# Black Friday **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608 "2006-11-24T02:51:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/21 "2006-11-25T06:02:35Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] I never heard the term Black Friday until maybe a couple few years ago, although I did know the day after Thanksgiving was the beginning of Christmas shopping. I’ve had people try to explain it to me but I still don’t understand why stores would put things on “special sale” one day out of the year when they could just put the frickin’ stuff on sale every day of the year. [/QUOTE] Because that would make sense. They figure that it’s better to cram everybody into the store one month out of the year, rather than, say, slashing prices across the board and having people buy a percentage more through out the year, or picking a month and discounting all electronics, then the next month slashing the prices on turnip twaddlers, while jacking the prices up on electronics. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/22 "2006-11-25T06:16:35Z")
No, it wouldn’t make sense. There are obvious differences between the buying patterns of the first eleven months of the year and the buying pattern of December. People are buying gifts for the holidays in quantities totally unlike any purchasing being done the rest of the year. This cannot be spread out without totally changing our entire culture. And once again, low prices the rest of the year would not work. Stores have to make back the nut, the cost of overhead, before any profits come in. Reduced profits with low volumes means that stores are running at a loss because they are not making back even the wholesale cost of the goods plus personnel expenses and the costs of operating the store. Sales, especially high traffic Christmas sales, bring in enough volume that stores can pay off the nut plus make some profit. There is no way to do this every day of the year. That’s why there is such a term as Black Friday. Margins are so low that stores run in the red or with minimal profits for most of the year. Only the exceptional customer traffic driven by Christmas and other end-of-year holidays can change this basic equation. The month of December (or at least the five weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas) normally is 20% of yearly gross, or twice the weekly average from the rest of the year. That’s what makes profits possible. Unless you can remove Christmas from the public’s spending patterns in the United States, your idea about spreading spending out across the year is unfeasible, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/23 "2006-11-25T06:21:45Z")
Given that I’m not a Christian and that any day now, we can expect to see the Pit filled with anti-Christmas music rants (mainly written by Christians), I’m **not** seeing a downside to shifting America’s buying habits one bit. Og knows that people constantly decry the over commercialization of Christmas (while maxing out their credit cards). It’d take some work, but if someone like say, Wal-Mart, suddenly did an ad campaign saying screw the presents just spend time with your family, you could expect to see a shift in buying habits. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/24 "2006-11-25T14:18:53Z")
[QUOTE=Savannah] Heard on the news on the way home from work that my brilliant deduction was correct: so many transactions trying to go through gummed up the debit/credit system. [/QUOTE] Well _that_ certainly explains a weird experience at the Wendy’s drive through window last night. After leaving Michigan at 5 am (and seeing Wal-Mart’s parking lot absolutely packed on the way), arriving here, working non-stop on my feet without lunch until 8 pm, I went to Wendy’s. When I started to order, I was asked “debit or cash,” which is something that’s never asked at a drive through window, and besides that I don’t even know what the hell “debit” is in Canada (our Wendy’s accept proper credit transactions without all the Interac-branding crap). Yeah, it’s no big deal, but when I’m trying to order and I have to think about a question from out of the blue that made no sense contextually, it just kind of jarred me. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/25 "2006-11-25T18:15:06Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] Also, do you Americans enjoy this unique cultural event ? [/QUOTE] Some of us enjoy it so much that [url=[http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/buy-nothing](http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/buy-nothing) day was invented. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/26 "2006-11-25T19:10:13Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] It’d take some work, but if someone like say, Wal-Mart, suddenly did an ad campaign saying screw the presents just spend time with your family, you could expect to see a shift in buying habits. [/QUOTE] You are kidding, aren’t you? 😕 Creationism has a better chance of coming true. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/27 "2006-11-25T19:54:18Z")
I’m another person who doesn’t remember hearing/reading about Turkey Day + 1 = Black Friday. And I do know the 1929 crash was called that. [Quote=Tuckerfan] It’d take some work, but if someone like say, Wal-Mart, suddenly did an ad campaign saying screw the presents just spend time with your family, you could expect to see a shift in buying habits. [/quote] Or, similar to “Miracle on 34th Street”, the management would figure people might think “What a nice thing for Wal-Mart to say. I’m shopping there!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/28 "2006-11-25T20:07:39Z")
[QUOTE=Tammi Terrell] In the end, while I don’t have any proof of it, I’m pretty convinced that grumpy and harried store employees and transit workers were the first to dub the day “Black Friday” specifically because of the onslaught of throngs of grumpy and harried holiday shoppers. l [/QUOTE] Right. It’s a “hell day” for retail employees, as is “many happy returns day”- the day after Xmas. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/29 "2006-11-25T23:59:41Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] As to why you’re just now hearing the term? Don’t know. Maybe your turn in the barrel. [/QUOTE] _Snort_ There goes my drink, all over the keyboard! Joe ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/30 "2006-11-26T00:59:39Z")
[QUOTE=rowrrbazzle] I’m another person who doesn’t remember hearing/reading about Turkey Day + 1 = Black Friday. And I do know the 1929 crash was called that. [/QUOTE] Actually, it was called “Black _Tuesday_”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/31 "2006-11-26T05:43:31Z")
Checked with my Bro, a Tax Expert, etc.He says that although many retail businesses do very nicely indeed on “Black Friday”- it would be a \*very \*poor retail business that lost money 10 3/4 months of th eyear. Sure, there are some retail businesses that are only open for the Holiday season, but that’s different. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/32 "2006-11-26T06:52:45Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar] When I started to order, I was asked “debit or cash,” which is something that’s never asked at a drive through window, and besides that I don’t even know what the hell “debit” is in Canada (our Wendy’s accept proper credit transactions without all the Interac-branding crap).😕 [/QUOTE] Well, in Canada debit cards are completely different than credit cards. Interac isn’t a brand of credit card, it’s completely separate system from credit cards. Basically, here a Debit card = linked to your bank chequing (and maybe savings) account(s), money is withdrawn from your account immediately, and you authorize the payment with a PIN (not a signature) When I worked retail, if the POS system was down you can’t do any debit card transactions, as they have to be done electronically. But if the system was down you could still manually imprint a credit card with carbon paper and verify by signature, then process the transaction later when the POS system comes back up. Actually, I think the American system is more confusing, what with their debit cards/check cards that can be handled offline and authorized with a signature. They’re more credit-card-like in many ways. See the [Wikipedia article on debit cards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debit_card) and the difference between online and offline authorizations. Canada only has an “online” system. > [@](#): > > There are currently two ways that debit card transactions are processed: online debit cards and offline debit cards. Online debit cards require electronic authorization of every transaction and the debits are reflected in the user’s account immediately. The transaction may be additionally secured with the personal identification number (PIN) authentication system and some online cards require such authentication for every transaction, essentially becoming enhanced automatic teller machine (ATM) cards. One difficulty in using online debit cards is the necessity of an electronic authorization device at the point of sale (POS) and sometimes also a separate keypad to enter the PIN, although this is becoming commonplace for all card transactions in many countries. Overall, the online debit card is generally viewed as superior to the offline debit card because of its more secure authentication system and live status, which alleviates problems with processing lag on transactions that may have been forgotten or not authorized by the owner of the card. Banks in some countries, such as Canada and Brazil, only issue online debit cards. > > Offline debit cards have the logos of major credit cards (e.g. Visa or MasterCard) or major debit cards (e.g. Maestro) and are used at point of sale like a credit card. This type of debit card may be subject to a daily limit, as well as a maximum limit equal to the amount currently deposited in the current/checking account from which it draws funds. Offline debit cards in some countries are not compatible with the PIN system, in which case they can be used with a forged signature, since users are rarely required to present identification. Transactions conducted with offline debit cards usually require 2-3 days to be reflected on users’ account balances. This type of debit card is similar to a secured credit card. > > Many debit cards are actually capable of accomplishing both types of transactions, depending on the availability of proper equipment at the POS. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/33 "2006-11-26T12:09:34Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] It’d take some work, but if someone like say, Wal-Mart, suddenly did an ad campaign saying screw the presents just spend time with your family, you could expect to see a shift in buying habits. [/QUOTE] Something that is actually a little more realistic is someone, like say Wal-Mart, suddenly doing an ad campaign that implies you need “independence day gifts” and “thanksgiving gifts” and “flag day gifts” and “bastille day” gifts, etc. It eventually will accomplish the same thing (of course we’d need a holiday for every day of the year 😛 ) but this actually makes sense commercially. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/34 "2006-11-26T15:17:48Z")
[QUOTE=groman] Something that is actually a little more realistic is someone, like say Wal-Mart, suddenly doing an ad campaign that implies you need “independence day gifts” and “thanksgiving gifts” and “flag day gifts” and “bastille day” gifts, etc. It eventually will accomplish the same thing (of course we’d need a holiday for every day of the year 😛 ) but this actually makes sense commercially. [/QUOTE] Isn’t that the idea behind “Hallmark holidays” like Sweetest day and some of the other fake ones? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608/35 "2006-11-27T00:40:31Z")
get ready to hear about cyber monday. apparently large amounts of people are gonna shop on-line, at work, on the monday following thanksgiving in the us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-friday/381608.md?page=1)