Wal-Mart Revamps Black Friday Strategy

A year after a Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death by a massive crowd of bargain-hunting shoppers the retail giant is implementing new crowd control measures to handle the crush that typically accompanies the day after Thanksgiving – Black Friday. Christmas Black Friday
by CBS News
Published: Wed, November 11, 2009 - 10:51 am CST Last Updated: Wed, November 11, 2009 - 10:53 am CST
CBS News - A year after a Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death by a massive crowd of bargain-hunting shoppers, the retail giant is implementing new crowd control measures to handle the crush that typically accompanies the day after Thanksgiving – Black Friday.

According to a New York Times report Wednesday, Wal-Mart is taking a page from experts who have managed crowds at the Super Bowl and Olympics. The revamped effort stems from the death of Jdimytai Damour, a temporary store worker crushed by throngs of customers in Valley Stream, N.Y.

Among the measures:

• Most Wal-Mart stores will stay open from Thanksgiving night into Black Friday. In the past, the store closed Thanksgiving and opened its doors in the early morning hours Friday, leading to a huge crowd buildup outside its doors. The store hopes the extra hours will ease the crowd flow.

• To avoid the mad dash toward popular items, the store will have customers line up at product displays and treat them on a first come, first serve basis.

• Since Wal-Mart stores only have one entrance, making crowd control more difficult, workers will be stationed at the front of the store directing customers to the appropriate places.

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rmseek1234 Says:
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 8:46 pm

I could not agree more jlb! I think I would even pay double to not fight crowds the day after Thanksgiving, ANYWHERE! Not worth it to me….

I did go stand in the freezing cold a couple of years ago,with my then 4 year old bundled up, to try to get a WII at Game Stop. The person in front of me,got the last of the 25 they had alloted. I came home,got on Ebay,and within a little while, I had my WII, plus extras,for not much more than I would have paid anyway…..Plus it was fun to outbid people,rather than fight crowds. wink

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scottybo Says:
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 11:47 am

Huh?  Most Wal-Mart’s have 2 entrances.

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jlb1198 Says:
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 11:45 am

yes i saw on older woman, well into her 70’s, go off on a young man over a TV. I was liek WTH am i doing, I have to get out of here, and I walked out of the store. It was way to much for me. I would rather pay full price or shop online.

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RNuts Says:
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 11:32 am

I don’t even try anymore. I tried it once about 5 years ago. What a horrendous fiasco. Some customers turn into animals and do not care about how out of control the scene becomes.

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