Black Thursday at Kmart

Thanksgiving Day; While most workers in America prepared for a traditional feast with family, Kmart employees braced for record amounts of shoppers. The chain decided to break with tradition this year and stay open on Thanksgiving in order to lure shoppers and increase profits. Employees were offered overtime pay (Time and one half) to work the Holiday according to one manager. A line formed in front of the Northridge, CA store as early as 4am. Shoppers who braved the early hours at another location in Simi Valley reported being informed that store would be open but would not honor the advertised sale prices because the store is scheduled to be closed down soon. Many of those customers raced to the Northridge location only to find themselves at the end of a line that had grown to over a hundred people.

The big attraction at today’s sale was the Nintendo Wii video game console, the 32 inch LCD TV and the GPS Navigation system. There were a total of 7 Wii’s available which were snatched up by the first 10 or so shoppers. Employee’s distributed tickets to those in the front of the line insuring they would have first opportunity at the sale items. Cookies were given out to all the shoppers. A few people cut in line, but for the most part the crowd was orderly.

Once inside the store, most shoppers headed to the electronics department where they stood in another line to pick up and purchase their items. One employee said he had never seen so many shoppers at one time. Friday’s sale (aka: Black Friday) will no doubt be another door buster but don’t expect to find a Nintendo Wii, the same employee informed the crowd he doesn't expect another shipment until after Christmas.

Judging by today’s results it’s not hard to imagine that Thanksgiving Day Sales may one day replace Black Friday.