Is Black Friday/Cyber Monday Overblown?
You have to wonder when a trade group’s jargon becomes part of the daily lexicon for the general public.
Black Friday is now a national phenomenon much like Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, halftime show at the Super Bowl and grilling dogs Labor Day weekend.
Retailers have instilled both the "God of fear" and getting out of bed before the sun rises into consumers to buy TV’s and toys at ridiculous prices. Millions around the USA did just that Friday AM and for all that, sales for the weekend were even with last year.
In case you forgot, last year was a bust. So what does the rest of the holiday season have in store and since this season is much shorter, what will it take for consumers to buy more while paying more?
But let’s get back to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Do you know where the term Black Friday came from? It came back in the day before the Internet that traditional retailers actually moved from the red (losing money) to the black (making money). Retailers made all their money from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It’s like when do American’s make money after paying all their taxes (I think it’s the middle of May)?
These days, Walmart, Target and Costco are making money well before Thanksgiving. But because it’s become such a phenomenon, they will continue to keep pushing this trend.
Cyber Monday was invented because online companies were jealous of retailers and they needed their own term. Cyber Monday refers to the day that consumers shop the most online after exhausting themselves over the weekend and then come to work and use company computers and Internet to make more purchases.
So let me ask, were you one of the ones standing in line at 3AM at Best Buy to buy a 42" TV for $397 and/or are you buying online today because it’s Cyber Monday?
I have a better idea regardless. Let’s contract with ESPN and make shopping a sport. That way we can get all the stats, favorite shoppers and perhaps Best Buy and Walmart can even sell tickets for the grand stands.
Happy Cyber Monday!
November 30th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
It is not worth it to me to go shopping on black Friday. I do admit I use to go when my kids where young. The stores that usually have some great buys are just publishing to get you in the door. They have limited quantities or none at all and you end up not getting the item you wanted anyway.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I went shopping in the early evening. Not because of any deals (didn’t really see that much) but because I could get someone to watch the kids while my husband and I went shopping for them. All the bargain hunters are worn out and have gone home by then so the stores weren’t all that busy. I agree with you Loretta, they never have enough deals for everyone. Besides, I really don’t see how any deal is worth standing in line for hours or fighting for.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I live really close to a best buy, they began camping out on tuesday night!!!! and on my way home from my thanksgiving dinner at my parents….. there were at least 50 tents set up!!! and a port-a-potty there!!!!! it amazes me. but whatever floats your boat!
November 30th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Gander Mountain had something advertised for the same price point that local independent shops sell it for all year long……..The word sale has become nothing more than a decoy to lure in the shoppers.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I too wait until the crazy flocks of people have had their day, to go out when it is a little bit safer to shop. Usually during the beginning or mid week is a great time to go for me:)
I have the same amount set aside each year so if I could save it would be nice, but it is much nicer to save sanity instead:)
Happy Monday
November 30th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
AHHH! How wonderful it is to have two college kids who are broke and just want $$. We will get them a few things to open on Christmas Eve. I do feel that too much emphasis is put on the gift giving and not on the good feelings this time of year is supposed to impart. We no longer exchange gifts with our families. We have too much stuff already. We are not buying into the Black Friday, Cyber Monday or any of the euphamisms for spend your money. I am not a Bah Humbug but sensible. I would rather spend time with someone instead of receiving a gift.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I don’t do the Black Friday thing… TOO crazy… but I will shop online over the Thanksgiving weekend to get the deals. I also look through all the Black Friday ads in the Thursday paper to see who’s got the best deals. For me, it’s like taking a pulse on the holiday shopping season.
For the retailers it’s a lot about perception – if customers think they’ve got GREAT deals on Black Friday, those customers will continue to shop with them throughout the holiday season. If you check out a retailer over the holiday weekend and there are no deals going on…. chances are less likely you’ll turn to them later on when you’re still shopping.
Limiting available inventory may contribute to a larger holiday season. I was in Home Depot last night, and their Christmas decorations were wiped. If customers sense a scarcity, they may be more likely to panic, buy and hoard.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
This was actually the first time I was off on Black Friday, so I decided, what the heck. I went shopping…but not super early. It was about 8:30. I went to Walmart. It was a bit intimidating. The employee and shoppers were not very nice at all….but—I was able to get the 2 items I went there for. My 2nd stop was Toys R Us. I was very pleased with that experience. The store employees were working hard to keeps the deals stocked, and I was able to get everything but 1 item. Everyone there was super nice. (I think all the crazies were there early when they opened at midnight.)
Overall, I would do it again. =)
November 30th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
It was my 2nd time going out on Black Friday, last year I went kinda late about 7.30am. And the good deals were gone. So this year I was determined to get those deals, so my friend and I pulled an all nighter and got to Wallmart by 4 am, it was a zoo, people were running over the heels of my feet cause I wasn’t moving fast enough. But we had a game plan going in and we were back home by 6:15.