There is a widespread belief in Wembley that 'Black Friday's' mini consumer riot at Wembley Park ASDA on Friday was not all it seems.
Forewarned by the store, press and TV were all assembled in advance and wanted a good story of consumer greed. Eye witnesses say they urged people on to fight for the TVs and other goods to ensure they got shocking footage and photographs for the likes of the Daily Mail LINK
The usual people then had a field day on the Daily Mail website denouncing the 'greed' and 'animal behaviour' of local people. One Wembley local told me he felt 'ashamed' when he saw the way his community was being portrayed on the news.
The word on the street is that many of the large TVs were returned the next day with customers saying that they were 'rubbish'. Clearly it was a potentially dangerous situation and there are reports that some people sustained bumps and bruises.
In contrast, when the sale continued on Saturday with no press or TV present, everything was quite orderly.
Unconfirmed reports say that ASDA head office were not happy with the coverage.
Meanwhile in the US workers at ASDA's parent company, Walmart, staged the third of what have become annual Black Friday strikes against low wages, poor benefits and union busting LINK
Forewarned by the store, press and TV were all assembled in advance and wanted a good story of consumer greed. Eye witnesses say they urged people on to fight for the TVs and other goods to ensure they got shocking footage and photographs for the likes of the Daily Mail LINK
The usual people then had a field day on the Daily Mail website denouncing the 'greed' and 'animal behaviour' of local people. One Wembley local told me he felt 'ashamed' when he saw the way his community was being portrayed on the news.
The word on the street is that many of the large TVs were returned the next day with customers saying that they were 'rubbish'. Clearly it was a potentially dangerous situation and there are reports that some people sustained bumps and bruises.
In contrast, when the sale continued on Saturday with no press or TV present, everything was quite orderly.
Unconfirmed reports say that ASDA head office were not happy with the coverage.
Meanwhile in the US workers at ASDA's parent company, Walmart, staged the third of what have become annual Black Friday strikes against low wages, poor benefits and union busting LINK