Several hurt in “chaotic” store opening sale
The opening of the 50th MediaMarkt store in Leidschendam on Thursday morning was way more popular than expected. Hundreds of people showed up, causing somewhat of a stampede and multiple minor injuries.
For the opening of their 50th store on Liguster, MediaMarkt offered the first 100 customers a free set of JBL Free earbuds worth 115 euros. It seems that much more than 100 people wanted to get their hands on that bargain.
Hundreds of people gathered in front of the store on Thursday morning, the police said on Twitter. When the doors opened, people crowded through too-small entrances, creating something of a stampede. Multiple people sustained minor crushing injuries and were treated at the scene by ambulance personnel, the police said.
The police were called to the scene at 8:00 a.m. The ambulances were dispatched less than half an hour later.
"These are not American circumstances", a spokesperson for MediaMarkt said to Omroep West. "It is very busy. But we are restoring order in consultation with the police."
Some customers would disagree. "I stood in line myself and if you compare this with videos from America regarding Black Friday, the similarities are crazy", one customer said to the broadcaster. "This opening testifies that there was little or no thought. A 'first come first serve' principle was hoped for, but it became a 'who can push the hardest gets the earbuds'."
"There was absolutely no structure, order or safety", another customer said. "The states were pretty American."
