Will Walmart's Black Friday Crowd Control Work?

By Ian Ritter | Updated on November 12, 2009

After the tragic Black Friday death last year of a seasonal employee at a Walmart on Long Island, NY, the retailer is launching new a crowd control program this holiday season.To avoid the long lines and major rush on Friday morning, Walmart is keeping stores open 24 hours on Thanksgiving. The retailer also says that employees will better control the lines inside the stores. But it seems as though items will still go on sale at 5 a.m. on Friday morning, even though the stores will be open all night. Does that mean the long lines and crazy crowds will just gather inside the store instead of outside? Also, many people point out that the chain’s cut-rate items will especially be in demand as a result of the recession, creating even larger mobs.ALSO: GameStop needs a holiday boost from Call of Duty.

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