Report: Shoppers unfazed as man dies at Target

By NBC News and msnbc.com staff

Family and friends were stunned by the loss of a West Virginia man who died while shopping on Black Friday as fellow bargain hunters reportedly walked around — and even over — the man’s body.

Family members told WSAZ-TV that 61-year-old Walter Vance of Logan County, W. Va., had become ill and collapsed while shopping for Christmas decorations inside Target in South Charleston. He later died after being taken to the hospital, family said.

Witnesses told the NBC News affiliate in Charleston, W. Wa., that shoppers walked around and even over Vance’s body.

"Where is the good Samaritan side of people?” Vance’s co-worker and friend Sue Compton told WSAZ. “How could you not notice someone was in trouble? I just don't understand if people didn't help what their reason was, other than greed because of a sale."

Vance had joined in the crowded frenzy of deal seekers at Target shortly after midnight on Friday. He had been searching for holiday odds and ends to complete his display at his newly remodeled workplace at Aracoma Drug Company store in Chapman, co-worker Annette Fortune told msnbc.com on Saturday.

“He was so excited about Christmas this year, he wanted everyone to enjoy the holiday he loved so much,” Fortune said.

Vance had been working at the Aracoma Drug Company store since he was 16 and later became its co-owner in the 1970s.

Friends say Vance had been suffering from heart problems for years and had open heart surgery in 2000, but his death came as a shock.

An E.R. nurse who also happened to be shopping at the store tried to administer CPR. She and an off-duty paramedic tried to help Vance while he was on the floor.

“The world lost a wonderful angel,” co-worker Beth Wright told msnbc.com, adding: “We lost our best friend and our best boss.”

Efforts by WSAZ and msnbc.com to reach Target for a statement was unsuccessful.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com...s-man-dies-at-target

I don't know what disgusts me more, the businesses that encourage this idiotic behavior with their stupid advertising and sales, or the sad people that look forward to acting like animals come Black Friday.

Sh!t like this makes me sad about the direction our country continues to move in.

Ahh the human race at its best

I know the media reports this stuff every Black Friday.

But I have a hunch that this kind of stuff goes on everyday around the country but isn't really reported to the extent as it Black Friday.

Let the yearly commercial consumption orgy begin.

I hate what Christmas has become.

I read about a woman that as soon as they pulled the tarp off some x-boxes she maced the people in line so she could run around them and get one.

Sad news, but maybe they thought he was sleeping? Anybody with a heart conditions shouldn't be at any place were crazies roam, especially on Black Friday. You might be shocked that the items aren't that cheaper anyway. The only thing worst is he didn't die at Kmart or Dollar tree while shopping for employees. People there might use you as a step stool to get at items for sale.

I stopped by BestBuy to check around 4am too see if my GoPro camera was cheaper than it was last week when I bought it. It wasn't so I left the store.The lines were like a maze snaking it's way nearly to the back of the store. My guess it you needed to stand in line for at least one hour or so to get out of there. Surely, if the crazies won't kill you the waiting in line will.

Edit.... NSFW lauguage in video.

Wow, there are so many youtube stampede videos, by golly, that's a whole nights entertainment right there.

I thought Burl Ives singing was appropiate.

[This message has been edited by jetman (edited 11-26-2011).]

Evidently the "Occupy" folks had an epic FAIL! in their attempt to discourage consumerism and retail spending on black friday. Sales were reported to be at near record levels with a 6-7% increase over last year's volume. I guess most of the 99% missed the memo that they were being represented by these folks.

quote (SEATTLE, WA NOV 24-2011) -- Some Occupy Wall Street demonstrators are planning to occupy various retailers around the country on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, as an action against the businesses they perceive as being “in the pockets of Wall Street.” The Black Friday website says the purpose is to occupy chain stores and publicly traded retail firms to “hit the 1% where it hurts - in the wallet.” Here in our area Occupy Seattle will join Occupy Tacoma, Occupy Bellingham and Occupy Everett in a statewide protest at the Wal-Mart in Renton at 2:00 pm Friday Nov. 25. “With its long history of mistreating workers and suppliers, its recent announcement of significant cutbacks on employee health care, and its obscene profits, Wal-Mart is a prime example of how the 99% are suffering at the hands of the 1%,” says a statement on the Occupy Wall Street website. The group claims Wal-Mart is representative of how big business is destructive to democracy. According to a recent published report the average Wal-Mart worker makes $8.81 per hour. The occupy movement also plans demonstrations at retail outlets in Boston and New York.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/1.../black_friday_sales/

quote Boston.com Black Friday sales hit record, says report CNN - ‎1 hour ago‎ NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Preliminary reports for Black Friday indicate that retailers may have seen their strongest sales ever during the all-important kick-off to the holiday shopping season.

Yep, that really hit 'em in the wallets--"strongest sales EVER". A 7% increase in black friday sales this year. Maybe they should occupy retailers everyday and the stockmarket would really take off for bull territory.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 11-26-2011).]

You can all talk bad about black friday, but I'm willing to bet more than a few of you have at some point participated in black friday.

Good lord. This is the sort of stuff you expect to see in Africa or the Middle East, not some civilized nation.

quote Originally posted by BlackEmrald: You can all talk bad about black friday, but I'm willing to bet more than a few of you have at some point participated in black friday.

I don't! Never have, never will.

I absolutely to not get the point of it, or why people get up so early to go out "shopping" and act like uncivilized neanderthals solely for the sake of saving a few extra $$'s on Christmas gifts. (Yes, Christmas - NOT holiday!) I hate what Christmas has become over the past decade or two, and I refuse to participate in the orgy of greed that Christmas has become.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Let the yearly commercial consumption orgy begin. I hate what Christmas has become.

I'm with you! Christmas is the same at my house today, as it was when I was growing up as a kid. I'll take my Christmas - everyone else can have their "holiday".

[This message has been edited by Deabionni (edited 11-27-2011).]

Worked at 1am Friday... it was crowded and they tore the place up but people seemed far-more civilized than Walmart or any retailer selling electronics.

I may be going to hell for this, but playing the Gonk only makes it amusing......

Another...

quote Originally posted by BlackEmrald: You can all talk bad about black friday, but I'm willing to bet more than a few of you have at some point participated in black friday.

You'd lose that bet with me.
Not once--ever--in 61 years..

The retailers can control it. Open one door. If you can't, bring them thru the employee entrance. Corral customers along the perimeter of the store, single file. Empty out two aisles and put all the door buster stuff there. If they have more than one of each item by the time they reach the end of the aisles, pull them aside. Have afternoon specials to bring customers in during the day.

I was in Chicago on Friday. Didn't leave the hotel until 11. Bought some Ghiradelli chocolate. Michigan Ave was more crowded on Wednesday.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Evidently the "Occupy" folks had an epic FAIL! in their attempt to discourage consumerism and retail spending on black friday. Sales were reported to be at near record levels with a 6-7% increase over last year's volume. I guess most of the 99% missed the memo that they were being represented by these folks. Yep, that really hit 'em in the wallets--"strongest sales EVER". A 7% increase in black friday sales this year. Maybe they should occupy retailers everyday and the stockmarket would really take off for bull territory.

Personal greed wins every time. The Chinese, who don't believe in Christian Holidays, will be quite happy.

quote Originally posted by BlackEmrald: You can all talk bad about black friday, but I'm willing to bet more than a few of you have at some point participated in black friday.

Never have, never will.

quote Originally posted by BlackEmrald: You can all talk bad about black friday, but I'm willing to bet more than a few of you have at some point participated in black friday.

I went to Bass-Pro at about 4 in the afternoon to look at a Taurus 1911 but there were so many people crowded around the gun counter I just left, didn't buy anything.

Black Friday exemplifies everything that is wrong with the people today.
If you're concerned about corporate greed - just look to Black Friday for plenty of examples of consumer greed.

They become nothing more than animals - a bunch of rabid apes fighting over bananas, except they're fighting over useless crap and not necessities for life.
The apes win the "who is more civilized" bet on Black Friday.

[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 11-27-2011).]

We went shopping for a range, yesterday evening. Were going to do that anyway.
You couldn't pay me enough to get out in that mob of cretins, in the wee hours. Not happening.

I hate black friday.

f***** black friday.... i went to walmart just to get one of thoes tablets right.. the place was a warzone.. merchandise all over the ground people pushing and shoving each other... after that i went to the lancaster outlets with some friends.. more civilized but still a barn.

I know one of our Radioshack stores here in SW FL tried something different this year.

They let 5 customers at a time in the store. As one person left, one was let in. The waiting customers seemed to like this, as there wasn't the mad rush first thing in the morning.

My store had about 20+ people waiting in line at opening. We had three sales people, everyone was served as fast as we could. Those that were waiting seem to understand that they had to wait to be served. It went fairly smoothly.

The only problem we had was a guy that did not speak english, kept trying to get each employee's attention as we worked on each customer. Another customer translated, turns out he was saying he was the first one in line, he was yelling he should be helped first. I instructed the next employee free to help him. We used the translator to find out he wanted a TomTom GPS.

A few years ago, we tried to give out numbers to those waiting in line, but it did not work. Turned out the 1st lady in line had gone back to her car to wait, then as we got ready to open, she got out of the car, walked to the front of the line. Those that waited in line the whole time got mad, yelling started. It was stupid of her to do that.

As another member here said, I hate black friday sales also. -- Having said that, my store did 9 days worth of sales in 1 day. It wiped each one of our employees out. Working 5am to 10pm is a long shift.

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 11-28-2011).]

F Black Friday and F Black Friday Shoppers...Haven't these fools seen past the absolute manipulation that these retailers are putting people through?!!?
'Let them kill each other for the deals, I'll stay home and maintain my sanity - and *MAYBE* spend 5.00 more to get the same item one or two days later.
"Black Friday" invites the lowest of the low to these sales - and the competitiveness for these "Special Prices" are usually not worth it.
I have buying power, with my wallet, and will NEVER compete with IGNORANT ANIMALS over 'Black Friday" ""SALES!""

And another thing;
This "Christmas" thing started before Halloween this year...WTF?!?

Hug each other and spend time with Family - and resist the temptation to become an animal - at the behest of the Retailers...They LOVE your greedy propensity to shop.

Christ didn't die so he could be the reason for "THE BEST SALE AND LOWEST PRICE OF THE YEAR FOR THE FIRST THREE CUSTOMERS IN THE DOOR BEFORE 1:30AM!!!"

F that, love the loved ones that you have.
THEY are what's worth living for; The ones you love...Your Seniors, and your little ones - a sense of family and the bond of LOVE.

THAT is what Christmas should be about.

I didn't go out this year because I would have spent an unwisely amount... But I love Black Friday.

I have gone out the past few years to Best Buy only wanting one thing. And I never pick the number 1 deal of the day when I go either.. After I calmly get my one thing, I'll browse the store and find some more deals that I didn't know about. I like the camping out. People in line have always been really light-hearted about everything, and if you need to run to the gas station for a snack they'll hold your spot. I have also found people to be in a big hurry, but never ever malicious or dangerous. I think the pandemonium is kinda fun, and as I'm walking through I see others enjoy it as well.

Someone dying though... No way. I would have took the wrath of the whole store to get that man some attention.

Don't hate all of us Black Friday shoppers though

And happy Cyber Monday! I bought tons of books off Amazon for barely anything, plus a cheap iron, which I needed. Sweet.

ordered everything for xmas online. No lines, no pushing, good deals. Of course, i didn't wait to the last minute and hope for the best deals. I shopped throughout the year, watching prices and when it was a good deal... I strike! If something I wanted didn't go on sale, I figured it was worth the extra $50 to not to deal with the hassle of black friday.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: ..... I hate what Christmas has become.

I couldn't agree with you more!

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Let the yearly commercial consumption orgy begin. I hate what Christmas has become.

My mother (a bible-thumpin' Baptist) has taken to calling it "National Consumers for Christ Day." I couldn't agree more.

I recall the results of a survey taken of grade school-aged kids a few years ago wherein they were asked whose birthday was being celebrated on December 25th.

More than half of them said "Santa Claus."

hey, it is after thanksgiving. it is a perfectly appropriate time for people to celebrate the birth of christ as they see fit. that is what they are doing, right?

whole new meaning to "buyer beware", tho, aint it? used to mean be wary of the proprietor or vendor....

I avoid stores on black Friday and always have. Figured that most stores get a sub-standard product or very limited quantity and advertise it at a loss for them just to bring people in. So you have a small chance of getting a great deal or you buy an item that isnt all that great to begin with.
People see Laptop for $200 and think wow. Come to find out its an obsolete low memory low quality no name POS.
Take the time do some research and only buy what your really looking for. More times than not your find its not going to be on sale for any better deal than you can get online any other day of the year. If you dont care what your buying yea probably some great deals out there.