Paying the Price
Posted by Sean on November 29, 2008
He was 34 years old.
He was a temporary worker.
All he was doing was opening the door.
This story still sickens me. And for some reason I can’t let it go. I think it’s because I have prior personal experience involving Wal-Mart at opening time on Black Friday.
A long, long time ago yours truly was an Assistant Manager for Wal-Mart. During my first year as a manager I was chosen to be the ‘door opener’ for that year.
Walking towards the entrance, I can’t say I thought much of the snickering from the other managers and employees.”How bad can it be?”, I thought to myself.
As I approached the foyer doors I could hear a funny clanging noise. I look out the entrance doors and you can barely see outside due to the ogling shoppers fogging up the windows. I make my way through the first set of double doors to find the source of the clanging. The eager shopper mob was so adamant to get into the store, that they were bowing the double-bolted, double-locked doors with their body weight. I still can’t believe the doors didn’t bust off the hinges that day.
I go to unlock the bolt with my set of keys and I can’t turn the bolt. I almost snap my key in half with my attempt before I realize I can’t move the bolt until the mob backs up and relieves the massive amount of pressure on the door. “Please step back from the door.”
An echoing of under-the-breath mumbling is heard. “I’ve been here since… I’m not letting someone get in there before me..”
“If you don’t take a step back, the doors will not open”
More grunting and growling.
Somehow I get my key to open the first set of locks, and I have to use my own body weight to pry open the second set of locks.
“SNAP”
The doors fly open like the vacuum sealed hatch of an aircraft. The mob pours into the foyer and I realize my keys are still in the door lock.
I have to take a ‘blocker’s stance’ to trudge through the river of shoppers and grab my set of keys. As I get my keys in hand the mob overtakes me and slams me up against the entrance rail.
I am pinned to this rail for at least 20 minutes. No where to move. No where to go. Every time I make an attempt to escape from the shopper stampede, I’m forcefully nudged back to my position.
That was my first experience at Black Friday. The day only got worse. I saw the worst in people. The public had an ugliness about them that is hard to describe.
Shoppers flowed in and out of the store like vultures on their pray. The degree to which individuals went to claim a sale item was preposterous.
I can vividly remember an elderly woman running over both my feet because I was in the way of the toy item she wanted. This woman had a cane and from the looks of it had a very difficult time ambulating without it!
My experience left a bad taste in my mouth in regards to Black Friday.
Unbeknownst to John Q. Public, this is not the first incidence of violence on Black Friday. No one has ever died, but many employees and fellow shoppers have become victims of physical harm. Just Google the terms: Black Friday, Violence and see for yourselves.
I do my best to stay as far away from the retail world the day after Thanksgiving.
I just wish that poor gentlemen could have done the same.
Carpe Diem
Strong One said
@ TraumaJunkie You and I are on the same page. Thanks.
Strong One said
@ TraumaJunkie You and I are on the same page. Thanks.
trauma junkie said
I was reading this story earlier, and it is very sad & very sick.
This gentleman was simply trying to earn a living for his family, and he is killed by a mob of impatient people who thought a sale was more important than his safety, and eventually, his life.
I’ve never shopped on Black Friday because it is not worth it to me at all to fight crowds of people to get a good deal. My sentiments go out to Jdimytai and his friends and family.
trauma junkie said
I was reading this story earlier, and it is very sad & very sick.
This gentleman was simply trying to earn a living for his family, and he is killed by a mob of impatient people who thought a sale was more important than his safety, and eventually, his life.
I’ve never shopped on Black Friday because it is not worth it to me at all to fight crowds of people to get a good deal. My sentiments go out to Jdimytai and his friends and family.