My sister does Black Friday. She was number three in line outside Toys R Us this year and grabbed what she wanted to grab (including the doorbuster items) and said she was out within fifteen minutes. Of course, that doesn’t count the time she spent in line outside a Toys R Us. Then she went to Walmart before they opened and grabbed a few things and made a couple other stops at less mobbed locations such as Sports Authority. She claims success every year and I think she also likes being 95% done with her shopping before December 1st.
My mom couldn’t go with this year but most years she goes with my sister. They’ve done other annual sales where they waited outside and have gotten some things like a $200 gift certificate for being first in line for a big furniture sale. Honestly, they just like doing it. I don’t so I don’t go. I agree that you can pick up deals in other ways and if going out on Black Friday fills you with dread and rage you shouldn’t do it but if it’s your thing then what do I care?
For myself, I waited for some toy to go on a flash sale on Amazon and watched it go from 2 secs until the sale to 100% sold out, Waitlist 100% filled before my screen could refresh. I should have just asked my sister to get it from Toys R Us
It’s a common misconception, but Black Friday was actually coined in Philadelphia by the police referring to the terrible traffic. That makes it sound bad, so some retailers tried rebranding to “Big Friday.” That didn’t quite work, so they tried instead to create a new story behind the name which obviously has somewhat worked. This pagehas a good explanation for all of it.
This is very true. For years I would go with my family to visit my grandparents and other relatives in the Dallas area. My extended family is all pretty great, but it could still be too much to be cooped up with them for the whole Thanksgiving long weekend. So sometimes I would go out on Friday morning with my mom to go shopping at the big malls in the Dallas area.
Also, the news always seems to show the crazy mobs for the midnight openings of stores, and now for the Thanksgiving openings. I’ve never done that, I have absolutely no interest. But when we’d go to Macy’s or other stores at 9 AM on Friday morning, the crowds weren’t that crazy, but there were still some pretty good deals. And walking around the mall it would be noticeably crowded, sometimes too much for me, but not like the post-apocalyptic crowds that some people seem to expect.
Define “recent.” I remember showing my mom a Black Friday flier involving a bunch of stuff I wanted for Christmas 20 years ago. And IIRC, it was old hat then.
OK, I just got a reply from gf on this. By “recent” she meant the emphasis on opening extremely early and advertising oriented on extreme deals. She also restated that the concept is generally viewed as a horrible failure.
The “dealz” price is often more than the everyday price. I know because I’ve seen when they forget to take the old sticker off. The sign says something like “WAS $32.00, NOW $20.00!” but the sticker from last week says “$15.00”.
I guess there really is a sucker born every minute. I’d like to say I participate in “No Shopping Friday”, but that’s pretty much every day for me. The few times I have to go to a store, I hate it and can’t wait to leave. When Amazon starts delivering groceries and gets its shipping down to a single day, I’ll take the next step and write brick and mortar stores out of my life entirely. That day can’t come soon enough.
Agree. To add to this, I heard something the other day that also rings true - the retailers are conditioning people to never pay full price for anything.
That’s kind of the point. Doorbusters aren’t for people who can afford regular prices (or even regular sale prices). The people getting the deals are spending time rather than money. Those with more money aren’t willing to spend the time, but those with less feel that the exchange is worth it.
You see the reverse during some hot item launch (e.g., Apple or game consoles). People with money pay people to wait in line for them.
That’s ridiculous. Again, 20 years ago is not that recent. If I remember right, it was a deeply discounted video game that was only available very early in the morning.
I wouldn’t say that’s true as a blanket statement. My sister and mother are both very comfortable financially. It’s just fun for them, a game. At some sale openings, they meet other people, chat, people hand out hot coffee and cocoa to strangers, etc. It’s not “can’t afford it”, it’s the fun of bargain hunting.
Obviously not every sale event in the country is this cordial but then they’re not picking neighborhoods or stores where people are crushing one another under doors or firing pistols off either. Likewise, I’m sure there’s people out there fighting in line because that $150 42" flatscreen is the only way they’re ever going to own a 42" flatscreen. Broad strokes and all.
Black Friday is the day the Christmas shopping season begins. It is when the stores go from red (not having enough money) to black (having lots of money.) i think it’s too early for Christmas to start.
