Should We Shop on Black Friday?

[KB24]

I think Black Friday is a psychological marketing technique. People go to stores in hopes of buying goods (that they don't need) at supposedly great prices. From my experience, there are only a few items that are great deals and most of those sell out right away. But once the consumers are in the stores, they feel as though they need to buy something. I mean come on, it's Black Friday!

[KB24]

Oh I would like to add though, it is great for the economy when people are spending.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by KB24

Oh I would like to add though, it is great for the economy when people are spending.

It is NOT great for the economy when people are spending money that they don't have or can't afford to spend. Racking up credit card debt isn't good for anyone except the credit card company, and then only if the borrowers are able to repay the money.

[geojen]

My mom and I always do Black Friday. We scan the fliers the night before and make our plan. But, everything we buy is something we had planned to buy anyways. We always hit up Target first, because they have DVDs on sale for 3 dollars apiece, which I stock up on and use as gifts throughout the year.

That being said, I don't think the points that Jeffrey makes are invalid, but that they apply to basically any shopping trip, really. Not just Black Friday.

[biff]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Absolutely not. That would be like saying we do people a disservice here by posting advice to invest 15% of your income or max out your retirement plan rather than spending that money.

This country is overrun with stores and they are building more all the time. We don't need them all. People have way too much stuff already. They don't need more excuses to spend their money, even if that means someone won't have a job as a result.

Yes, retail is having a rough year. Why? Because people are starting to wake up and realize how foolishly they spend their money. And yes, some stores will not survive this economic cycle and many jobs will be lost. But for someone to suggest that you are doing something wrong by encouraging people to live more responsibly is insane.

Every day, I advise and counsel my patients to eat healthier diets, exercise regularly and take their medications as ordered. The reality is that if everyone actually did those things, doctors and hospitals and drug companies would lose a lot of business. Am I doing the medical field a disservice by making those recommendations? I certainly don't think so.

+1
Steve

[GREENBACK]

I usually work on that day and kind of enjoy having to work then. I have a convienent excuse to not go shopping with my SO. I see the crowds and I can't imagine it. I'll pay more to not have to deal with that crap. When I shop I want it fast and if it's a special new item that's only available to first comers, well, too bad. It will be old news in 6 mos. anyway.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I'll pay more to not have to deal with that crap.

My feelings exactly. My time and life and limb are worth far more than whatever I'd save by standing in line for hours and risking getting trampled at the store.

[m3racer]

Originally Posted by KB24

Oh I would like to add though, it is great for the economy when people are spending.

[m3racer]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

It is NOT great for the economy when people are spending money that they don't have or can't afford to spend. Racking up credit card debt isn't good for anyone except the credit card company, and then only if the borrowers are able to repay the money.

[rizzmo]

It is hard to even respond to an email like this. I understand you need a job to provide for your family. I also understand that you choose to work in retail. I think on some level all professions run the risk of being laid off, or no longer having a market for their particular trade. I agree with steve, healthcare would greatly suffer from lack of patients if people stopped smoking and were no longer obese.

One post that I did want to correct, for atleast a few retail stores Black Friday is the largestest revenue day. I have a few friends that work as upper management in these big box stores and Black Friday dwarfs all other days and some entire months in total # of sales and in total dollars of revenue.

[CrazShop]

why not shop and save on Black Friday? I haven't been one of the many to stand in line for hours but I would not rule it out. If it is cheaper on Black Friday and they planned on buying that item say for Christmas they are saving money but buying it during that time period and if they get to the store and see other items that catch their eye than so be it its their money. sometimes you save so you can buy at the right time.

[disneysteve]

We actually have shopped on Black Friday. We just haven't done it first thing in the morning. In fact, we've found that by mid-afternoon, the stores can be rather dead. You don't get the loss leader blockbuster deals, but you still get all the other sale prices.

[KatieNK]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

We actually have shopped on Black Friday. We just haven't done it first thing in the morning. In fact, we've found that by mid-afternoon, the stores can be rather dead. You don't get the loss leader blockbuster deals, but you still get all the other sale prices.

Some stores have deals that you can get only later in the day

[mom-from-missouri]

I don't. People act like idots.

[michaelo]

Just a quick link to back up my claim that Black Friday is NOT the biggest shopping day ofthe year. No matter what the anecdotal evidence is, across the board overall revenue is not the highest on the day after Thanksgiving.

In fact, according to Snopes, it's not even in the top 3.

snopes.com: Black Friday

The only reason I wanted to post this was that the wrong premise was used in response to Jeffrey's article. But, I learned long ago that it's best not to confuse people with the facts (they won't believe them anyway).



~michaelo

[cicy33]

I have gone both ways, I love shopping on Black Friday but one year I didn't go cuz they had nothing I desperately wanted. but it can be fun and exciting of course if anyone read the new york article where the man died this year it can also be deadly. that was so sad. If you need the items that are seriously lowered in price then I personally would go. If not then wait, you will probably pay close to that anyways the closer we get to xmas, besides, now days you can get a lot of it online! Same price, no lines.

[kork13]

call me the cynic, but hearing about the man that was killed in the literal stampede of Black Friday shoppers absolutely sickens me... The whole Black Friday stereotype is just too real. not simply that it's unfortunate, but are people seriously so desparate for a Wii and Tickle-me-Elmo that they would push, shove, yell, scream, knock down, and trample to get it. Yea, everybody... Glad to hear that we're no better than a herd of cattle.

[cicy33]

I was too. I am a black friday shop lover if there are things I need. But I cannot imagine people being so crazy desperate. I have already heard commercials on tv of good deals on tvs so I think that due to the bad economy we will see good prices all the way to xmas and possibly beyond. I didn't go this year but i am hoping they will have something good that I want next year. For me to go the price has to be super good though. $5 - $20 off is not going to get me up at 4 a.m.

[Pitman]

I told myself I wasn't going to shop on BF, but I desperately needed a winter coat. For the NYC members they know how critical our winters are, so I went out, and found a jacket selling for $140 when retail was $300, not bad at all if I must say so myself.