Lee Bellinger's Ready for Anything Report
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has become a major American
shopping event.
But the sad truth is Black Friday brings out the thieves in our midst – both
those
interested in stealing your stuff or simply your identity.
This dubious holiday tradition also seems to bring out the worst behavior
from large
numbers of bargain-obsessed – but inconsiderate – shoppers.
Avoid Black Friday Tragedy:
Safety Tips for the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year
My best advice as a value-buyer is to stay home on Black Friday. I value
my time and
personally don't care for crowds.
To entice the gullible to join this annual ritual, major stores advertise
a nice price
on select popular products. This, of course, adds to the zaniness, because
stores as a
matter of course usually stock only a small number of these "so-called"
bargains. It results
in a situation in which angry people are fighting and scratching for a handful
of what they
think should be "discounted" items.
Black Friday bargain hunters often end up with a more expensive
alternative to the
"discounted item" that was so widely advertised. And yet millions fall for this
bait-and-switch every year!
Even with the continued bleakness of the economic picture, I suspect that
we'll see
record crowds at stores and malls this year. People are desperate to make the
holidays a
special time, and in many cases, that means spending money they don't have.
Violence is NOT in the Spirit of the Holidays!
Every year, people's bad behavior makes the news on Black Friday – from
shoppers
threatening one another to engaging in actual physical violence.
Last year, a woman at Toys'R'Us cut in front of several dozen shoppers in
the
check-out line. When people complained, she threatened to return to her car,
grab a gun, and
shoot those who didn't want her to cut. Police intervened and arrested the
woman for
disorderly conduct.
At another Toys'R'Us, also last year, two women got into a violent
altercation. The
situation spiraled out of control and the men with the women pulled guns and
shot each
other. Both died.
At a Target in New York, numerous shoppers were trampled. When the store
opened its
doors to the crowd, the crush of people pushed those at the front of the line
down and then
stormed over them. Luckily, Target staff responded quickly and pulled the
fallen shoppers to
safety. The number of injuries from the incident is unclear, but it's mere luck
that no one
was killed.
Two years earlier, one Wal-Mart worker wasn't so fortunate. The Black
Friday shopping
mob trampled him to death when the store threw open its doors.
Even people who avoid physical altercations and stampeding mobs may find
their
shopping day in ruins. In Southern California, three women finished a Best Buy
shopping
spree, dropped their purchases off at their car, and went to shop at J.C.
Penny's. When they
returned, all their Best Buy purchases were gone – more than $1,000 in gifts
were stolen
from them.
There are three major safety considerations when you're shopping on Black
Friday:
a.. First is dealing safely with the crowds, especially if they start
to get pushy
or violent.
b.. Second is keeping your personal and financial information secure.
c.. Third is protecting your purchases from theft once you've made them.
Handling the Crowds If You Insist on Participating in Black Friday
The crowds present the biggest physical danger on Black Friday. When a
waiting and
impatient crowd surges forward through the newly opened doors of a department
store, there's
a chance someone will fall and get trampled.
The easy solution is not to be first in line! Arrive at the store a few
minutes after
the doors open and you'll be able to walk in and join shoppers without risking
the press of
the initial crowd. If you can't resist the temptation of waiting in line and
being the first
one in, then call the store ahead of time and ask the manager what plans he has
for crowd
control if people are unruly.
Your goal is to hear that the manager has a plan – that he's thought
about the
potential problems, staffed accordingly, and is prepared to keep the event
safe. If the
manager is clueless, maybe pick a different store as your "door-opener" for the
day.
Once inside, people sometimes get into fights over products or their
place in line at
the register. The best way to avoid these situations is to be exceedingly
polite and very
direct. If someone cuts in line, you can choose to let it go or ask a question
like, "Excuse
me, why do you think it's okay to cut in front of me?"
The trick is to keep your tone openly curious rather than being
accusatory. When
confronted in this manner, most people will apologize and go to the end of the
line. Or, you
can ignore the jerk, let her cut, and chalk it up as an amusing story you can
tell later.
Take the approach that's most comfortable for you. Remember, whatever you're
buying isn't
worth a black eye or worse!
While you're shopping, remain aware of your space. Avoid bumping into
people and be
mindful of people who are getting too close to you. It's unlikely they're
making a move for
your wallet, but certainly possible, so it's better to be safe than sorry.
Identity Theft Risks Are Higher during the Mayhem
Some enterprising criminals use the long Black Friday checkout lines as
an opportunity
to collect credit card and checking account information. They'll wait in line
behind you and
nonchalantly check over your shoulder to see your credit card number or the
account number
on your checks. They may even try to spy your pin number when you punch it in.
To avoid this kind of identity theft, keep your credit cards and your
check book put
away until you reach the cash register and the cashier has finished ringing you
up. Re-check
your personal space before pulling out your payment information. If anyone is
too close,
don't be afraid to ask him to move back a little.
Also, keep track of your receipts during the shopping day. A dropped
receipt can give
identity thieves some of your personal and financial information, as well as
their own
"shopping list" of desirable items to pilfer from your vehicle. So, make sure
the cashier
hands you the receipt and that you put it into your wallet or into another safe
place.
Protect Your Purchase –
Because the Predators Will Be Out in Force
Opportunistic thieves may attempt to relieve you of your packages after
you've made
your purchases.
The first step to prevent this is to stay aware of your surroundings.
Keep an eye on
the people around you, especially the people that are closer to you than you'd
like. Know
how many bags the cashier gave you and keep track of those. If you have more
packages from a
single purchase than you're able to easily keep track of or carry, ask the
cashier to call
someone to help you out to your car.
Once at your car, put your packages where they aren't easy to see. A
trunk is ideal.
If you have a station wagon or an SUV with an open trunk compartment, consider
using a cover
to conceal your packages. And, make sure you lock your car before going into
another store!
Bonus Tip: Safe Shopping on Cyber Monday
A lot of people avoid the Black Friday crowds in favor of Cyber Monday
deals.
If you plan to do your holiday shopping online this year, I have another
timely
warning for you. The identity thieves are out in force and they have many
creative ways of
getting your credit card information.
One of their favorite tricks is to design a website that mimics a
well-known site like
Cabela's or Best Buy. Then, they use Google AdWords to attract you to the fake
site. When
shopping on Cyber Monday, beware of following the links in search engine
results. Only shop
at trusted websites and type those website addresses directly into your browser.
Admittedly, I am a bit of a "Grinch" when it comes to appreciating Black
Friday –
which many people regard as a fun personal tradition.
It is true that Black Friday and other public events where crowds form is
an
opportunity to improve your situational awareness skills. You can begin by
carefully
weighing the advantages to you of voluntarily plunging into large crowds of
zealous
shoppers, braving heavy traffic, and working around the heavy hand of
law-enforcement that
must be deployed to cope with the thieves and scofflaws who always show up in
force!
Some people enjoy the spectacle, and I say more power to them! If you do
chose to play
the Black Friday game, then be ready-for-anything and have a pleasant day
--
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