JohnstonPatch Asks... You Answer

Will You Brave The Black Friday Crowds This Year? [POLL]

Do you plan to go shopping today?

  Named for the color used to show that businesses have turned a profit, "Black Friday" has become a bellwether for predicting how well the holiday shopping season will be. But with America still recovering from The Great Recession and stubborn unemployment, there's a chance that this year's Black Friday may be further proof of ongoing problems. Then again, the first official day of the holiday shopping season — and the deep discounts offered by most retailers — usually draw hordes of deal-hunting shoppers and could be a sign of a rebound in consumer spending. So, which are you — a deal hunter, or someone who avoids Black Friday? Let us know by casting a vote in our poll, and posting your comments below.

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Walmart Pushes Back Black Friday Opening in Rhode Island

The retail giant has already released its Black Friday sale circular online.

Shoppers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts will have to wait until after Thanksgiving to take advantage of Black Friday sales at retail giant Walmart. While Walmart locations across the rest of the country will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Massachusetts and Rhode Island’s Blue Laws prohibit the store to open that early in those two states. Instead, Walmart will open at 1 a.m., which is also the time many other retailers, including Target, plan to open for business on Black Friday.  Shoppers don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to find out about the Black Friday sales at Walmart. The company already has released its circular for the sale. For more ads, check out this site called Black Friday Ads. The sales for a number of retailers are …

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Patch Poll Results: Sitting Out Black Friday, Carnevale Should Resign

Here's a look at the recent polls on JohnstonPatch — and how readers responded.

Readers of JohnstonPatch said they planned not to shop on Black Friday, and a majority agreed that Rep. John Carnevale, recently indicted on sexual assault charges, should step down. Most voters in a recent poll on holiday giving also said they planned to do something for the less fortunate, with most donating food; and majorities of readers said Rhode Island could do more to prevent drunk driving. (Results are as of 1 p.m. on Nov. 29.) Of 113 voters in our recent poll on whether they'd brave the Black Friday crowds to shop, 91 (80 percent) said they weren't going to do any of their holiday shopping that day. Following Rep. John Carnevale's not guilty plea at his Nov. 16 indictment on sexual assault charges, we asked our readers whether he…

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5 Things To Know Today: Nov. 26

Black Friday poll; local Black Friday hours; Small Biz Saturday is tomorrow; learn about nature at PCM; and today in history: JFK laid to rest.

Black Friday: JohnstonPatch asks: Are you heading out to shop today? Take our poll and post comments. Sales: We've got the info on Black Friday hours at three local chain discounters — click here to find hours and locations. Shop Local: The North Central Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to open from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow in support of Small Business Saturday. Get Out Of The House: Are your kids climbing the walls? Take them over to Provience Children's Museum for a performance by Lindsay Adler as Mother Nature. Shows are at 1 and 3 p.m.; Admission is $8.50 per person. Somber Anniversary: On this date in 1963, assassinated President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington Nationla Cemetery.

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Discounters In Johnston Post 'Black Friday' Hours

Burlington Coat Factory and BJ's Wholesale Club in the Stone Hill Marketplace, and the newly-opened Ocean State Job Lot are scheduled to hold special hours this Friday.

While Johnston may not be home to a mall — or even a Wal-Mart (there's one over the line in Cranston) — there are a handful of stores who are advertising special hours for "Black Friday" on Nov. 25. Near the center of town, where Shaw's Supermarket used to be, the newly-opened Ocean State Job Lot is scheduled to open at midnight for early birds and stay open until 11 p.m. on Friday. And in the Stone Hill Marketplace, just off Route 6, both Burlington Coat Factory (on the lower level) and BJ's Wholesale Club (at the top of the hill) are set to open early — Burlington at 5 a.m. (open until 11 p.m.), and BJ's at 7 a.m. Follow the links above to each company's website for more information and special deals.

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POLL: Will You Brave The Black Friday Brou-ha-ha?

There are only four days left till the big shopping day.

Named for the color used to show that businesses have turned a profit, "Black Friday" has become a bellwether for predicting how well the holiday shopping season will be. But with America still in the grip of The Great Recession and stubborn unemployment, there's a chance that this year's Black Friday may be proof of ongoing problems. Then again, the first official day of the holiday shopping season — and the deep discounts offered by most retailers — usually draw hordes of deal-hunting shoppers and could be a sign of a rebound in consumer spending. So, which are you — a deal hunter, or someone who avoids Black Friday? Let us know by casting a vote in our poll, and posting your comments below.

•  4 Comments
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Stephen Greenwell

4:52 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Erin, I totally agree. I'd warn parents to be especially careful on video game prices, an area in which many people aren't really that cognizant. Check out the prices on Amazon and eBay, which tend to be fairly stable, before you wait in line for the big ticket items.   more ›