Recently, there have been some interesting comments on retailwire.com regarding the tragedy at Wal-Mart on Black Friday. The comments reflect on why so much outrage has been directed at Wal-Mart and not at the shoppers. I agree with Susan Rider. This outrage should be directed at the consumers; not Wal-Mart. The shoppers need to take responsibility for their actions.
However, Wal-Mart should also be proactive in describing how they will prevent this from happening in the future. Here we are on Tuesday, and I have not seen much from Wal-Mart regarding changes to their crowd management policy. Is silence truly their best PR strategy?
Clearly there are things Wal-Mart could have done differently, such as: handing out guaranteed purchase coupons before the store opens (Best Buy), better crowd control, only allowing shoppers in the store in waves of 25 (Target) etc. After all, “A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.” -Agent K, Men in Black
There is plenty of blame to place in this tragedy, and Wal-Mart needs to own up to their share. However, individual people also need to take responsibility for their actions.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Wal-Mart is the only responsible party in this event?
-Tom McGoldrick
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I found your site on Google and read a few of your other entires. Nice Stuff. I’m looking forward to reading more from you.
Comment by Sue Massey December 2, 2008 @ 4:01 pmI suppose our legal system will find a way of apportioning the blame, but why do we need to blame anyone?
As a nation, we should determine why has Black Friday shopping become so popular? What are we missing? Should the stores be expected to set ground rules (as Tom suggests)? Whatever happened to common courtesy? When did a bargain trump civility?
We need to reframe the scenario. Rather than a day to recover and reflect on the bounty of Thanksgiving, Black Friday has become the ultimate shopper showdown. I’d like to hear from the people involved in these shopper cattle calls. Do they really think this is their last chance to get a salad spinner (or DVR or laptop or whatever)?
Personally, I try not to leave the house the day after Thanksgiving.
Comment by Lori Laflin December 3, 2008 @ 9:10 am