As it has become custom now with major chain box stores across the country, Thanksgiving is no longer a time for employees to relax with their families while being thankful for what they have. No, it's all about the "consumer demand" and the need to open earlier and earlier every year to make that extra dollar.

Case and point, this year is probably the worst to date.

As announced last week, K-Mart is opening their doors Thanksgiving Day morning at 6 a.m. and remaining open for a total of 41 hours straight. The chain has experienced financial woes over the last couple of years and this can been seen as a ploy to get people to walk through their doors and spend their money there, as opposed to the other stores opening later in the day.

Best Buy is now getting in on the action by announcing they will open 12 hours later that K-Mart and remain open until close of business Black Friday. Which means Best Buy will open their doors at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and close them at 10 p.m. on Nov 29.

This is just another addition to the long standing list of stores doing similar, including:

  • Toys 'R Us (opening at 5 p.m.)
  • JC Penney (opening at 8 p.m.)
  • Kohls (opening at 8 p.m.)
  • Sears (opening at 8 p.m.)
  • Macy's (opening at 8 p.m.)
  • Target (opening at 8 p.m.)
  • Wal-mart (no word on this yet this year, though they have opened as early as 8 p.m. in past years)
  • Old Navy (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, reopening at 7 p.m.

Most companies are opening earlier due to "lost sales" from opening later than anyone else last year.

So it's about the almighty dollar at the end of the day instead of giving their employees the time off to be with their families and enjoy the holiday all thanks to any halfwit that feels it necessary to shop on a holiday for a "good deal."

There is a movement on the 'net asking people to respect the holiday and enjoy the down time. They are asking people not shop on Thanksgiving Day itself and only go out for midnight and beyond sales.

Though it's great in thought, most people will be out standing in line instead of having dinner with loved ones which forces other to work those same hours. Such a shame.

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