Despite the long lines and aggressive competitors, year after year, customers race to be the first to hit the shelves after Thanksgiving, kicking off the Christmas shopping season. However, in recent years, shoppers have tended to wait until Cyber Monday to get the deals more easily online.
Many people spend Black Friday with their family, following tradition, while others are increasingly choosing to shop from the comfort of their own home.
“Generally, it’s my two younger sisters and I [who go Black Friday shopping]—sometimes we have a list, but a lot of times we honestly end up getting random things,” Teacher, Sarah Crue said. “I feel like you can’t really zone in on one specific thing you’re trying to find.”
According to RetailNext Inc, while Black Friday is still the busiest shopping day for stores, the number of people shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday has declined four percent from 2016. However, according to Adobe Systems Inc, online sales rose 18 percent in 2017.
As technology continues to take over our lives, it takes with it the traditional values of the holiday season. Many retailers, including Amazon, offer deals earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving, challenging Black Friday.
“I think [Black Friday] has changed a lot, especially because stores have changed their times. They now open at six in the evening,” Carissa Mileto (’20) said. “People don’t really wait as long to go so it’s become more like Thursday evening shopping.”
As stores are more likely to open on Thanksgiving, more workers are missing out on their holiday dinner.
“I used to work black Friday when I was in college,” Crue said. “I worked at Sears, and it used to be that you came in at 5 or 6 in the morning. Then it started that we would go in Thanksgiving evening, work until 2 in the morning, they’d send us home for about two or three hours, and then we’d have to come back at 5 or 6 in the morning. “
The fear of missing out on an authentic, Thanksgiving dinner also goes for customers–which is why many are choosing to get their Christmas gifts on Cyber Monday.
“I love Cyber Monday. I think it’s easier, especially in the world of technology,” Crue said. “I can just lay on the couch in my pajamas and it’s better because there’s less people.”
Other shoppers are more excited about getting the deals while escaping the mayhem of the crowds.
“When iPod Touches were the big thing, my sister and I went into the Apple Store and stood in line for three hours,” Erin Powell (’21) said. “We didn’t even get one.”
Even though the chaos is why many skip out on Black Friday, many shoppers continue their traditions and prefer the real life experience. While you don’t know exactly the type of people you’ll meet in stores, you do know exactly what the quality of the product you’re buying is—an aspect of shopping that Cyber Monday isn’t capable of offering.
Whether you decide to hit the stores and wait out the long lines or scroll through websites to find the perfect gift, kick off the holiday season right and happy shopping!