Macy's Black Friday 2013: Unexpected Early Open Kicks Off Shopping Season

Well, we have the first bit of Black Friday news for the 2013 shopping season, and it's a doozy -- Macy's announced last night they will be opening on Thanksgiving night at 8pm for shoppers looking to score deals instead of talking turkey.

This is a big surprise, since Macy's in years past had steadfastly refused to kick off their Black Friday sales before Black Friday actually began, even as competitors started opening their doors earlier and earlier the day before.

According to Brads Deals, Macy's has also released a sneak peek of some of their Black Friday doorbuster deals, including:

• assorted kitchen appliances from Black & Decker, Bella, and Westinghouse for just $9.99 each after $10 rebate (original price $39.99)
• Charter Club cashmere crewneck sweaters for women for just $39 each (original price $129.99)
• Tag Fairfield III 5 piece luggage set -- on sale for $49.99 (original price $200)
•  Sharper Image action camera -- on sale for $49.99 (original price $110)

Now, I am one of those shoppers that really, REALLY doesn't like the idea of stores opening on Thanksgiving -- I worked too many years in retail not to feel terrible for the employees who might be losing precious time with their family, or at least extra time to rest and get prepared for the chaos of the holiday selling weekend.

On the other hand, I get why Macy's made this move -- with all the political and economic uncertainty right now, it could be a fatal mistake for chains not to go above and beyond to bring in customers for this Christmas season.  

And considering 247 million Americans shopped at least one store over the Black Friday weekend last year, an early start to the sale could result in some needed extra profits for the company this year!

What do you think about Macy's opening on Thanksgiving night this year?  Will you shop, or will you sleep in and hit the mall on Black Friday instead?  I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.