Thread: Black Friday ?

Originally Posted by Tote

Not that I particularly like it Australia has always been influenced by American culture.

Not always, Tote. I'm probably older than you. The British influence was predominant in my youth. We had Morris or Austin cars, Ford Zephyrs, or if you were a snob like my mum (there's another... mom ) Daimlers. We had, at least in Victoria, formula horsepower charges on registration, just like postwar England.
What happened, IMO, was the availability of cheap US TV shows, obviously funded by advertising $$$, that took over. This was followed by, wait for it, Safeway. We used to have local groceries. Then, near where I grew up, Australia was luck enough to get a SUPERMARKET. What an innovation that was. Chuck in Maccas, Kentucky Fried as it was then, K-Mart and the invasion is done. I refuse to shop at any of them, and I wouldn't feed Maccas to a dog.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

Next we will the celebrating Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Don't get me started on this crap, next thing it'll be independence day and thanks giving.

Must be an echo in this thread

Or perhaps like minded people?? I'd be another...

I think Australian retailers have taken on this "weird" sales gimmick because with the availability of online shopping many were losing money to American retailers at this time of year. Particularly when our dollar was up a bit (doesn't happen often), coupled with cheap freight.

As for Halloween, that is just an exercise in marketing that has, unfortunately, made it's way here thanks to the likes of the Brady Bunch, Happy Days, et al, the "wholesome family entertainment shows". Was never a thing when I was a kid.

I now work in retail and this new phenomenon of "Black Friday" is a real PITA. Many come in and just want that whole store to be on sale, then complain when it isn't, "but it's black friday".

Originally Posted by ChookD2

. Many come in and just want that whole store to be on sale, then complain when it isn't, "but it's black friday".

Shame it isn't 1939. However, ignorance is just that.

Originally Posted by Tins

Not always, Tote. I'm probably older than you. The British influence was predominant in my youth. We had Morris or Austin cars, Ford Zephyrs, or if you were a snob like my mum (there's another... mom ) Daimlers. We had, at least in Victoria, formula horsepower charges on registration, just like postwar England.
What happened, IMO, was the availability of cheap US TV shows, obviously funded by advertising $$$, that took over. This was followed by, wait for it, Safeway. We used to have local groceries. Then, near where I grew up, Australia was luck enough to get a SUPERMARKET. What an innovation that was. Chuck in Maccas, Kentucky Fried as it was then, K-Mart and the invasion is done. I refuse to shop at any of them, and I wouldn't feed Maccas to a dog.

No, not always, but it has been going for a long time. As I grew up our family however had the Ford T, replaced by a Reo, but then a Swift (of Coventry), replaced by an Austin, then a Simca. My uncles drove Chryslers, Morrisses, Rovers, Pontiacs. My sister married a man driving a Ford Custom, which replaced his Chevrolet (but it was replaced by a Zephyr). Every day on the way to school I passed a business whose entire living came from selling Chevrolet fours.

Going back further, as an example, Cobb and Co coaches design came from the USA. In fact, the first major US influence came with the Gold Rush in the 1850s. With travel to and from California being quicker and easier than travel to the UK, there was already a lot of communication between here and the west coast of the USA, and when gold was discovered in California in 1849, a lot of Australians headed there. Successful and unsuccessful miners returned a few years later, and sparked the goldrush here, and sent for their mates in California.

While Australia had an infant film industry before WW1, by the 1920s the vast majority of films shown in Australia came from Hollywood, together with fashion trends, and a lot of social trends, and after talkies appeared from around 1930, American popular music took hold.

American TV programs have only continued the influence that has been going on for well over a hundred and fifty years.

Who cares

I get some great deals on gear I want today and Cyber monday from online stores all over the globe. So I'm happy.

Some one asked on our local community face book other day " why don't grocery stores have Black Friday sales " my answer was " they sell things that you need , were the others sell things you don't need but desire & can't afford " They must have a hell of a mark up to be able to give up to 50% off & still be making money.