Thanksgiving Shopping Is Totally Illegal In These Three States

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/thanksgiving-shopping-is-totally-illegal-in-these-three-states-2013-11


Shoppers move through a mall in Cambridge, Mass., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Shoppers won't be lining up for Thanksgiving Day deals at stores in Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts. They can't.

It's the legacy of so-called "blue laws," which prohibit large supermarkets, big box stores and department stores from opening on Thanksgiving. Some business groups complain, but many shoppers, workers and even retailers say they're satisfied with a one-day reprieve from work and holiday shopping.

Some business groups complain it's an unnecessary barrier during an era of 24-hour online shopping, and there have been some recent failed legislative attempts to change things. But many shoppers, workers and even retailers say they're satisfied with the status quo: a one-day reprieve from work and holiday shopping.

"I shop all year. People need to be with their families on Thanksgiving," said Debra Wall, of Pawtucket, R.I., who will remain quite happily at home Thursday, cooking a meal for 10.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/thanksgiving-shopping-is-totally-illegal-in-these-three-states-2013-11#ixzz2lwbIYnMf

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I did not know that

Personally, I would rather see stores stay closed on Thanksgiving as a result of popular sentiment, but that's not likely in a consumer-centric society like ours.

[marmar]

2. k/r

And Happy Turkey Day man !!!

[LuvNewcastle]

3. It's just one day. Is it so hard for people to stay home one day?

Maybe if you don't want to stay home, you can go visit friends and converse with them or volunteer at a place that feeds the homeless on Thanksgiving. Jesus, are people so desperately bored that they can't stand to go one day without buying something?

[yuiyoshida]

4. I understand that this year MACY'S in NYC will be open

During and after the Parade. This never used to be, its a first time. Amazing times we live in.

[SoCalDem]

7. It's all we have in our consumer-madness existence.

People's erratic schedules do not allow for much socializing.. Shopping is our national hobby, as we fill up every nook & cranny of the houses we cannot afford, with stuff no one needs, that we put on our 22% credit cards..

[Atman]

5. Not much of a barrier...just look at a map

Living in a state bordered by both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, I guess this is good for Connecticut retailers. The southern New England states are so small, it's not uncommon for people to just drive across the line.

For instance, CT only recently allowed Sunday liquor sales. The ban never stopped anyone because you're rarely more than 45 minutes from a state whose liquor stores were open.

CT's blue laws are still more strict than most...package stores had to close by 8:00 pm up until recently, when they extended the closing time to 9:00 (many stores still choose to close at 8:00). Contrary to what many people believe, in CT these laws had nothing to do with religion, as they did in other states in Pilgrim-land; it was just business. The laws supposedly protected Mom & Pop liquor stores from competition from big retailers who could afford to hire more people and stay open longer hours.

[SheilaT]

6. Nice. I did not know that about those three states.

[FarCenter]

8. 2013 Holiday hours at N.J. stores and malls

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/2013_holiday_hours_for_norther.html

Most stores that open start at 6 to 8 pm.

[davidpdx]

9. Not a bad idea

Here in Korea the two big holidays (other than Christmas) are Lunar New Year and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving). It was rare that anything was open on these days (they are multiple day holidays, but on the actual main day everything used to be closed). These days things are often open and employees work. I wonder how the hell employers get away with this. Christmas is not as widely celebrated here as in the US so things are usually open Christmas day (which still feels funny to me). The labor laws are much weaker here than in the US as well, which is not good for employees.