One of the most memorable incidents was the long queues outside electronics stores. People were camping out overnight to get the best deals on the latest smartphones and big - screen TVs. It was chaos but also a display of consumer determination.
Well, there were stories of stores running out of popular items within minutes. For example, a particular brand of high - demand toys. Parents were scrambling to get their hands on them for Christmas. The rush led to some pushing and shoving as everyone was eager to secure the limited stock. It was a real frenzy, with store employees trying their best to manage the crowds and restock as quickly as possible.
In some areas, the traffic around shopping malls was insane during Black Friday 2017. There were reports of cars being stuck for hours just to get into the parking lots. People were so focused on getting to the stores early that they didn't anticipate the traffic problems. Once inside the malls, the narrow corridors were jam - packed with shoppers, making it difficult to move around. Some stores had to implement one - way systems to manage the flow of customers. This rush really showed how much people were willing to endure for a good deal.
One memorable crazy story is when a store's website crashed due to an overwhelming number of people trying to access the Black Friday deals online. People were refreshing the page constantly but couldn't get through. Another is that in a toy store, parents were literally climbing over shelves to get to the hottest toys for their kids. It was chaos. There was also a case where a customer accidentally grabbed the wrong item in the rush and didn't realize until they got home, but they decided to keep it anyway because it was a good deal.
I think the most memorable would be the stampedes in some stores. With so many people eager to get their hands on the discounted items, it was like a mad rush. People were falling over each other, and it was really dangerous.
The most memorable one for me was when a big-box store had a 'doorbuster' deal on a new game console. People started camping out days in advance. When the doors finally opened, it was chaos. People were climbing over each other, and some merchandise got damaged in the process. It was a total mess.
There was a Black Friday at a furniture store. They had a huge discount on a very luxurious sofa set. A family of four had their eyes on it. But when they got to the store, there were at least ten other families also interested. They had to engage in a sort of 'negotiation' with the other customers, trying to convince them why they deserved the sofa more. In the end, the store manager had to step in and hold a mini - lottery to decide who would get the sofa. It was quite a spectacle.
One crazy story is about the long queues. People start lining up days in advance outside stores. They bring tents, sleeping bags, and even heaters. It's like a mini camping trip just to be the first to grab the best deals on Black Friday.
There was a Black Friday where a small local store had a special deal on handmade jewelry. A woman had been eyeing a particular necklace for months. When she got to the store on Black Friday, there was only one left. Another customer also wanted it. But instead of fighting over it, they decided to split the cost and share the necklace, taking turns wearing it for different occasions. It was a really heartwarming story in the midst of the Black Friday chaos.
There was a case where a family got separated in the Black Friday crowds. The parents were looking for their young child for hours. The child was terrified, lost among all those strangers. It shows how easily things can go wrong on such a busy shopping day. The family was finally reunited, but it was a very harrowing experience for them.
A store in 2016 had a 'buy one get one free' deal on designer shoes. Women were scrambling to get their hands on their favorite pairs. It was chaos but also exciting as everyone was so eager to get a great deal.
I know of a situation where a group of shoppers lined up outside a store hours before it opened on Black Friday. But when the doors finally opened, the security measures failed. Thieves took advantage of the chaos and stole from people's bags and pockets while everyone was focused on getting inside the store. It was a nightmare for those who had their belongings stolen and a really bad start to their Black Friday shopping.
Shoppers were extremely excited. They were up early and ready to grab the deals. Many were comparing prices on their smartphones while waiting in line.