bob said...
What's the difference what your job is: nurse, doctor, airline pilot, retail worker? Why is WalMart any more EVIL than Delta Airlines or the local emergency room. When you take a job you know what the expectations are and if you agree to it then you work when your EMPLOYER needs you, not when YOU feel like working. Let's stop some of the retail bashing!
11-13-2009 @ 10:42AM
otrpu said...
Just what we need, another reason for the common man to act like a bunch cattle. Morons.
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11-13-2009 @ 11:14AM
Jetti said...
As for the Walmarts being open on Thanksgiving they close the night before at 5 pm and reopen Black Friday but this year may be different. For the penny pinchers I take offense to that, some people cant afford Christmas without Black Friday not only that I believe we are due bigger savings every once in a while due to high prices. As for working holidays you all need to remember the ones that manufacture the products to sell you. Alot of them work all holidays because it is too expensive to shut down for a day and start back up which will in return raises the prices of the product. Where the problem lies is people that can't act like civilized human beings and you are blaming the stores.
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11-13-2009 @ 12:17PM
Brenda said...
If you work in the Retail industry then you can expect to work Holidays, that is just the way it is and the way it has been for a long time. Stop whinning about not being with your families on the Holidays. How about not being employed at all, then you can be with your family EVERYDAY. Be thankful this Holiday season for the blessings in your life, like employment. If you don't like your employer's policy on working holidays then find another job. Its still a free america.
Many Families need the saies to survive the Holidays. Not to mention the many lonely people that don't have family to be with during the Holiday. They are glad to have something to occupy their time.
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11-13-2009 @ 1:19PM
Charlotte said...
Dang, you said it all in one mouthful! I always used to work holidays when I had a job in retail. It was not a big deal. The paycheck made up for it. Let me tell you, that when your little angels wake up on Christmas morning to find that Santa did not come because daddy got laid off and there was no money to buy a tree or any gifts wrapped in ribbons and colorful paper, that is worse than going to work. Have any of you gone shopping lately? Have you not noticed that you pay more for less everywhere you go? Why is going to a sale to try to save much needed cash so wrong?
11-13-2009 @ 12:46PM
hotrodqd said...
are there on line only deals going on ? what a pleasant experience that would be ....dont even have to leave your home ...wow that would be alot safer eh ? how about free home delivery or shipping as well ? or is it just another gimmick to get you in the stores and has nothing to do with ...safety issues ....or the compassion for struggling consumers ?
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