Wal-Mart Unintentional Site for filming of "Black Friday Down"

Among the myriad of preparation advice dispensed on Black Friday shoppers, which included advanced preparation and research, it appears that a vital contingency was omitted: eye protective gear. This item would have come in handy fortwenty-plus shoppers in Los Angeles who found themselves under the attack of a woman said to be “competitive-shopping.” The New York Daily News reports that the trouble started shortly after a Wal-Mart WMT store opened for Black Friday business at 10:20pm on Thursday, and a female suspect allegedly unleashed pepper spray on her fellow shoppers in order to gain better access as covers were removed on the electronic merchandise she was seeking. It is unclear whether the pepper spray gave rise to the frenzied battle for the electronics that were unveiled, or whether it was a defensive maneuver; the result of being shoved in the front lines. Police said the suspect has yet to be apprehended, as twenty of her victims were lightly injured by the spray and the resulting stampede. With unemployment at record highs and consumer confidence at record lows, desires to get great deals are more prevalent than ever as people look to get the most for their dwindling discretionary income this holiday season. It seems that the pressure is pushing some people beyond the limits of decency. The incident at this Los Angeles Wal-Mart store points out to an issue that retailers may have possibly overlooked: crowd/damage/crazy people control. While it is unclear yet what the exact catalyst was at the store (aside from the obvious), Wal-Mart may have underestimated (once again) the disruptive effects of a large number of enthusiastic and “competitive” shoppers coming into immediate contact with a limited selection of merchandise. These assumptions notwithstanding, one thing is for sure: trampled-over displays, merchandise and customers was not what Wal-Mart had in mind when touting “doorbuster” deals.