Why is Black Friday Becoming Obsolete?

[smahala1991]

Every year, the day after American Thanksgiving and even on Thanksgiving Day, millions of shoppers would line up to try to find the best deals as stores would open at 8pm, 9pm, midnight, 4 am, and even 5 am on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. But brick and mortar shopping has declined steadily the past few years. As more retailers like Sears, Kmart, Staples, Office Depot etc. struggle to survive, stores like Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Home Depot, Lowes, Kohls, and JCPenney continue to thrive, although not just in brick and mortar form. Why is Brick and Mortar Black Friday slowly becoming obsolete? Well, let's take a quick look.

1. Online Retailers and Television Shopping Channels.

Online retailers like Amazon, Ebay, and TV Channels like QVC and HSN have been offering Christmas/Black Friday-esque deals starting on November 1st in some cases. Another perk they offer is services like Amazon Prime which offers Free 2-day Shipping. QVC and HSN often offer free shipping on their products too as well as flexible payment plans . Even most brick and mortar stores offer online shopping now with Free Shipping in some cases.

2. Studies have shown that the busiest Holiday Shopping Day of the year is now Super Saturday instead of Black Friday.

Super Saturday is the Saturday before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is the day where most people make their last minute purchases. Also it is famous for being the day when most guys wait till the last minute to buy gifts for loved ones. Technically, discounts may actually be somewhat steeper. Within the last few years it has also been the day when brick and mortar retailers do the best.

3. Fights and violence have overtaken the news in the past few years.

Over the past few years, fights over iPads, employees being trampled in stampedes, shootings, and store accidents have dominated the news on Black Friday. More people are doing their shopping online rather than going out into the crowds to face the hazards. Lets put it this way: Is it worth risking your life to get $500 off of a 4K TV? If you want to buy electronics I would recommend doing so from an online retailer as they are more likely to be in stock, plus it`s a lot safer.

As a retail worker, I will have to work on Black Friday and Black Friday Weekend. Technically my store isn't a hot store for holiday shopping, but power tools are a pretty popular gift for dads. If nothing else we might sell a load of gift cards. But, brick and mortar shopping is quickly going out of style for the holidays. In the age of apps, online shopping, and quick shipping it is apparent that brick and mortar stores are suffering, and so are small businesses.

[Paris13]

I personally have Worked for Niki Black Friday awhile Back, and without it being Whack... Crazy but Great Deals and People going Mad.
I have not Shopped in awhile on this Big Day, but this year, I am Heading out of Town to Break Bread with a Tom Turkey and my family, and Come 6Am, Friday, I will be Be Stuffed for That Day.
I love Half Prices, and other Good Steals, but more than that, the Sheer Excitement of Everyone under the Sun joining in this Way, Feeling as Kid Like as I can for that Day.
Maybe it is not as Mentioned as it Used to be. But with Things going to Hell in a Hand basket in this World, Many are Focusing too on their Pockets.
Good luck. xx

[Paris13]

@smahala Thank you for the Like, and Happy Holidays. xx

[MrOracle]

For ME, virtually all brick-and-mortar stores are obsolete. The only times I've been in a mall in the last 2 decades are a handful of times I've gone with a girl who was clothes shopping - I myself have made zero mall purchases in the last 20 years. Virtually everything I buy comes from Amazon, Newegg, Walmart. com, and Costco Online. My brick-and-mortar shopping is more-or-less limited to my local Fry's Electronics and Home Depot.

Hell, my Amazon account has been active since late 1994 - which makes it older than many GAG users! That's from back when they only sold books!

[ginny_weasley]

I don't think it's obsolete. We are in the process though. Many businesses are closing on Thanksgiving because they got negative feedback from the public about making their employees work holidays. Years ago, I remember watching a local news story on the craziness of Black Friday. I distinctly remember an older woman saying that Thanksgiving is completely obsolete and Black Friday is the real holiday. She must have a sad life if she would rather materialistic objects than special time with her family and loved ones.

[smahala1991]

I do like online shopping better personally even QVC. At least you can still spend time with family, have dinner, and even save time and not fight the crowds that way. Generally
I find online shopping way more easier and quicker.

[ginny_weasley]

I totally agree about online shopping. When you're not busy right before Thanksgiving just put stuff you want in your cart. Then just check out when the Black Friday deals go in effect.

[Barrabus_the_Free]

I did Black Friday once when I was married.

ONCE. In ten years.

Never again.

I don't do Christmas anyway, so getting up super early, putting up with crowds, and possibly having to put someone down because they got stupid with me just aren't worth it.

[Fathoms77]

The Saturday before Christmas has always been far more lucrative for businesses. Problem with Black Friday is everyone is only out for sales and deals (many of which don't make much profit for businesses, anyway). The volume of people is actually similar, but the amount of money that changes hands is much higher on Super Saturday.

And given the general insanity of the world right now, I'm all about Cyber Monday. Not that I ever bothered with Black Friday, anyway. :P

[Pearl85]

We don't have this in my country but in U. K. since these Black Friday type sales were introduced there has been so much negative backlash mainly due to violence. And generally you can get better deals (e. g. Better products that carry more value) elsewhere.

[Saoirse_Nua]

I only really heard of it since I joined here (no Thanksgiving in Ireland) but it strikes me as gimmick to get people to buy things maybe it is just me I hate shopping - I kinda just wish you could do everthing online, no disprespect to retail workers like yourself but "Black Friday" would be my idea of hell (I am in a bit of a cold sweat just thinking about it)

[Righttobeararms83]

Im sure you've heard of black eyed Friday lol

[meatballs21]

I went to Black Friday for ONE item last year (a 3DS). It was mayhem and even finding someone to get the damned thing out of the display case in Walmart was a pain in the ass. I paid for my purchase and immediately retired to the nearby bar for several G&Ts while I waited for my girlfriend to finish work.

[neoagent1]

I agree with @ginny_weasley It's not "obsolete" by any means, just different methods for the madness. I won't go near a mall on Black Friday. I do online shopping only. I've found some great deals for myself mostly for electronic gear I want.

[smahala1991]

I should have renamed it Why is Black Friday Becoming Obsolete at Brick and Mortar Retailers

[kitty71]

Some people shop on this particular day like the item they are looking for are going to dissapera the next day and never return so they get all stress out just to buy a stpud thing and get up early in the morning for that. Really? I found that stupid. You won't caught me doing those endless hours lines ona store to buy a thing just because it is on sale. That is call consumism at the highest level.

[zagor]

Black Friday is an idiotic tradition that should go away. In fact all retailers need to just set reasonable prices and knock off all the bullshit sales tactics. Just yesterday I was buying some supplements, and they were 2 for the price of 1. Two bottles will last me past the expiration date! Just lower the damn price for one!!!

[Righttobeararms83]

Black Friday is a joke, it fosters herd mentality in people to buy the shit stock that has sat on the shelf for the last year as they can't get rid of it. and the deals are always shit. Better to buy after Christmas.

[Bandit74]

I love Bill Burr's summary of Black Friday

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=brSUqmDUjEc

[NJ_Casanova]

Because most shopping is being done online and not physically at stores. Online they can start the sales whenever they want.

[Smmyskittles]

I work most Black Fridays.

Just give my mom money and a list, she buys it for me when she goes.

- Nice Take. :]

[Phoenix98]

Lol no it's not obsolete at least not were I live and I buy my clothes for the next couple of years on black Friday.

[CisScum]

Black Friday: where it's okay to trample old ladies and other people for a good deal. Where it's okay to fight for a few hundred dollars off a TV. Murrica!

[legalboxers]

I dont think Black Friday is obsolete. Well where I am anyway. They are people who will wait up to HOURS to be at Best Buy, every year like clockwork, the sheeple will line up. At least the lines aren't as bad at Staples.

[flypaper]

I LOVED Black Friday but gave it up once the stores started opening on Thanksgiving.

[genuinlysensitive]

I thought Cyber Monday overtook black Friday years ago.

[jacquesvol]

People don't have much to spend on extras and most rebates are fake.

[Xleah17x]

I live in Canada and Black Friday here is very popular lol