Behind the Headlines

By Adam Bennett adam@monroenews.com

When my wife told me she wanted to brave the crowds to snap up the best savings in the day-after Thanksgiving sales, I told her she was crazy.

The pushing, the shoving, the crowds, the waiting in endless lines. It’s all too much for me.

But covering Black Friday for the Evening News this year disproved a few of my misconceptions about one of the biggest shopping days of the year. I saw very little pushing and shoving, a few grumbling, disappointed people and a lot of money changing hands.

It should be comforting in tough economic times that people are getting out and spending their money–and spending it on each other.

However, I find one thing in particular most fascinating.

All the early-hour shoppers hitting the stores for this must-save phenomenon are gettign out at 5 or 6 a.m. for just a chance at the big buy.

Stores sell a limited stock at a monstrously low price, meaning a few will save big. Still, the crowds rush to line up and see if they can be the one to get that $300 laptop or $150 iPod. What a sacrifice.

I’d rather stay home and sleep in, saving my money and my time. But for those that get wrapped up in it, I suppose it’s the experience that is more rewarding than the savings.