Scavengers in America?

[Ardo Zubairu]

I thought, until recently, that Africans were the worst scavengers of cheap foreign products-electronics, cloths, canned food.
But when I came across the story about the laptop sale which took place in Richmond.Va, in the United States, last month, I understood that the desire to accumulate cheap things is universal after all. The story, which the associated press posted on august 16, goes like this:
A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beated with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far as to wet her rather than surrender her place in line.

An estimated 5,500 people turned out at the Richmond international raceway in hopes of getting their hands one of the 4-year-old Apple ibooks. People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other. A little girl’s stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witness said an elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car tried to drive his way through the crowd.

[CNagy]

You should see us the morning after Thanksgiving.

[Ardo Zubairu]

when is the thanksgiving??

[Spaatz965]

Thanksgiving is the fouth Thursday in November. The day after is traditionally the start of the Christmas shopping season, and many stores offer huge sales, open early and really pour on the hype. The crush to get into stores first can be on par with that laptop sale.

[Kash]

Imagine all that crush and mayhem for four year old apple notebooks. I don't think pay $50 for one. Especially not if I had to get up at 4am, stand in line and fight the crowd. Hell, I wouldn't even get out of bed for one if it were free.

Your "free shit" thread is a good concept though. Take this into consideration; Most people spend several hundred dollars a month on their vehicle. Yet, they don't consider upgrading their computers as important. Would you risk the crush for a broke down, crap worthy $50 car? This doesn't even begin to appreciate the value and versitility of a computer. The lap top I bought about 4 years ago (and spent $1000) on today is paled by mass market dell's that are selling for half that.

I mean, I'm all for getting a good deal, but why buy someone else's trash?

[whispering]

There was a similar thing in London early this year ->
http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/16511541?source=PA&ct=5

[Ardo Zubairu]

this is a result poverty despite the social security American boasting with.

[Pfalzer]

I would KILL for a 60 GB ipod! KILL MURDER! IPOD PIRATE ARRR

[Ardo Zubairu]

whispering,i read the story and i past it here but why greediness in developt countries like USA and BRITAIN?

Chaos at Ikea opening
By Oliver Finegold and Chris Millar, Evening Standard
10 February 2005
Five people are in hospital today after hundreds were crushed as the opening of England's biggest Ikea store turned into a riot.

Look here too

• Gallery: Chaos at Ikea



Nine ambulances were sent to the outlet in north London after reports that up to 20 people had suffered heat exhaustion when the opening at midnight descended into chaos. Staff closed the doors after half an hour amid fears the stampede could become a Hillsborough-style crush.

Security guards said they were put "under siege" by customers who attacked them, leaving one guard with a dislocated jaw. The store remains closed and a cleanup operation is under way. Ikea apologised for the chaos and admitted the store was understaffed - but added that some customers "behaved like animals".



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Up to 7,000 flocked to the Edmonton store lured by adverts promising huge discounts, including £45 sofas and £30 bed frames, to those who bought before 3am. When the main doors opened 40 security guards were overwhelmed and crowds pushed through, leaving people pinned to the wall or trampled on the ground.

Security guard Gerard Visagie said "I have never felt so threatened. It was madness. A guard next to me was punched by a customer. He had his jaw dislocated. People were punching and kicking me and screaming. We were under siege.'

Paramedics said they had feared a disaster. An ambulance service source said. "I thought it could be another Hillsborough. It's a miracle no one was killed."

Video footage showed shoppers fighting over furniture - one man was pinned against a wall by a burly customer as they argued over a sofa - while others were stretchered into ambulances.

After 30 minutes the store was closed, staff holding up signs written in marker pen against the glass doors to announce the fact. The crowd refused to disperse and some tried to smash their way in.

More than 30 police tried to keep the peace amid fights between Ikea staff and shoppers. Firefighters freed trapped customers. Assistant Divisional Officer William Bird said: "I have not attended anything like this before." Traffic on the A406 seized up as people stuck in jams for more than an hour abandoned their cars.

John Olie, the deputy head of Ikea in Britain who oversaw the opening, said he was "shocked and overwhelmed". He admitted staff underestimated customer numbers and there were not enough security guards. "As soon as I saw the crowds I knew there would be problems," he said. "People were jumping the queue. We will review future openings.

"We are used to 1,000 people appearing, not 7,000." He said the store would only be reopened when it was safe to do so.

Earlier, an Ikea spokeswoman said: "It's fair to say we misjudged it but some shoppers behaved like animals and started shoving and pushing. There's not much we can do to stop that."

One Ikea worker said: "We closed the doors, but some people got stuck in them. We tried letting in people one by one but they ran through again."

Customers criticised the store. "I'm amazed at how badly organised it was," said Karni Mahmood, 37, from Enfield. "I only came here to buy a cheap sofa." Latyia Arpesh, 23, from Tottenham, said: "I was pushed to the ground and people clambered over me. I feared for my life."

Avril Nanton, 46, from Edmonton, left the queue after four hours: "Near the front there was a sense of camaraderie. But when the doors opened, people at the back ran to the entrance. Everyone was upset, people were fighting. I saw a woman held down by a group of girls."

Ben Adetimle, 31, from Leytonstone, added: "I bought a sofa but when I turned my back someone stole it. I'm not upset. It's just furniture, not worth dying over." As medics helped the injured, customers carried on shopping. A woman with pot plants said: "I've come from Birmingham for this." Jilal Patel, 29, from Tottenham, said: "I was queuing at 11am. Nothing is going to stop me from getting my sofa."

[Praetorian]

this is a result poverty despite the social security American boasting with.


Don't want to flame Americans here, or anybody else for that matter, but I've never seen Americans boasting about 'good social security'. Because frankly, they don't have a good social security. At least, relative to other developed countries.

[bloop]

Developed country or not, there will always be people who are rich and people who are poor. Overall, America has a lot of wealth, but the distribution is skewed.
I agree with Praetorian - we don't have really good social security. I'm really curious about this image; where does it come from? I get the feeling that in comparison to other developed countries, we're actually one of the worst.

By the way, I don't think the chaos is necessarily the result of poverty or greediness. Even rich people want cheap stuff. Just because people have wealth doesn't mean they're willing to spend it.

[Pfalzer]

Doesnt mean they have to either.

[Bob]

Its easy to get rich in america, unless youre stupid enough to have morals

[Alphonse v.2]

Its easy to get rich in america, unless youre stupid enough to have morals

Yeah, I mean look at 50 cent.