Black Friday 2009

Yes, it's not even Halloween. But some of the Black Friday sales are already leaking out ...

http://gizmodo.com/5387587/its-that-time-of-year-officemax-is-the-first-black-friday-ad-to-leak

(Edit: 2010!?! Yeesh, I meant 2009.)

 

It makes sense. With credit tight, I can see stores pushing layaways, getting sales locked in early. Three weeks ago I saw an ad selling Christmas cruises, two weeks ago I began seeing ads for the new Christmas Carol movie, last week I began seeing pseudo "door buster" ads from big retailers. Yeech.

 

How much for Black Tacos?

 

Eating a black taco on Black Saturday, while listening to Black Sabbath.

 

Sears ...

http://gizmodo.com/5391757/sears-black-friday-ad-leaks-boatloads-of-cheap-hdtvs/gallery/

 

If this isn't a slow Christmas for consumer sales, then Americans are idiots and I've completely lost faith in our long-term viability.

With unemployment high and credit getting increasingly expensive, surely we won't find a way to borrow a bunch more money this year?

 

I, for one, am a big fan of Black Friday. It's the only sporting event I participate in these days.

But this year I'm hard pressed to think of something I actually need from Black Friday sales.

 

I never buy on Black Friday. I just sit in the food court and enjoy the fact it's the greatest people-watching day of the year.

 

With a car payment for the first time in my life, and an actual, honest-to-Delhomme attempt to improve my credit by the time I need another car, I fear Black Friday may be out for me this year.

Which is honestly the hardest cut I'll have to make.

 

I've been seeing Thanksgiving commercials since mid-September and saw my first "this will make a great Christmas present!" ad before Oct. 1. I've also been seeing K-Mart layaway for Christmas commercials for at least two-three weeks now.

 

For the first time in a long time, I have the Friday after Thanksgiving off.

Do you think I'd spend it in a crowd of crazed shoppers, spending money that I don't really have?

Nope. I'll be rubbing my belly and thinking of turkeys passed.

 

The Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas is already putting up Christmas decorations on the exterior of the store.