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Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:55 pm
by RK_Striker_JK_5
US stores have opened early and offered steep discounts to encourage consumers to part with their cash as the Christmas shopping season kicks off.
Crowds of shoppers turned up at dawn to snare the best deals.
A worker died and at least three people were injured after being trampled by a crowd of shoppers at a Wal-Mart in the New York suburbs.
The day after the Thanksgiving holiday is viewed as an important test of how willing consumers are to spend.
Police said a throng of shoppers broke down the doors to the Wal-Mart store in Valley Stream, Long Island shortly after 5am, knocking the 34-year-old worker to the ground.
Electronics retailer Best Buy and department stores Kohl's and Macy's also opened their doors at dawn.
Toys R Us offered up to 60% discounts from 5am to 10am.
Initial reports from several major retailers indicated that crowds were at least as large as last year's, but deep discounts are likely to hurt retailers' profit margins.
Bargain hunters
Some shoppers queued up to bag the best bargains.
"The recession is kicking in," Tammy Williams, 36, told the Reuters news agency as she waited for a Kohl's store in New Jersey to open at 4am.
"I'm just looking for a bargain, anything to save a couple of dollars. I'll save the rest for food shopping."
Analysts said that retailers will closely monitor store traffic and the amount of time spent in stores.
Many retailers have suffered as the US economy nosedives although value chains like Wal-Mart have fared better.
US retail sales recorded the biggest monthly decline since 1992 in October as consumers cut back on spending.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7755278.stm
I work at Walmart, so... yea. This
angers me. I've never liked Blac Friday...
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:19 pm
by Tsukiyumi
Sounds like some rubber shotgun pellets would've come in handy there.
Seriously, why did no one stop to help? Scumbags.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:30 am
by Mikey
Tsukiyumi wrote:Seriously, why did no one stop to help?
Tsukiyumi wrote:Scumbags.
See? You answered your own question. I remember vividly managing my retail stores on Black Friday. Ugh.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 2:50 am
by Nutso
Valley Stream was crazy today. Nowhere to park. My brother was going to drive down there for shopping until he heard about that incident. He decided his life was more important than some trinkets. I headed down to Valley Stream at around 2 p.m. and news vans were still there taking up valuable parking spots. I went to the National Wholesales Liquidator next door. I didn't want any part of the Walmart crazies.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:35 pm
by Sionnach Glic
WTF is wrong with these people?
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:43 pm
by Monroe
Having worked at walmart and now working at kmart part time this really sucks. Glad to see some of his coworkers tried to rescue him. Hope they charge some people from the crowd.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 3:21 pm
by Mikey
Local law enforcement is in the process. They're reviewing in-store surveillance to determine if they can isolate one or more suspects.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:57 pm
by Aaron
Tsukiyumi wrote:Sounds like some rubber shotgun pellets would've come in handy there.
Seriously, why did no one stop to help? Scumbags.
Chances are that they would be trampled to death when they stopped as well.
Never thought I'd see people that desperate to get into Wally World though.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:00 pm
by Captain Seafort
Welcome back Kendall!
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:09 pm
by RK_Striker_JK_5
i never liked Black Friday. The people are just insane.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:23 pm
by Tsukiyumi
Captain Seafort wrote:Welcome back Kendall!
Man, has he got a lot to read, or what?
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:27 pm
by Aaron
Captain Seafort wrote:Welcome back Kendall!
Thanks. I don't get that Black Friday thing anyways. Is it really worth the aggravation to save 50$ off a HDD?
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:10 am
by Sionnach Glic
Probably a stupid question, but what's Black Friday?
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:12 am
by Aaron
Rochey wrote:Probably a stupid question, but what's Black Friday?
Black Friday.
Re: Walmart worker trampled to death
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:15 am
by RK_Striker_JK_5
Rochey wrote:Probably a stupid question, but what's Black Friday?
The stupidest thing in retail.