Black Friday is supposed to be the day after Thanksgiving. But at Walmart, it is starting at 8 p.m. the night of Thanksgiving.

That is making a lot of people happy –but it is also angering many others.

On the one hand, there will be great deals starting very early, 8 p.m., a time when many families are enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner. Thus, a lot people see that as the response of a greedy company that doesn’t care about this great American tradition –or its employees, who will have to work instead of celebrating the holiday with their families. (This week thousands of Walmart employees have threatened to strike Black Friday because of the odd hours.)

“Walmart is a greedy money hungry business that can care less about their employees!” wrote Mike Tomes on Wal-mart’s official Facebook page under a post promoting the Black Friday sales. “Having them miss thanksgiving is disgusting.”
Another Facebook user, Lauren Schultz, wrote: “Your organization disgusts me.”

Love it or hate it, Walmart’s Black Friday sales are going to be historic.

In addition to offering amazing low prices on the season’s top gifts, Walmart is taking the historic step to ensure wishlist items like the Apple iPad2 are available for customers during a special one-hour event on Thanksgiving.

“We know it’s frustrating for customers to shop on Black Friday and not get the items they want,” said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer, Walmart U.S. “This year, for the first time ever, customers that shop during Walmart’s one-hour event will be guaranteed to have three of the most popular items under their tree at a great low price.”

Due to the large quantity of product already secured, Walmart guarantees that customers who are inside the store and in the queue line between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time on November 22 can purchase the following electronics at special low prices, including Apple iPad2 16GB with Wi-Fi – $399 plus get a $75 Walmart Gift Card, Emerson 32″ 720p LCD TV – $148, and LG Blu-ray Player – $38.

This year, Walmart will be kicking off its in-store specials at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, followed by its big electronics event at 10 p.m. and a weekend full of savings starting at 5 a.m. on Friday, November 23.

“No matter our customer’s shopping preference – whether it is to stay up late or shop early –they will find amazing low prices on the broadest assortment we’ve ever offered,” added MacNaughton.

Of course, Walmart is not the only store on the Black Friday sales wagon.

Sears and its sister chain Kmart have also announced great sales, in-sore or online.

“Sears and Kmart are committed to helping Members and customers better manage their lives and budgets, especially during the busy holiday season,” said Imran Jooma, senior vice president and president, Online, Marketing, Pricing & Financial Services, Sears Holdings. “We offer a fully-integrated shopping experience that seamlessly blends online, mobile and in-store shopping, with a Shop Your Way Rewards program that delivers even more benefits. Our shopping experience brings millions of products to shoppers’ fingertips so they can browse, compare and buy in a way that is most convenient for them. And then have those products delivered either free or at a low cost.”