Black Friday

[Chibi Rachy]

So along with Thanksgiving in the US comes Black Friday, a retail created event hyped as the biggest shopping day of the year (It's not; actually it ranks 5th). Many Americans take part in this greed fest of pushing and shoving to get the item they want, which is of course in limited supply or quantities of 2 and 3 per store.

What's the point of this sale? Originally it was meant to get stores out of the red and into the black in the account books. Now it's all about getting people in the store to buy things. They may not get that 50 inch LCD TV they were after, but they just might buy a few other things that catch their eyes instead.

So many people are hyped up for the event. In fact, some will eagerly await that newspaper on Thursday because it holds the rest of the Black Friday deals that haven't yet been found online. For some families, it's an after dinner event to pour over the circulars and plan out their trip.

So what's your spin on it? And those of you who are non-US, you can still comment about the event anyway

My take is that it's a day that gets worse each year. I've only been out one year to shop in the craziness when I was younger and that was because my sister wanted a trampoline for Christmas. We went to the sports store and were able to get it for her so then we just decided to check out other stores too. The trampoline was our only goal though. Anyway, like I said, it's hyped as the biggest shopping day of the year, but it's not. That day is usually between the 19th and 23rd of December, and depends on the weather conditions and when Christmas falls for that year.

The biggest deals seem to be those on electronics. Smart consumers know to stay away from this deals, but the random Joe off the street doesn't. Electronics sold at cheaper prices on this day usually happen because the product they are hyping up is a slight deviation from the regular model. It doesn't have all the standard features that the regular model does. If you check the model #, there may be an extra letter at the end to signify this. Electronics tend to be made only for Black Friday. Remember that Joe off the street I mentioned? Well here's a story about such a Joe, who happened to be my uncle. One year he went to Walmart and they had VCRs on sale for cheap. He ended up buying 5 of them. He took them home to find that not one of them worked and they all had to be taken back.

It's really a huge greedfest in the end and not worth the hassle. Many deals can be found online and lately it seems some stores start much of their Black Friday events early to help with the rush. And if you didn't get anything for Black Friday, there's always Cyber Monday. At least with that event you don't have to push and shove to get what you want. But I still wouldn't go for the electronics.

Your turn!

[WishBear2001]

I havr wanted to do this for years, Dad still says I'm too little.

[Aquarius]

So along with Thanksgiving in the US comes Black Friday, a retail created event hyped as the biggest shopping day of the year (It's not; actually it ranks 5th). Many Americans take part in this greed fest of pushing and shoving to get the item they want, which is of course in limited supply or quantities of 2 and 3 per store.

What's the point of this sale? Originally it was meant to get stores out of the red and into the black in the account books. Now it's all about getting people in the store to buy things. They may not get that 50 inch LCD TV they were after, but they just might buy a few other things that catch their eyes instead.

So many people are hyped up for the event. In fact, some will eagerly await that newspaper on Thursday because it holds the rest of the Black Friday deals that haven't yet been found online. For some families, it's an after dinner event to pour over the circulars and plan out their trip.

So what's your spin on it? And those of you who are non-US, you can still comment about the event anyway

My take is that it's a day that gets worse each year. I've only been out one year to shop in the craziness when I was younger and that was because my sister wanted a trampoline for Christmas. We went to the sports store and were able to get it for her so then we just decided to check out other stores too. The trampoline was our only goal though. Anyway, like I said, it's hyped as the biggest shopping day of the year, but it's not. That day is usually between the 19th and 23rd of December, and depends on the weather conditions and when Christmas falls for that year.

The biggest deals seem to be those on electronics. Smart consumers know to stay away from this deals, but the random Joe off the street doesn't. Electronics sold at cheaper prices on this day usually happen because the product they are hyping up is a slight deviation from the regular model. It doesn't have all the standard features that the regular model does. If you check the model #, there may be an extra letter at the end to signify this. Electronics tend to be made only for Black Friday. Remember that Joe off the street I mentioned? Well here's a story about such a Joe, who happened to be my uncle. One year he went to Walmart and they had VCRs on sale for cheap. He ended up buying 5 of them. He took them home to find that not one of them worked and they all had to be taken back.

It's really a huge greedfest in the end and not worth the hassle. Many deals can be found online and lately it seems some stores start much of their Black Friday events early to help with the rush. And if you didn't get anything for Black Friday, there's always Cyber Monday. At least with that event you don't have to push and shove to get what you want. But I still wouldn't go for the electronics.

Your turn!

Thanks for the heads up on that! My fiancee and I were thinking of getting a new laptop on Black Friday, after reading that, I don't think we are going to so much now.

[Chibi Rachy]

Thanks for the heads up on that! My fiancee and I were thinking of getting a new laptop on Black Friday, after reading that, I don't think we are going to so much now.

Usually it's small things consumers don't readily notice, but things that are done to make the price cheaper. There are products made specifically for Black Friday sales. What I would do is get the model # of the laptop you want off the internet. When you go to the store to get it, check the standard model # with the one listed on the box. If they don't match, that product's made for Black Friday.

If you are looking into getting a new laptop, I suggest this site: http://forum.notebookreview.com/index.php It's the one I used when I was getting a new laptop. You can ask any questions, but my favorite section of that site is the Notebook and Tech Bargain section. Here, you can coupons and online deals. It's how I got my current laptop a couple years back. Someone posted a coupon code that allowed me to get it for $827, when the same sort of laptop with the same customizations sold for $1200 on the site. Actually, I think it would have been even cheaper than $827 since I bought a second battery with mine. Anyway, worth a look.

[J3llyb3ans]

I'm in agreement with you Rachy, Black Friday is just a big greedfest. It brings out the worst in people.

I've worked for a major retailer for the past few years and this will be my third Black Friday. On my first, I witnessed madness first hand. I saw people pushing, shoving, taking things from each other. I even witnessed a grown adult take a toy from a little girl and run. I was wheeling a tV outside for a little old lady that almost got broken on multiple occasions by people not watching where they were going. Then there was almost being ran over.

Last year I wasn't in the midst of it as I was given the task of handing out fliers. However, most customers were very rude that day.

Let's also not forget that Black Friday has also been responsible for it's share of deaths too.

I say forget it, It isn't worth it. I'd rather buy an item at regular price than participate in this blatant display of human greed.

[Chibi Rachy]

I'm in agreement with you Rachy, Black Friday is just a big greedfest. It brings out the worst in people.

I've worked for a major retailer for the past few years and this will be my third Black Friday. On my first, I witnessed madness first hand. I saw people pushing, shoving, taking things from each other. I even witnessed a grown adult take a toy from a little girl and run. I was wheeling a tV outside for a little old lady that almost got broken on multiple occasions by people not watching where they were going. Then there was almost being ran over.

Last year I wasn't in the midst of it as I was given the task of handing out fliers. However, most customers were very rude that day.

Let's also not forget that Black Friday has also been responsible for it's share of deaths too.

I say forget it, It isn't worth it. I'd rather buy an item at regular price than participate in this blatant display of human greed.

It does bring out the worst in some. People just don't care on this day; they merely want the best deal.

Some places have taken to cutting down on doing things only on Black Friday. Some sites have been doing Black Friday specials all week, such as Borders. That way you have more than just one day to get what you want.

[idistractedyou]

I have to work that day so I never go. But One year Wal-Mart had Flat screen TVs dirt cheap and I was told to come in an hour later so thought I'd try and get one. I pulled up saw 4 cop cars per entrance and a line of people and turned around and went home.

[SunSpire]

in response to this and the christmas thread:

lol I don't think I've ever taken part in a summer / winter / christmas sale rush as a customer, but on the opposite side as sales assistant and let me tell you it's not pretty watching mad people fight over a product, willing to kill if need be. I just don't get it, if you want an item so badly then why not look for it online for goodness sake? Besides, many of the sales items are fake, sold at ridiculous high prices initially so they can reduce them 75% later on and customers are being brainwashed into believing they had made a good purchase. As a retail worker of 4 years+ I've got to know many of the 'tricks of the trade' and christmas has since become a whole different meaning.

You should see the Bullring shopping center here in Birmingham on a saturday, it's insane!

"SunSpire"