Richmond, Va -
Shoppers dread and love day of deals.
Policies are changing at Walmart stores nationwide after a man was knocked to the ground and trampled to death at a Long Island, New York store on the day after Thanksgiving last year.
One thing Walmart will do is keep most of their stores open overnight on Thanksgiving to ease some of the crowding. A lot of people still remember that video of shoppers, eager to get their hands on big sales, mobbing their way into that Long Island store.
Black Friday is one of the craziest shopping days of the holiday season, with shoppers aggressively looking for deals on just about everything. This November 27th, Walmart says it will control customer flow throughout the store. Get people in and out of checkout lines quickly. And most stores will be open 24 hours for after-Thanksgiving day events.
Consumer experts say the down economy could make crowds more aggressive this year, as frugal shoppers look for discounts. "You know I'm hardcore at doing hard fun", says West End shopper Tara Borchers. "But, you know, I'm not going to fight for it. If somebody else wants it more than I do, let 'em have it."
The Target store in Short Pump says the company has been going over it's Black Friday policy for months. And priority one, says Target Guest Experience Executive Donna Joy Bolte, is crowd control. "So we can get guests in, in a fast, but organized way. We'll have team members stationed all around the store. We'll have all check lanes open so that we get guests out, while providing fast, fun and friendly service."
Fast, fun and friendly isn't always what people get during the holidays. That's why Richmonder Janet Porter avoids Black Friday like it's the Black Death. "I don't like to go where it's so crowded and the traffic is heavy. And I usually try and do my shopping before that and look for sales."
Policies are changing at Walmart stores nationwide after a man was knocked to the ground and trampled to death at a Long Island, New York store on the day after Thanksgiving last year.
One thing Walmart will do is keep most of their stores open overnight on Thanksgiving to ease some of the crowding. A lot of people still remember that video of shoppers, eager to get their hands on big sales, mobbing their way into that Long Island store.
Black Friday is one of the craziest shopping days of the holiday season, with shoppers aggressively looking for deals on just about everything. This November 27th, Walmart says it will control customer flow throughout the store. Get people in and out of checkout lines quickly. And most stores will be open 24 hours for after-Thanksgiving day events.
Consumer experts say the down economy could make crowds more aggressive this year, as frugal shoppers look for discounts. "You know I'm hardcore at doing hard fun", says West End shopper Tara Borchers. "But, you know, I'm not going to fight for it. If somebody else wants it more than I do, let 'em have it."
The Target store in Short Pump says the company has been going over it's Black Friday policy for months. And priority one, says Target Guest Experience Executive Donna Joy Bolte, is crowd control. "So we can get guests in, in a fast, but organized way. We'll have team members stationed all around the store. We'll have all check lanes open so that we get guests out, while providing fast, fun and friendly service."
Fast, fun and friendly isn't always what people get during the holidays. That's why Richmonder Janet Porter avoids Black Friday like it's the Black Death. "I don't like to go where it's so crowded and the traffic is heavy. And I usually try and do my shopping before that and look for sales."
