WalMart Sending Letters Regarding Ad Release Date ~ Black Friday 2009

[YouPdWhat]

WalMart is already making their rounds sending out notices regarding the release of their Black Friday Ad.

HCW as of yet has not received any notices but when & if we do I will post so to keep you informed. Those that have received notices read something similar to the following ( paraphrasing ):

Received notice from Walmart 's legal representatives stating that the release date for the Walmart Black Friday ad this year is November 23rd. The letter states that we are not allowed to post the ad until that time.

As like last year we ( HCW ) are disappointed with this decision by WalMart. However, last year Walmarts ad was released earlier than the stated date so hopefully that will be the case this year.

[kval07]

Maybe it is to prevent a repeat of last year's fiasco where that worker was killed?? No preview, no 5,000 people in line maybe?

[ldbush]

As much as I'd hate to see no preview, I don't think this will reduce people from coming to BF at walmart because people might come anyways knowing that they'll for sure have some bargins and b/c walmart will price match other local ads! (got a wii fit from them for 69.99 -kmart ad price match)

[YouPdWhat]

Maybe it is to prevent a repeat of last year's fiasco where that worker was killed?? No preview, no 5,000 people in line maybe?

They did the same thing last year & it obviously did no good. WalMart needs to come up with a ticket system like Best Buy.

Most WalMart stores are always a mad house. My DIL was knocked down & run into with a cart one year. Totally uncalled for. I saw employees & managers standing around laughing at the masses of people running & knocking people down. I was speaking with an employee the next day & was told that the tape was shown at the employees morning meeting & everyone was sitting around laughing. SHAME on WalMart!!

A WalMart in the next town uses a ticket system & they don't have the problems like the other store.

I know people can & will be unrully but personally I blame WalMart for not doing something to take control of the situation. People are going to behave in the manner in which they are allowed.

[kval07]

They did the same thing last year & it obviously did no good. WalMart needs to come up with a ticket system like Best Buy.

Most WalMart stores are always a mad house. My DIL was knocked down & run into with a cart one year. Totally uncalled for. I saw employees & managers standing around laughing at the masses of people running & knocking people down. I was speaking with an employee the next day & was told that the tape was shown at the employees morning meeting & everyone was sitting around laughing. SHAME on WalMart!!

It is this reason I will never do a BF at Walmart. The stores I have been to, there have been no major issues. That video part makes me want to skip Walmart altogether, BF or not.

[twinzmom903]

Last year, I attempted my first BF at Walmart. I will never do it again for the same reason (madhouse, unruly people). The SAME bargains I got... was actually available online at the very same time. While I was out fighting with people, my neighbor was shopping in the comfort of her home, jammies, coffee, etc. I plan to do my shopping via online and "Ship to Store".

[tn20]

The WM closest to my town was a complete madhouse the last time I went on BF! There are only a couple of stores that do anything for BF here, so the few that do are SWAMPED!

The last several years I've been driving to a bigger city a little over an hour away. There are 2 SWs and 1 regular WM, plus tons of other stores, so the crowds spread out a bit more and they actually aren't too bad.

I don't know what my opinion would be if I was ever going after big ticket items (anything hot, I send DH to get it), but for things like toys and dvds, I've never felt too crazed.

I do put responsibility on WM for that poor man dying last year. Although some of the people involved were certainly to blame as well, once the stampede starts, it is pretty much impossible to stop. Many of the people who trampled right past (or over :( ) the man would have met a similar fate if they had tried to stop. Unfortunately, when you get that many people together, all competing to get the same deals, people's brains, empathy, and courtesy all fly out the window.

WM does not do enough to maintain control of the crowds. A ticket system would help prevent the huge rush when doors open (people wouldn't be rushing for the big doorbusters if they knew before they entered the store whether or not they were getting one), a gated off line would help stop the swarm of people who don't wait in line but try to push their way in when doors open (I think these people create the biggest safety hazard when entering the store- instead of following the person in front of you like those in line, they are trying to push through a wall of people and create room for themselves where room does not exist, which leads to shoving, tripping, etc).

I think they should let people inside in groups of 20 (or whatever the store can safely manage), wait 30 seconds, another group of 20, etc. Plus, they should do a better job of letting people know ahead of time where the item they want is located. That way people aren't running all over the place, frantic to find their items.

[Animal]

Last year, I attempted my first BF at Walmart. I will never do it again for the same reason (madhouse, unruly people). The SAME bargains I got... was actually available online at the very same time. While I was out fighting with people, my neighbor was shopping in the comfort of her home, jammies, coffee, etc. I plan to do my shopping via online and "Ship to Store".

hehe-that is exactly what I am doing this year...enjoying black friday in my PJ's...I can't haul my 3yo with me anyways...he wants everything now.

[faeryedark]

Last year Target had a deal on DVDs but I didn't go first thing. I went about 5pm and sure enough none of the DVDs were left on the rack BUT I'm nosy and found the returns carts and sure enough...all the ones I wanted were there along with other deals that people decided they didn't want so just put aside.
Sometimes it pays to wait.

[auntsashie]

We will be out of town but I agree last year I had all the WM black friday in "cart" and ready to go. It is great, you click, you pay and you go to bed!!