With a shortened shopping season, many big-box retailers are staying open on the holiday. Because of this, thousands of shoppers have taken to the social network pledging to boycott.
Facebook badge protesting stores staying open on Thanksgiving.
(Credit: Screenshot by Dara Kerr/CNET)
Rather than being strictly about spending time with family and gorging on turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving has turned into a major deals day in the shopping world this year.
But, some people don't like it.
Thousands of Facebook users have taken to the social network to display their disgust and threaten to boycott stores staying open on what is now being deemed "Black Thursday."
A badge has made its way around Facebook, which says "Because I believe in family...I pledge to not shop on Thanksgiving. If I'm shopping, someone else is working and not spending time with their family. Everyone deserves a holiday."
As of this writing, this badge has been shared nearly 950,000 times and liked by almost 50,000 people.
Among the retailers being threatened with boycott are Kmart, Toys "R" Us, and Walmart. All of these big-box retailers have promised major deals and to be open on Thanksgiving. Other stores planning to be open for part of the holiday are Best Buy, Macy's, Kohl's, J.C. Penny, Target, and Sears.
"I have worked retail for over 20 years and it is disgusting that chains like Macy and JcPenney are going to be open on Thanksgiving," Facebook user Christine Leuchner wrote in the badge's comment section. "There are jobs that are important to public safety and service and we need them to work! No one NEEDS to shop for clothes or gifts on a holiday! Greed has over come us and family values should be important!"
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To be fair, a lot of other people in the comments section are calling the campaign silly and saying that all sorts of people have to work on major holidays. There is also the sentiment that people should value their family on all days of the year.
"Here's an even better idea," wrote Rich Haering. "Spend time with your family whenever you can so that a holiday is just another day. Don't wait until the holidays to tell your family you love them."
Black Friday is typically known as the biggest shopping day of the year, but this year much of the market is switching to Thanksgiving. The reason for this is because the holiday shopping season is six days shorter this year. This means retailers have that many less days to sell their products. According to Adobe Digital Index, it's expected that Thanksgiving online shopping will shoot up 21 percent over last year.
Adobe predicts that once this precedent is set, the same will happen in years to come. Principal analyst for Adobe Digital Index Tamara Gaffney told CNET in a recent interview, "Thanksgiving could take over Black Friday in five years."
[Via CNNMoney ]
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