View Full Version : I hope the bastards got their presents...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27955316/
Wal-Mart worker dies after crowd rushes store
Shoppers knocked him over, 'physically broke down doors,' police say
NEW YORK - A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday after an "out of control" throng of shoppers eager for post-Thanksgiving bargains broke down the doors at a suburban store and knocked him to the ground, police said.
At least four other people, including a woman eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and the store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.
Nassau police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the store doors at the mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the man to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.
SalingerNY
11-28-08, 03:06 PM
I will never understand this sort of thing.
fredgmuggs
11-28-08, 03:13 PM
This isn't the first time this has happened on a Black Friday store opening.
The retailers and the media like to build up a "you gotta go out buy frenzy" on Black Friday. I feel that's a big part of this.
JohnnyDamonfan
11-28-08, 03:15 PM
One good reason to do your christmas shopping on Amazon, Ebay, Buy.com etc.etc.etc.
JavyVazquezIsSick
11-28-08, 03:24 PM
That's beyond infuriating. Whoever did it needs to be charged.
YankeePride1967
11-28-08, 04:17 PM
While not everyone is culpable for the death each one of them should be ashamed of themselves. Dispicable.
Hitman23
11-28-08, 04:19 PM
People are such animals.
4bronxbombers
11-28-08, 04:37 PM
I'm speechless. That's absolutely horrible. What is wrong with people? :(
Zippythepinhead
11-28-08, 05:30 PM
I don't understand these people. But I don't understand the idea of going out shopping at 5AM, either.
(I was already disgusted by the people interviewed on the "news" this morning with bags full of stuff, being asked if the economy's slowdown had affected their shopping. Multiple people answered to the effect that it should, but they were getting such deals, they couldn't help themselves. I'm guessing these are the same people in trouble on their mortgages. No sense of personal responsibility whatsoever.)
YankeePride1967
11-28-08, 05:36 PM
I don't understand these people. But I don't understand the idea of going out shopping at 5AM, either.
(I was already disgusted by the people interviewed on the "news" this morning with bags full of stuff, being asked if the economy's slowdown had affected their shopping. Multiple people answered to the effect that it should, but they were getting such deals, they couldn't help themselves. I'm guessing these are the same people in trouble on their mortgages. No sense of personal responsibility whatsoever.)
Fully agreed. Gotta love those that go for those "no interest until 2010" deals. Bring the plastic out and they are surprised when 2010 comes and they have to pay interest. And those of us that are responsible with our finances end up paying for it.
jlw1980
11-28-08, 05:44 PM
I heard about this. Heartbreaking. People are f*cking despicable pieces of garbage.
DkNNy79
11-28-08, 05:45 PM
That is so sad. :(
dabomb2045
11-28-08, 06:11 PM
I don't understand these people. But I don't understand the idea of going out shopping at 5AM, either.
(I was already disgusted by the people interviewed on the "news" this morning with bags full of stuff, being asked if the economy's slowdown had affected their shopping. Multiple people answered to the effect that it should, but they were getting such deals, they couldn't help themselves. I'm guessing these are the same people in trouble on their mortgages. No sense of personal responsibility whatsoever.)
Working at a financial institution and dealing directly with people....its amazing to see how badly people handle their finances and the continued bad decisions they make (often against my advice--hey what do I know, I only WORK here and know what products can help you) that only worsens their situation.
Jeter Kid
11-28-08, 06:53 PM
I saw the video online taken from a cell phone with emergency services doing whatever they could and I heard people laughing in it, pissed me off.
SalingerNY
11-28-08, 07:01 PM
Was there anything in particular going on at this Wal-Mart to drive this? Like a blue-light special on some kids' toy or something? In the past we've seen this kind of nonsense in response to Tickle Me Elmo or some other toy everyone's got to have.
Perhaps this was just run-of-the-mill stupidity.
NYYDragoon
11-28-08, 07:04 PM
Perhaps this was just run-of-the-mill stupidity.Most likely. People get insane when pushed.
Soriambi
11-28-08, 07:06 PM
This isn't the first time this has happened on a Black Friday store opening.
The retailers and the media like to build up a "you gotta go out buy frenzy" on Black Friday. I feel that's a big part of this.
They also set it up in such a way that the only way to get the deals on the big items IS to race into the store knocking over anything in your path. The people obviously behave ridiculously, but I think that the retailers are at least as much at fault for setting up a situation where this is possible. What a horrible story.
YankeePride1967
11-28-08, 07:15 PM
They also set it up in such a way that the only way to get the deals on the big items IS to race into the store knocking over anything in your path. The people obviously behave ridiculously, but I think that the retailers are at least as much at fault for setting up a situation where this is possible. What a horrible story.
Yup. They do something like "For the first 50 customers only get a $1,599 LCD TV for just $599" and of course people salivate and camp out 2 days in advance for it.
yankeesAZ
11-28-08, 11:15 PM
Anyone hear or knows WCNNY? Heard about this story this morning when I left for work and I remembered this post from the black Friday thread.
Same thing for the 9th year in a row. Get up at 4 am, drive to Wal-Mart, clock in sign onto a register, chat until the sale start, ring for a while, get a break, ring some more, take my lunch shortly after the sun comes up and get out of work by 2:30. Then if my family has not found a tree yet I'll meet up with them at the tree lot otherwise I'll help decorate the tree and pig out on chestnuts.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27955316/
Wal-Mart worker dies after crowd rushes store
Shoppers knocked him over, 'physically broke down doors,' police say
NEW YORK - A Wal-Mart worker was killed Friday after an "out of control" throng of shoppers eager for post-Thanksgiving bargains broke down the doors at a suburban store and knocked him to the ground, police said.
At least four other people, including a woman eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries, and the store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening.
Nassau police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the store doors at the mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the man to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion.
Why are people so ................ing stupid?
Waste of a life and for no reason at all.
teknetic
11-29-08, 12:30 AM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/11/29/gal_walmart_stampede_03.jpg
Honestly..did everyone everyone in that crowd expect to get something? The lines would have been staggering and virtually anything decent would have been snatched up.
People are suckers; mark up garbage that never sells at "good" prices and they'll eat it up just so they can tell themselves they got something out of waiting in line for hours.
People might love this season and time of year, bur it royally sucks. 26 more days to go..
Octoberbaby
11-29-08, 02:10 AM
Anyone hear or knows WCNNY? Heard about this story this morning when I left for work and I remembered this post from the black Friday thread.
The article said the victim was a temporary worker sent by an agency to do maintenance work. That doesn't sound like someone who is a permanent worker at Walmart.
RIP to the poor guy for being at the wrong place in the wrong time. :(
2 more dead, elsewhere:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27957714
BillBuckner
11-29-08, 09:00 AM
People are f*cking pathetic. A lot of people should be spending Christmas behind bars this year where they belong.
teknetic
11-29-08, 09:23 AM
What type of moron brings their kids to this?
YankeePride1967
11-29-08, 09:24 AM
What type of moron brings their kids to this?
Same kind of moron that takes their young kids to a late movie. Morons that only think about themselves.
They also set it up in such a way that the only way to get the deals on the big items IS to race into the store knocking over anything in your path. The people obviously behave ridiculously, but I think that the retailers are at least as much at fault for setting up a situation where this is possible. Absolutely. The store manager is at fault here, in my opinion. If hundreds or maybe a thousand dollars is at stake for those fast and strong enough to get to an item, they need a better way to do this. A lottery held outside, or some kind of bracelet system maybe.....anything that will stop folks from stampeding. For years now since Black Friday became popular, stampeding is almost encouraged by the retailers.
yankeeman61
11-29-08, 09:26 AM
There is something seriously wrong with people who allow fear to drive them to extreme behavior. WTF is the worst thing that could happen if they miss out on a perceived "good deal"? The only hope for this mob is that they somehow still have a conscience and understand they are responsible for taking the life of a human being in exchange for a material item. Is there anyone left on this planet who doesn't have internet access where you can get deals on Black Friday and avoid the crowds altogether? I swear there are more sheep in this country than people.
YankeePride1967
11-29-08, 09:26 AM
Absolutely. The store manager is at fault here, in my opinion. If hundreds or maybe a thousand dollars is at stake for those fast and strong enough to get to an item, they need a better way to do this. A lottery held outside, or some kind of bracelet system maybe.....anything that will stop folks from stampeding. For years now since Black Friday became popular, stampeding is almost encouraged by the retailers.
Normally the procedure is determined at the corporate level. Walmarts as you can see are basically built the same way. Until ALL stores stop these riot-inducing events or structure them in a way that works, this won't be the last tragedy we hear about.
Normally the procedure is determined at the corporate level. Walmarts as you can see are basically built the same way. Until ALL stores stop these riot-inducing events or structure them in a way that works, this won't be the last tragedy we hear about. I would hope that each store manager has the option of selling his sale items the way he/she sees fit. If I'm a relative of the victim here and find out that some Walmart executive mandated this procedure, I'd bring charges.
YankeePride1967
11-29-08, 09:35 AM
I would hope that each store manager has the option of selling his sale items the way he/she sees fit. If I'm a relative of the victim here and find out that some Walmart executive mandated this procedure, I'd bring charges.
Working at Starbucks, I know everything from the layout of the store, the menu and procedures comes right from Seattle (HQ). If they had thousands of stores doing things thousands of different ways, I think there would be more chaos. And some will say how can Corporate know the situation at individual stores? It's this standardidation that allows them to know it. I don't think the issue is with the layout, but rather in the promotion itself. Setting up a sale where only so many people get the sale and you have to be there between X and Y hour is the issue. If stores want to offer these crazy promotions then they should be forced to hire the necessary security and police to make sure things stay orderly. Most of these sales aren't your typical 20% off that you see in flyers, these are drastic reductions. Sort of like if someone sold a BMW for $5,000 but only the first 10 in line get it.
And if there is something at a specific store that the manager feels the layout needs to be different that also has to be cleared with Corporate first.
Zippythepinhead
11-29-08, 10:04 AM
If there's something the store can do differently, within reason, to prevent this kind of thing, of course I'm for it. But blame lies squarely with the as*holes whose only concern was to save a few bucks on their shopping and as a result acted worse than animals.
Jersey Yankee
11-29-08, 10:06 AM
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/11/29/gal_walmart_stampede_03.jpg
Honestly..did everyone everyone in that crowd expect to get something? The lines would have been staggering and virtually anything decent would have been snatched up.
People are suckers; mark up garbage that never sells at "good" prices and they'll eat it up just so they can tell themselves they got something out of waiting in line for hours.
People might love this season and time of year, bur it royally sucks. 26 more days to go..
That was pretty ugly how people could be so inconsiderate, and this guy was just a seasonal temporary worker. I heard that some people cut the line as the doors opened, which influenced the stampede as people who'd waited surged forward.
R-I-P :( :( :(
Yeah, pretty pathetic how junk can be marked up. Anything which wasn't selling can now sell if marked off 50%, making room for newer models of electronics. Those "original prices" could've been MSRPs.
I fully agree to go online. This fevered impulse buying seems like regular folks are out to spend every dollar they have (or don't have), with no chance to comparison shop. If someone truly knows what they want, they should try finding it online and compare both similar products and stores offering similar prices, or possibly deals with related merchandise.
If there's something the store can do differently, within reason, to prevent this kind of thing, of course I'm for it. But blame lies squarely with the as*holes whose only concern was to save a few bucks on their shopping and as a result acted worse than animals. I don't agree at all. If you put so much money at stake and get folks who can get something cheap they otherwise can't afford, they'll react like their lives depend on it. Management is well aware that this is going to happen and they hope it brings scores to their businesses so they can sell everything else that isn't on sale. It's a form of entrapment, and they're trapping folks with less money and often less common sense than most others.
JfromJersey
11-29-08, 10:48 AM
Horrible, but that's mob mentality. The same thing happens at concerts and sporting events. As much as I want to blame the people who trampled this poor guy, more blame rests on the shoulders of those who encourage and create mob scenes and do nothing to control them.
Zippythepinhead
11-29-08, 11:22 AM
I don't agree at all. If you put so much money at stake and get folks who can get something cheap they otherwise can't afford, they'll react like their lives depend on it. Management is well aware that this is going to happen and they hope it brings scores to their businesses so they can sell everything else that isn't on sale. It's a form of entrapment, and they're trapping folks with less money and often less common sense than most others.
I don't think stupidity or poverty excuses an adult from personal responsibility. Nor does the possibility of saving money on consumer electronics.
yankeesAZ
11-29-08, 11:29 AM
Working at Starbucks, I know everything from the layout of the store, the menu and procedures comes right from Seattle (HQ). If they had thousands of stores doing things thousands of different ways, I think there would be more chaos. And some will say how can Corporate know the situation at individual stores? It's this standardidation that allows them to know it. I don't think the issue is with the layout, but rather in the promotion itself. Setting up a sale where only so many people get the sale and you have to be there between X and Y hour is the issue. If stores want to offer these crazy promotions then they should be forced to hire the necessary security and police to make sure things stay orderly. Most of these sales aren't your typical 20% off that you see in flyers, these are drastic reductions. Sort of like if someone sold a BMW for $5,000 but only the first 10 in line get it.
And if there is something at a specific store that the manager feels the layout needs to be different that also has to be cleared with Corporate first.
Best Buy seems to do it right. They hand out tickets for the coveted items at 3am. Now you're good to go and you can come back at 5am without having to kill someone to get your item. Plus they arrange boxes and shelves to keep line cutting at bay.
I've been to Target back when Wii was impossible to get. They handed out tickets to the first 120 people in line (which pretty much covered everyone there that day). Once you have a ticket, no need to stampede. They let 10 people in at a time as to not overrun the cashiers.
Soriambi
11-29-08, 12:30 PM
I would hope that each store manager has the option of selling his sale items the way he/she sees fit. If I'm a relative of the victim here and find out that some Walmart executive mandated this procedure, I'd bring charges.
I'm sure charges will be brought, executive mandate or not (though I agree with Rick that the policy in this case is probably corporate.) I hope his family gets something significant, too, because not having policies in place to address this when it happens every years is dangerously negligent..
Soriambi
11-29-08, 12:34 PM
Best Buy seems to do it right. They hand out tickets for the coveted items at 3am. Now you're good to go and you can come back at 5am without having to kill someone to get your item. Plus they arrange boxes and shelves to keep line cutting at bay.
I've been to Target back when Wii was impossible to get. They handed out tickets to the first 120 people in line (which pretty much covered everyone there that day). Once you have a ticket, no need to stampede. They let 10 people in at a time as to not overrun the cashiers.
Those both seem like a good ways to do it.
PlsDontTearDownY.S.
11-29-08, 02:16 PM
I am still furious about this story. Bunch of freakin animals, all of them. I hope somehow they all have a miserable, miserable Christmas. I could understand if gunshots went off in the store, or if a fire broke out and someone got trampled in that situation. But to act like complete savages to save a few dollars on stupid gifts is unconscionable. People act like savages when food is scarce...or when their survival is in question. To see it happen as a result of consumerism run wild is truly pathetic, and is a sad commmentary of our materialistic culture. Shame on all of them and shame on Walmart for not closing the store down completely.
YankeePride1967
11-29-08, 02:26 PM
Best Buy seems to do it right. They hand out tickets for the coveted items at 3am. Now you're good to go and you can come back at 5am without having to kill someone to get your item. Plus they arrange boxes and shelves to keep line cutting at bay.
I've been to Target back when Wii was impossible to get. They handed out tickets to the first 120 people in line (which pretty much covered everyone there that day). Once you have a ticket, no need to stampede. They let 10 people in at a time as to not overrun the cashiers.
That is how you do it. That way if you do not have the ticket, just leave.
Soriambi
11-29-08, 02:29 PM
That is how you do it. That way if you do not have the ticket, just leave.
And I understand that that would hurt their profits, but it'd be nice if companies did the right thing, taking profit out of the equation, occasionally (especially when it means reducing the amount of danger caused by shopping at your store greatly.)
__starr69
11-29-08, 02:38 PM
Working at Starbucks, I know everything from the layout of the store, the menu and procedures comes right from Seattle (HQ). If they had thousands of stores doing things thousands of different ways, I think there would be more chaos. And some will say how can Corporate know the situation at individual stores? It's this standardidation that allows them to know it. I don't think the issue is with the layout, but rather in the promotion itself. Setting up a sale where only so many people get the sale and you have to be there between X and Y hour is the issue. If stores want to offer these crazy promotions then they should be forced to hire the necessary security and police to make sure things stay orderly. Most of these sales aren't your typical 20% off that you see in flyers, these are drastic reductions. Sort of like if someone sold a BMW for $5,000 but only the first 10 in line get it.
And if there is something at a specific store that the manager feels the layout needs to be different that also has to be cleared with Corporate first.
This.
It is why corporations like McDonald's, Starbucks, Walmart, etc. are so popular: predictability. Store layout and inventory does not fluctuate much, and neither does policy. They would not be so popular if customers did not have the sense of security of seeing the same thing at each store.
I said this in the other thread, but it was also most likely corporate policy not to hire sufficient security.
__starr69
11-29-08, 02:42 PM
And I understand that that would hurt their profits, but it'd be nice if companies did the right thing, taking profit out of the equation, occasionally (especially when it means reducing the amount of danger caused by shopping at your store greatly.)
And in the end, I think this is more customer-friendly. As a human being, I know I don't want to be in a mob scene, and I'll always take the option of peaceful shopping. Best Buy's method would get my business well before Walmart's, no matter how long I would have to wait.
YankeePride1967
11-29-08, 03:10 PM
This.
It is why corporations like McDonald's, Starbucks, Walmart, etc. are so popular: predictability. Store layout and inventory does not fluctuate much, and neither does policy. They would not be so popular if customers did not have the sense of security of seeing the same thing at each store.
I said this in the other thread, but it was also most likely corporate policy not to hire sufficient security.
I believe that to be correct. There is very little that goes on in individual chains that are not per the instructions of Corporate even down to hiring of security.
Meecham4ever
11-29-08, 03:42 PM
Supposedly some customers became irate when told that the score was closing because a man had been trampled to death...perhaps those who wished to continue shopping could have done so after the doors had been locked and the store set ablaze. :mad:
Soriambi
11-29-08, 03:49 PM
Supposedly some customers became irate when told that the score was closing because a man had been trampled to death...perhaps those who wished to continue shopping could have done so after the doors had been locked and the store set ablaze. :mad:
I didn't even think they'd closed the store. I'm glad to hear that they had the sense to do that, at least.
__starr69
11-29-08, 04:08 PM
I didn't even think they'd closed the store. I'm glad to hear that they had the sense to do that, at least.
Acording to the first news story I read yesterday they closed and later reopened the store at 1PM.
4bronxbombers
11-29-08, 04:15 PM
Acording to the first news story I read yesterday they closed and later reopened the store at 1PM.
Once they cleaned up the mess.
Sickening.
NelsonMuntz
11-29-08, 05:03 PM
I am still furious about this story. Bunch of freakin animals, all of them. I hope somehow they all have a miserable, miserable Christmas. I could understand if gunshots went off in the store, or if a fire broke out and someone got trampled in that situation. But to act like complete savages to save a few dollars on stupid gifts is unconscionable. People act like savages when food is scarce...or when their survival is in question. To see it happen as a result of consumerism run wild is truly pathetic, and is a sad commmentary of our materialistic culture. Shame on all of them and shame on Walmart for not closing the store down completely.
My thoughts exactly. Sorry excuses for human beings.
YankeePride1967
11-29-08, 07:11 PM
My thoughts exactly. Sorry excuses for human beings.
You are being too kind.
TheManKnownAsMecca
11-29-08, 10:37 PM
I didn't even think they'd closed the store. I'm glad to hear that they had the sense to do that, at least.
They eventually did close the store. BUT... as someone said many shoppers were irate and told the store management that they were not leaving as they waited in line for many hours. For whatever reason, management showed no spine and any customers that were in the store were allowed to make their purchases and were taken to their cars by police and security personnel once finished.
yankeeschic12324
11-29-08, 10:39 PM
Some people are unbelievable...shame on them. Savages...
Octoberbaby
11-30-08, 12:39 AM
I am still furious about this story. Bunch of freakin animals, all of them. I hope somehow they all have a miserable, miserable Christmas. I could understand if gunshots went off in the store, or if a fire broke out and someone got trampled in that situation. But to act like complete savages to save a few dollars on stupid gifts is unconscionable. People act like savages when food is scarce...or when their survival is in question. To see it happen as a result of consumerism run wild is truly pathetic, and is a sad commmentary of our materialistic culture. Shame on all of them and shame on Walmart for not closing the store down completely.
If I remember correctly it was also in this same town where people got shot in the movie theatre some years back. I think you have to go through a metal detector to get into that movie theatre. Not a very safe place. :eek:
CallOfTheCrow
11-30-08, 01:02 AM
First time I've been this angry over something I've read since those kids filming themselves beating up on a helpless girl.
teknetic
11-30-08, 01:42 AM
I can't find the link, but there was a "nice" picture on Yahoo of people standing in a line wrapped around the building. Just brushed it off like nothing I suppose?
yankeesAZ
11-30-08, 08:33 AM
I do hope some of these people, especially the ones that stepped on the guy and the ones who were irate that a death may interrupt their bargain hunting are made famous. I want "TMZ-like" cameras right in their face.
4bronxbombers
11-30-08, 08:39 AM
I read the article in the NY Times this morning and saw the picture of the poor man that was killed - they called him Jimbo. :( I can't even express how sorry I am for the man and his family, friends and co-workers and how angry I am at the people who killed him yet kept walking/running over his body as he lie on the ground. And of course for corporate greed that encourages and promotes this type of crazy shopping/behavior. Despicable is too kind of a word for these people. :( :mad:
Meecham4ever
11-30-08, 09:04 AM
I read the article in the NY Times this morning and saw the picture of the poor man that was killed - they called him Jimbo. :( I can't even express how sorry I am for the man and his family, friends and co-workers and how angry I am at the people who killed him yet kept walking/running over his body as he lie on the ground. And of course for corporate greed that encourages and promotes this type of crazy shopping/behavior. Despicable is too kind of a word for these people. :( :mad:
"People" is too kind a word for them.
NelsonMuntz
11-30-08, 01:03 PM
First time I've been this angry over something I've read since those kids filming themselves beating up on a helpless girl.
Yeah that p*ssed me off too. Whatever happened to those kids? I hope they didn't get off with just a slap on the wrist (although I suspect that's probably the case).
yankeeman61
11-30-08, 01:22 PM
I don't agree at all. If you put so much money at stake and get folks who can get something cheap they otherwise can't afford, they'll react like their lives depend on it. Management is well aware that this is going to happen and they hope it brings scores to their businesses so they can sell everything else that isn't on sale. It's a form of entrapment, and they're trapping folks with less money and often less common sense than most others.
I agree the store is responsible for knowingly creating the scenario you described and there will be a lawsuit (I'm sure). Wal-Mart obviously did not protect their employees and they are responsible. But I am not ready to excuse the personal responsibility of those who pushed, shoved and trampled regardless of their financial circumstances. I also believe entrapment to be extremely difficult to prove and would likely be charged as negligence.
penfold
11-30-08, 06:47 PM
What's truly sad is that this story really won the dumb news story of the day award. And this was the same day that two nutjobs pulled guns on each other in a Toys R Us (in Palm Desert, CA). They ran around the store, chasing each other, and firing their guns. The good news -- if there is any -- is that they killed each other and nobody else got hurt. But WTF???? Doing this $#!+ in a toy store?!?!?!?!?
Sometimes, people truly suck.
I agree the store is responsible for knowingly creating the scenario you described and there will be a lawsuit (I'm sure). Wal-Mart obviously did not protect their employees and they are responsible. But I am not ready to excuse the personal responsibility of those who pushed, shoved and trampled regardless of their financial circumstances. I also believe entrapment to be extremely difficult to prove and would likely be charged as negligence. While nobody can excuse trampling someone to death, you cannot logically tell a huge crowd that the first 20 that make if from the door to the TV section without running will get $500 off the price of a big HDTV, and expect them to just walk real fast. That just isn't going to work.
Octoberbaby
11-30-08, 09:51 PM
What's truly sad is that this story really won the dumb news story of the day award. And this was the same day that two nutjobs pulled guns on each other in a Toys R Us (in Palm Desert, CA). They ran around the store, chasing each other, and firing their guns. The good news -- if there is any -- is that they killed each other and nobody else got hurt. But WTF???? Doing this $#!+ in a toy store?!?!?!?!?
Sometimes, people truly suck.
I heard about that. Thank God nobody else got hurt. I am glad I wasn't there! :eek:
yankeesAZ
11-30-08, 11:29 PM
While nobody can excuse trampling someone to death, you cannot logically tell a huge crowd that the first 20 that make if from the door to the TV section without running will get $500 off the price of a big HDTV, and expect them to just walk real fast. That just isn't going to work.
My guess is Walmart will change they way the run Black Friday. Unfortunately, someone had to die first to bring about that change.
I do hope they get the holy hell sued out of them.
dabomb2045
12-01-08, 12:17 AM
I really hope they find out the people who did the trampling (the first several that knocked him over anyways) and make these people pay. It sickens me that these "people" are living with themselves right now, knowing they did this, and probably arent feeling bad about it one bit.
Octoberbaby
12-01-08, 01:06 AM
My guess is Walmart will change they way the run Black Friday. Unfortunately, someone had to die first to bring about that change.
I do hope they get the holy hell sued out of them.
I agree. I for one would not miss Walmart one bit if they go out of business. They are not known for treating their employees very well.
Octoberbaby
12-01-08, 01:10 AM
I really hope they find out the people who did the trampling (the first several that knocked him over anyways) and make these people pay. It sickens me that these "people" are living with themselves right now, knowing they did this, and probably arent feeling bad about it one bit.
There were some people that I am sure were just dragged along by the mob and could not help but trample others in the melee. They were probably trying to get out of the mob alive themselves. However, the ones who stormed the doors to begin with are the real culprits.
CallOfTheCrow
12-01-08, 01:13 AM
Are they actually looking to press charges somehow or are they going to just chalk this up as an "accident?"
Casey at the Bat
12-01-08, 02:30 AM
I agree. I for one would not miss Walmart one bit if they go out of business. They are not known for treating their employees very well.
I would miss walmart very much if they were gone. At last count, 5 family members worked at walmart in one capacity or another.
As for the incident in question, it is quite a tragedy, and could have easily been avoided with proper planning. I will never understand the draw of black friday shopping.
Casey at the Bat
12-01-08, 02:31 AM
Are they actually looking to press charges somehow or are they going to just chalk this up as an "accident?"
Last I read, they were trying to identify the people through video surveillence, but I don't know how successful they have been so far.
Jersey Yankee
12-01-08, 06:15 AM
And I understand that that would hurt their profits, but it'd be nice if companies did the right thing, taking profit out of the equation, occasionally (especially when it means reducing the amount of danger caused by shopping at your store greatly.)
To hell with profit. When they closed the store down for a few hours, no cash registers were going ka-ching. Having their name in the paper related to a teporary employee's death doesn't exactly inspire consumer confidence, which turns into a lack of profit.
They'd better settle this quickly, since they're in a lose-lose situation. Everybody knows that you hire cops and competent licensed security guards. That upcoming lawsuit and both parties' legal fees will defnitely eat into profit. If it goes to trial, their corporate reputation is lessened as the ugly and gruesome facts and are brought out.
BTW, I saw some pix in the Saturday Post and Daily News of the mob that day. It was just a huge bunch of people, but I'm unsure if they were taken before the unfortunate trampling when the store opened, or after 911 and EMS was called, when the store was temporarily closed.
allybear
12-01-08, 01:17 PM
If I remember correctly it was also in this same town where people got shot in the movie theatre some years back. I think you have to go through a metal detector to get into that movie theatre. Not a very safe place. :eek:
What's ironic is that the mall next to that Walmart used to be really bad and it had improved - they hired a lot more security and got more stores and it's actually not that bad now. I'm glad I wasn't there - not that I'd be up at 5 a.m., but that's the Walmart I usually go to.
Scary stuff...
I work for a Wal-Mart that went from being a regular store that closed Thanksgiving day to a super center that only closes Christmas Day and that makes a big difference. People were already in the store and guarding the stuff they wanted when I walked in at 4:20 am. It was not the rushing mob that the other stores and I'm thrilled. When we were a regular store our old store manager used to get hurt opening the doors. He would not allow anyone else to do it and he made sure that people were out of the way before the doors got opened so tha no employees got hurt in the rush.
This year I think we only had one fight, one employee got hit by a customer and as far as I know the only time the police, who were sitting in the parking lot ready to come in if needed, came in was when a customer refused to show his receipt. Not that any of this was acceptable behavior but it was definitely better than someone getting killed.
WashingtonYankee
12-01-08, 07:00 PM
This is disgusting. The first thing I thought about was Paul (Dabsy).
This convo was also a hot topic among our servers this weekend.
Prayers out to the family and friends of the victim.
This is disgusting. The first thing I thought about was Paul (Dabsy).
This convo was also a hot topic among our servers this weekend.
Prayers out to the family and friends of the victim.
You have people who serve you?
4bronxbombers
12-01-08, 09:36 PM
This is disgusting. The first thing I thought about was Paul (Dabsy).
This convo was also a hot topic among our servers this weekend.
Prayers out to the family and friends of the victim.
Does he still work there? I remember him writing a post about his job there.
JeterRodriguezSheff
12-01-08, 11:54 PM
Are they actually looking to press charges somehow or are they going to just chalk this up as an "accident?"
I see it as very hard for charges to be pressed, for one it will be very hard to identify a select group of people in a giant mob who could have been the cause of the situation, and secondly proving that they were in fact guilty of a crime will be a hard task in this situation as well. I dont think both of those conditions will be met.
4bronxbombers
12-02-08, 08:25 PM
I see it as very hard for charges to be pressed, for one it will be very hard to identify a select group of people in a giant mob who could have been the cause of the situation, and secondly proving that they were in fact guilty of a crime will be a hard task in this situation as well. I dont think both of those conditions will be met.
Agree plus they said the doubted that people would identify people they knew. Sad all around - what a terrible tragedy.
Octoberbaby
12-03-08, 01:55 AM
I would miss walmart very much if they were gone. At last count, 5 family members worked at walmart in one capacity or another.
As for the incident in question, it is quite a tragedy, and could have easily been avoided with proper planning. I will never understand the draw of black friday shopping.
Walmart is resposible for the poor planning and will probably be sued by the family of the deceased.
Since you have 5 family members working there, in your opinion, are they a good employer? Because, as I understand it Costco pays their employees more and gives them all the benefits as well. I would rather work for a company like Costco.
4bronxbombers
12-03-08, 06:00 AM
Walmart is resposible for the poor planning and will probably be sued by the family of the deceased.
Since you have 5 family members working there, in your opinion, are they a good employer? Because, as I understand it Costco pays their employees more and gives them all the benefits as well. I would rather work for a company like Costco.
I did hear there are 2 lawsuits so far from a few that were injured in the stampede.
Octoberbaby
12-03-08, 07:29 PM
I did hear there are 2 lawsuits so far from a few that were injured in the stampede.
Walmart better have some deep pockets!
Soriambi
12-03-08, 08:52 PM
Walmart better have some deep pockets!
I assure you that their pockets are quite deep. :lol:
I hope the bastards didn't get their presents.
Octoberbaby
12-03-08, 09:52 PM
I assure you that their pockets are quite deep. :lol:
No surprise considering how cheap they are with their employees.
It's events like this that make me believe we haven't progressed passed the primitive days.
Casey at the Bat
12-03-08, 10:52 PM
Walmart is resposible for the poor planning and will probably be sued by the family of the deceased.
Since you have 5 family members working there, in your opinion, are they a good employer? Because, as I understand it Costco pays their employees more and gives them all the benefits as well. I would rather work for a company like Costco.
There are a lot of places I would rather work at than Wal-Mart. But, my family is uneducated, so they work where they can. Between the 5 family members that work there, two have a high school diploma. On of those two is only 20 and has no plans to go to college. The other became a mother at 14, and is now 26 and supporting her family on her own... on Wal-Mart wages. They get decent benefits for what is basically a very unskilled job.
Is Wal-Mart a good employer? I dunno, cause I don't work there. But I know at my own job, there are employers that pay more and give better benefits than I get. That will almost always be true, no matter where you work. I imagine letter carriers get paid more than I do, and have better benefits (I am a teacher). But I don't want to be a letter carrier. My family could leave Wal-Mart and work somewhere else, but they haven't, so it must not be that bad. One of my sisters went through some program to be a dental assistant. I asked her why she works at Wal-Mart instead of being a dental assistant. She told me that Wal-Mart pays more.
None of my family is rich, but they get by. I don't really expect anything much more than just "getting by" when you work at a place like Wal-Mart.
fredgmuggs
12-04-08, 06:07 AM
Walmart better have some deep pockets!I read the family members are also considering going after the local police department.
thecaptain
12-04-08, 12:36 PM
I am surprised that this has not happen before.....
West Texas
12-04-08, 12:53 PM
Walmart better have some deep pockets!
It does, specifically for events like just like this one.
Octoberbaby
12-05-08, 01:55 AM
I read the family members are also considering going after the local police department.
The police department were not responsible for what happens at Walmart. Walmart should have their own security available for events like this. Unless the police were hired by Walmart just to police this event, they are not at fault.
Octoberbaby
12-05-08, 01:57 AM
There are a lot of places I would rather work at than Wal-Mart. But, my family is uneducated, so they work where they can. Between the 5 family members that work there, two have a high school diploma. On of those two is only 20 and has no plans to go to college. The other became a mother at 14, and is now 26 and supporting her family on her own... on Wal-Mart wages. They get decent benefits for what is basically a very unskilled job.
Is Wal-Mart a good employer? I dunno, cause I don't work there. But I know at my own job, there are employers that pay more and give better benefits than I get. That will almost always be true, no matter where you work. I imagine letter carriers get paid more than I do, and have better benefits (I am a teacher). But I don't want to be a letter carrier. My family could leave Wal-Mart and work somewhere else, but they haven't, so it must not be that bad. One of my sisters went through some program to be a dental assistant. I asked her why she works at Wal-Mart instead of being a dental assistant. She told me that Wal-Mart pays more.
None of my family is rich, but they get by. I don't really expect anything much more than just "getting by" when you work at a place like Wal-Mart.
I was just saying that Costco also has unskilled jobs available and I hear they pay very well and, from what I have heard, treat their employees very well.
4bronxbombers
12-05-08, 06:01 AM
The police department were not responsible for what happens at Walmart. Walmart should have their own security available for events like this. Unless the police were hired by Walmart just to police this event, they are not at fault.
Totally agree......geez, people....
If they insist on this ridiculous practice, they're going to have to devise some sort of "take a number" system, and then have the personnel to back it up. And police on hand.
johnnyyankee
12-05-08, 08:32 AM
I found out last night that the victim of this crime, Jdimytai Damour is the cousin of my daughter's friend at school. This may sound strange, but the whole thing feels worse to me now that I can associate a family and face to the incident.
4bronxbombers
12-05-08, 06:43 PM
I found out last night that the victim of this crime, Jdimytai Damour is the cousin of my daughter's friend at school. This may sound strange, but the whole thing feels worse to me now that I can associate a family and face to the incident.
RIP Jimbo. :(
I know.....that brings in a connection and makes it even worse.:(
TheHugeUnit2
12-05-08, 11:40 PM
I saw this on the news and thought it was a joke or something. Jesus its crazy to think this happened.
If I might be able to shed some light onto this horrible situation. Sorry I haven't been around but i have been at my wal-mart during the christmas season and this is probably the first day off i have had to reflect on this. Not to mention get on my computer.
I have been reading a lot of your posts and i agree whole heartedly with you on most issues. Just wanted to shed some light on how or why this could of happened. First of all this wal-mart in particular is what as known as a division 1 wal-mart. Meaning it doesn't stay open 24 hours a day like supercenters and it closes Christmas easter and Thanksgiving.Although some are now staying open till 6 on thanksgiving. Take mine we were open for thanksgiving through black friday. So customers can come into the store at their own free will they just cant touch any of the special deals till 5am. In my store we handed out maps to where the stuff was located and we had it seperated in different parts of the store so the madness could be spread out.
When i first heard this story The first thing that came to my mind was... Where was the store manager or at least an assistant manager. A memeber of management should of been there to open the doors first and formost. I am sure wal-mart will deal with that issue first! and the consequences won't be good! Secondly most wal-marts coordinate with some sort of security companyor local police for specific dealings. Depending on how busy the store will be. On Black friday we usually have a security agency in our store manage the people and when the frenzy hits they are put in those key areas where the hot merchandise is. Then they rotate to the doors to check reciepts. Not sure went on at this store...
I totally agree that this black friday was very busy for most retailers. But people have got to realize if you get the stuff you get it and if you don't Im sure you will get it by christmas! I am sure that most retailers work the same way. We had stuff till about 1030 am and we were selling alot. Not to mention This black friday has been probably been the busiest i have seen in my 11 years and 12 black fridays with the company. It stayed non-stop till about 1 or 2 in the afternoon then it was busy from 2 till about 5 then steady the rest of the day. Yes the economy has a big part to play in it. and we do save people alot of money. But shopping is an addiction the more you save the more you spend. and that is what causes the frenzy on Black Friday.As Far as customers; they have always been crazy on Black Friday... Maybe its too much turkey from the day before or something else. But Something makes them go absolutely nuts on that friday after thanksgiving. There are more variables that control sales... weather conditions, timing of the season etc etc.. but i won't bother you why people shop the way they do.
As far as the morning of Black Friday.... This is just for those people in Long ISLAND that day.. Or any crazy people that shop black friday in the Future. PEOPLE!!! you need to realize that Wal-mart will have your item in stock for black Friday and they will usually have enough to go around. Especially on the busiest shopping day of the YEAR!! We do want to sell you stuff ya know. Wal-mart does want to make MONEY!!! So take your time getting into the store and try not to trample down the doors or try to play demolition derby trying to get to your item. IT WILL BE THERE FOR YOU!!!!!!!RELAX AND SHOP!!
It was a travesty to say the least what happened in Long Island. I am sure that wal-mart will work on its operations for next year. So that nothing like this happens again.
I hope you and yours have a safe and happy holiday shopping season.
DABSY
Paul
Powered by vBulletin™ Version 4.0.7 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
0