It has become as traditional as a Thanksgiving turkey or a Christmas tree, Black Friday.
Millions will be out bargain-hunting the Friday after Thanksgiving, kicking-off to the holiday retail season. And as those millions converge on stores across the nation, things can get a little, well, annoying.
According to a Consumer Reports survey, it is not just crowds and traffic jams that irritate holiday shoppers, bus some retail practices do too. Like coupons that exclude to many items, and salespeople pushing extra warranties and store credit cards. The number one annoyance, long checkout lines.
"The fact that you have 25 different cashiers open, you know, or 25 different cash register sites there, but only maybe 3 or 4 are open," Todd Marks, Consumer Reports, said.
It is Black Friday pitfalls like those that retailers aim to avoid.
"The conversations start early, they happen often. Retailers prepare by making sure the store is staffed properly, the signage is right, the items are in place," Joe Larocca, National Retail Federation, said.
At Best Buy stores in New York, employees have been rehearsing to prepare for Friday's crowds.
"Just preparing them for that expected day, and, you know, through the rest of the holiday season," Amy Adoniz, Best Buy, said.
Retailer's just hope shoppers leave merry and brighter, and their wallets a little lighter.
"No matter how bad the economy is, even though people tell us they're going to be cutting back, they're still going to be spending," Marks said.
