News For Nerds: Black Friday ain't what is used to be

It’s that time of year again. No, not the time when choirs start caroling through neighborhoods and a big, jolly old elf checks his list for the second time.

While those days are rapidly approaching, I’m talking about the event that all nerds and tech lovers anxiously await each year with fervent passion — Black Friday.

The shopping extravaganza, which has been spun from a single-day skirmish into a week-long ultramarathon, is the time when video gamers, technology aficionados, gadget enthusiasts and many other shopaholics can pick up that item they’ve been eyeing for a fantastic price.

But let’s be real for a moment. The must-go-at-least-once experience has lost its once-shiny exterior.

These days, one can’t even call it Black Friday, since many stores are now opening their doors Thanksgiving morning or afternoon, moments after grandpa wakes up from his tryptophan nap (even though scientists have now proven that the chemical isn’t the cause for the absolutely necessary Turkey Day siesta). For example, Bass Pro Shops will begin welcoming shoppers at 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, one of earliest national chains to open on the holiday. Even bigger “big box” competitors aren’t open until several hours later.

If you really want a good belly laugh, get this: Dollar General will open at 7 a.m. and Kmart is unlocking front doors at 6 a.m. While there may be a slight need for last-minute, cheap cooking utensils to lift that big birdie out of its disposable roasting pan, does anybody truly need to rush out of their homes to catch a red light special that early on Thanksgiving morning?

As someone who worked a few Black Fridays when I was a part-time employee at Circuit City many years ago, I can say without pause that these retail stores should be ashamed. Back then, I had no problem showing up crazy early on the day after we gorged ourselves on tender bird meat, savory stuffing and tangy cranberry sauce.

In all honesty, it was actually kind of fun working at the former electronics retail giant, in that we knew the madness was only for one day. Plus, we weren’t working on a holiday when everyone else was enjoying a second helping of pumpkin pie, with a generous helping of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, while watching grown men pummel each other on a field of AstroTurf.

But to ask employees to simply forgo that time with their families and friends is just cruel. 

Sure, no one can blame capitalists for doing what they do best in seeking out the almighty dollar, but isn't there a time when even the greediest among us can allow a day to lapse without record-breaking sales?

However, all of the fault should not be thrust upon the shoulders of retailers. 

Consumers are just as guilty. Look at the true die-hards who turn up every year, breaking out their dusty tents to camp outside days before Black Friday, hoping to be the first to rush through a store's entrance. In fact, that fervor has led to unfortunate incidents, including people being trampled, verbal fights transitioning from fisticuffs to gun play, and sadly, even several deaths.

Because, let's face it, are the deals really that great? Are they worth the risk to safety and sanity? I won't deny that I have taken advantage of and enjoyed a few fabulous deals on some past Black Fridays, but I don't plan on ever parading through another store, and especially not on Thanksgiving.

Even those who closely follow the annual event have come to the realization that many shoppers are sick of the crowds.

“One of the trends that we're seeing this year is that for the first time we expect online Black Friday sales to exceed in-store sales,” said Jon Vincent, the co-founder of EarlyBlackFriday.com, a website that tracks and reports on the deals. “The main driving factors behind this are shoppers' comfort level with shopping online and avoiding the long lines and crowds, plus retailers' willingness to make almost all of the deals available to purchase online earlier than they are available in the store.”

However, people will still turn out, Vincent said, no matter what time or day it may be.

"While online shopping will dominate Black Friday this year, there will still be plenty of people that visit the stores," he said. "The shoppers we polled cited the shopping experience itself plus the availability of certain doorbuster items as the many reasons to visit the store."

So, how about you? Do you plan to brave the crowds and shop for deals? Let me know via email or social media at newsfornerdsbyjay@gmail.com, facebook.com/NewsForNerdsandGeeks/ or twitter.com/NewsForNerdsbyJ.