The COVID-19 pandemic is changing so many things in our lives. The latest: How we'll do our holiday shopping this year.
Those frenzied Thanksgiving night Black Friday sales, a 20-year tradition, appear to be over, at least for 2020.
Stores cannot risk large crowds with the pandemic still spreading.
That means they have no choice but to end the mad rush to stores Thanksgiving evening.
Some of the country's biggest Black Friday retailers have announced in the past two weeks they will not open Thanksgiving evening and will focus on online shopping instead that night.
Stores that will not open Thanksgiving Day this year include:
- Walmart
- Kohl's
- Target
- Best Buy
Others stores that will be closed on Thanksgiving night (that were also closed last year) include: Home Depot, Lowe's, Sam's Club, Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Nordstrom.
Forbes magazine calls it a great decision, a win for both shoppers and store employees who can finally enjoy Thanksgiving dinner as customers grab those laptops, flat-screen TVs and Instant Pots online.
What if you prefer in-store shopping?
But from the doesn't that stink file, now holiday shopping could be difficult if you enjoy the in-store experience or the thrill of the hunt.
Many families make Thanksgiving night an annual event, strategically hitting different stores, then all meeting at IHOP for pancakes when they are done. No more.
Most stores are limited to just 25% to 50% capacity now, which will likely mean lines outside their doors when they open on Friday morning after Thanksgiving.
As a result, online shopping is expected to explode this fall, with Forbes expecting Black Friday deals to start as early as October in order to spread out the rush.
The key to holiday shopping this year will be starting early, because no one wants to have to stand and wait outside a store that has reached its capacity limit in mid-December.
As always, don't waste your money.
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