Black Friday At Wal-Mart: The Cost Of Crazed Consumerism
An employee was trampled to death by over-zealous shoppers who literally broke down the doors at a Long Island Wal-Mart on "Black Friday," while four other shoppers were injured during the stampede and taken to the hospital.
According to news reports, shoppers screamed, shoved and jockeyed for position while waiting for the doors to open. As the part-time stock clerk approached the doors at 5 AM, the force of the crowd physically broke through the doors and mowed down the unfortunate man. Ignoring employee pleas to clear out and exit the store, shoppers rushed about, grabbing the most sought after items on their lists. Visibly upset employees described the scene as "chaotic" and shoppers as "savages".
I found myself very disturbed by this news report. Some questions immediately come to mind. I wonder, on Christmas morning, will the recipient of those highly sought, hard fought after Black Friday purchased Wal-Mart gifts, have a clue about their true cost? Will the giver of those gifts really feel good about giving them? And, what is 70% off a person's life worth?
Was this event just a fluke, an isolated incidence of unprepared employees and over-enthusiastic shoppers? Is Wal-Mart to blame for not having proper security measures in place? Or is this just the tip of the iceberg, suggesting something has gone seriously askew in our value system?
Competition is so endemic to our culture, consumption has become a competitive sport. We've become "guerilla" consumers, stalking our "prey," engaging in strange rituals that commence in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving. Some especially dedicated consumers actually cut short the time they spent with their families on Thanksgiving so they could be first in line when the doors opened at 5 AM.
Am I the only one who thinks something is out of whack here? Does anybody else feel seriously manipulated by the whole holiday shopping craziness? Remember the mortgage mess we're in? Remember how we all fell for the notion that real estate prices could only go up, so we'd better get in while we could no matter whether we could afford it or not? We could always refinance later. Look how that turned out.
I have a feeling those precious 50 inch flat-screen TV's will still be around next week or even after the holidays and probably at even more reduced prices. The Chinese are busy turning those puppies out as fast as we can consume them. I don't think we need to worry about a shortage of supply. But I do think this is an opportunity to reflect on the mindset that produced the kind of tragedy that happened last week.
What happened on Black Friday is a teachable moment for all of us. While those particular shoppers represent a tiny percent of consumers, let's imagine for a moment, they reflect some aspect of us all. Even if you observed Buy Nothing Day (see video below), even if you cannot identify with the crowd mentality on display, use this moment as an opportunity to examine the value system and consciousness you're bringing to your life and how you might use this experience to re-align yourself with the true spirit of the season.
Even before the episode at Wal-Mart, I'd already decided that this year my choice is to consume less, but give more. This holiday season, my emphasis will be on giving the gift of presence instead of gifting presents. The gifts I plan to give this year cannot be packaged and wrapped, they can only be experienced. Experiential gifts are absolutely the best in my book.
For starters, here are some experiential gifts you might consider giving this holiday:
1) Give an authentic acknowledgment to the people you love.
2) Look them in the eyes and tell them who they are for you.
3) Open up communication with someone with whom you've had a misunderstanding.
4) Apologize to someone you've unfairly judged.
5) Extend kindness to a stranger or offer support to someone and expect
nothing in return.
This, I believe is the true spirit of not only this time, but of these times. As never before, we are called to reconnect with what matters. Let this holiday season be a beckoning for you to summon up the "greater angels of your nature," to come forward with the gift of your authentic presence and offer yourself as the priceless gift you are. Presence is a "being" thing. No credit cards or cash required.
Lastly, there was another event that took place on Black Friday. It's called Buy Nothing Day. In case you weren't aware or missed it, here's a short video promo and a good reminder about what matters:
Consider how you might plan to Recognize, Rethink, Revolutionize and Restore the True Spirit of the Season to your observance of the holidays this year and be sure to let us in on your ideas.
Follow Dr. Judith Rich on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dr_judithrich
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SouthJerseySteve and everyone,
Here are some links discussing potential tort liability for Wal-Mart and Toys R Us:
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/potential-tort-liability-wal-mart-toys-r-us-black-friday-stampede-shootings
http://www.nymedicalmalpracticeblog.com/2008/11/wal-mart-stampede-in-new-york-whos-at.html
It isn't clear if Wal-Mart can be held liable under New York law. This is going to be an interesting development to watch. Let's stay informed and please post any updates you find on this blog.
Thanks!
Judith
Failure of an establishment to control its patrons is most definitely able to be prosecuted in New York State. This store knew what it was doing, it advertised, and saw the crowds grow. They are most definitely liable, from the store manager to Wal-Marts CEO.
I found the fact that the Wal-Mart reopened after the police were finished with the crime scene a few hours after the man's death particularly telling as to Wal-Mart's values...Is no one there organizing a local boycott? How about nationally?
The lack of respect and humanity is appalling and in sharp contrast to what my town is observing this week--the anniversary of the Von Maur shooting, where eight were killed. Von Maur was a class act, shutting their store down for two weeks during the Christmas season, giving their employees all kinds of counseling and aid, and respecting everyone's privacy. Tasteful, thoughtful, humane.
The least Wal-Mart should have done was close the store for the day and offer aid to the upset employers.
I cannot imagine what jury would not give the family of the unfortunate man a nice sum for a "wrongful death" caused by managment negligence.
Dr. Rich,
I completely agree with your sentiments. In our family, I always told my children that it is the thought that counts, and I always told them that something they made for me was more meaningful and long lasting. As I look around my home office, I have all sorts of watercolors and crafts, like pottery and sand sculptures that my children gave me. Those are ultimately the most cherished gifts, to create something and give it to a loved one.
This country has gone bonkers and incidents like this de-value what the holidays truly mean. Now that my kids are grown, we give gift certificates along with a heartfelt note, and one of my kids still makes me something I decorate my office with. And, we have discovered that prices are really low in January, and the things that people kill for (literally, unfortunately) are still available.
After reading this wonderful article and well thought out way to describe a consuming consumer I thought about something I heard in a movie I just recently saw called, The 11th Hour and it was by Gloria Flora would said this,
"You can also vote—and I don’t mean voting at a voting booth—anybody of any age can vote. Because you vote everyday that you pay for something. Every time you lay money down on this counter to buy something, you are saying that I approve of this object. I approve of how it was made, the materials that are in it, and what’s going to happen to it when I no longer need it and throw it away”.
I think this statement goes so very well with the article above, thank you for speaking for a lot of us who feel the same way. Happy Holidays
Does anyone know if Walmart Executives issues an apology or condolences to the family of the employee trampled to death? I have boycotted ALL Walmarts stores ever since I saw the documentary about Walmart and what they are doing to both this country and China--I remember the part of the movie when they showed that the founders donate 0% to charities. That's enough reason for me to shop Target instead.
Bimplebean,
Very well said and echoes my own sentiments as well. I used to be an "early adapter", always had to be first on my block to have the latest and greatest gadget. But I now exercise discretion and restraint and like you, ask myself if I really "need" this item. 99.999% of the time, the answer is "no". I'm getting much better at accepting "no" and experiencing the freedom of not being "had" by my "stuff".
Thanks for the insight and for elevating the conversation to a thoughtful, reflective place. The real question is: how do we proceed knowing what we know and still keep joy, delight and discover alive? I don't think it has much to do with our "stuff".
Best regards,
Judith
It's very exciting and pleasurable to get a new toy, a new thing. It's a rush. This is a fundamental part of human nature. A consumerist society like ours depends on customers getting that rush so they are always out looking for the next new thing to get. It is, sadly, a huge and powerful driver of our economy. If we limited ourselves to only buying what we really needed our economy would be a lot smaller, less robust.
Sadly, If we limited ourselves to only buying what we really needed our *lives* would also be a lot smaller, less robust.
So the question here is what balance do we strike and how do we strike it? For me, whenever I see a new tech toy that I want, I first ask if I really need it or if I can wait. If it's the latter, I console myself by saying it will be either less expensive later or a newer, more powerful equivalent will be available for the same price by the time I decide to buy. It helps me stave off the craving, if you will, for a new thing.
We all need to find our own middle way, our own balance, and strive to maintain it. Balance doesn't just happen; it requires awareness and attention, both to achieve it and to maintain it.
Our consumerist society also depends upon a world that will give us most of the resources for the foreseeable future. I wonder how that will work out. . . .
I think it's difficult to place "blame" on any one factor in this incidence. Many circumstances conspired to have things turn out the way they did, including Wal-Mart's negligence, and the mob mentality. It's an example of "crazed consumerism run amok".
My point in writing this article is to have readers reconsider the whole over the top consumer consciousness we've all been so steeped in. We're trained like Pavlov's dogs to grab a "good deal" even if we don't need the thing we just purchased. We have fallen hook, line and sinker for the marketing strategies that manipulate us into thinking "There isn't enough, so I'd better hurry and make sure I get mine." We're bred and brought up to think in terms of scarcity, which produces a kind of mass hysteria, driven by fear.
My point is: can we just step back and see the consumer game we've all been sucked into playing, and make a conscious choice about how we want to participate? Personally, I think this whole "Black Friday" thing is a crock and I choose not to play. Having said that, now it's on to how I/we want to go forward and celebrate the holiday season in a more sane and meaningful way.
I'd love to hear your ideas about how you plan to do that!
One would wonder why you would need to replace those items so quickly. Consumer goods are meant to break and/or become obsolete quickly to continue our purpose of consumerism. I don't feel it is my purpose, but it has definitely been created to become our sole purpose of living. A very sad prospect. www.storyofstuff.com.
It's not just Walmart either. It doesn't matter which corporate store you shop in, the products are from China or made somewhere else where they can pay pennies on the dollar to some poor kid that has been forced to go to work for nothing. You can buy a $10 top at Walmart made in China or a $75 one from Banana Republic or Nordstrom. They all come from the same place. It's just that B.R. and Nordstrom are making a higher profit on the same crap. Our people have been taught to relate their self worth to their net worth, and the amount of stuff they own as well as how much they spend on it. Funny thing is, the joke's on us.
Here's my question: If (fill in the blank) store advertised 70% Off Door Busters starting at 5am and NOBODY SHOWED UP how long would (fill in the blank) store continue to advertise that way?
I put 100% of the blame for this incident on the disgusting mob at that store. There are hundreds of WalMarts across this country and they all advertised the same "deals". This happened at ONE store--and had been brewing for hours since the police were called well in advance of the stampede. There is nothing the staff at that store could have done when the crowd physically smashed down the doors and barriers.
If the mob had left the store peacefully when employees and police tried to secure the scene, I might have more sympathy for the crowd and turn a baleful eye towards Walmart, but that's not what they did. They whined and complained and refused to leave. When they were FINALLY removed, they killed time b*tch*ng to anyone who'd listen that they were entitled to go in and shop because they'd waited "all night". Did anyone say, "Gosh I'm sorry someone was killed in the rush, let's go home and reflect on our greedy society!"? NO! All they wanted was to get back in. Those that didn't wait around problably ran straight to the next big-box to grab more "door buster" garbage.
It is disgusting. We went by the Walmart in our city on Black Friday and people were threatening other people to go to the end of the line. What is wrong with these people??? There are alot of white trash that go to walmart and they were definitely acting like white trash.
Everyone should give the movie WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY? about activist Reverend BIlly and his Church of Stop Shopping to their loved ones for the holidays.
Thank you for discussing this topic. This is something that has bothered me for a long time. I refuse to even do grocery shopping on Black Friday simply because of the crowds and craziness. It's hard to feel the "Christmas Spirit" when you're getting jostled and shoved by a mass of shoppers.
I've signed the "Buy Handmade" pledge (http://www.buyhandmade.org), and I am trying to give as many handmade gifts as possible this year, either made by me or someone else. These gifts are always well-received in my family, they can be bought online, and I'll be helping out a small business, rather than a big box store.
THIS. Christmas should not be stressful, and I shouldn't have to purchase it from Wal-Mart. It's bad enough that the weather sucks and it gets dark at 4:30. The best part of the holiday for me is when I get to take a ten days off from work while only burning three days of vacation, thus hibernating through the worst part of the winter solstice. That, and cookies. It just isn't Christmas without cookies.
I am making most of my gifts for this year. I'll have to venture out to a store or two probably sometime next week to get some things for my nieces and nephews.
I've purchased ONE item as part of a "Black Friday" promotion. Last year I purchased a new TV for our family (we have only the one) online on Thanksgiving Day after putting the turkey in the oven. Picked it up at the store a few days later.
they simply arent used to a store which has fair prices and helpful staff. they are used to eye-rolling, gun snapping uncaring clerks, rip off prices and hassle piled upon hassle.
of course they didnt know how to act-
maybe if circuit city sent a "team" over to walmart to see how to properly deal with customers, we wouldnt have these problems.
until then expect more tramplings as respect-starved ny consumers stampede toward an american shopping experience versus what we have now. and dont give me that crap about walmart being evil. they're ALL evil. in the meantime i'm going to walmart.
Sorry, that link didn't work. Hopefully, this one does:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-retail1-2008dec01,0,7339898.story
Recession? What recession?
Just found an interesting video about holiday shopping that touts this year's consumers have already spent more than last year at this time. Here's the link:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-retail1-2008dec01,0,7339898.story
I'm obviously on rails about this. Oh, and, don't forget..... today is Cyber Monday, so get out there online and shop til you flop!
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