Is Black Friday still a thing?

[TheVTCGuy]

Years ago, everyone in my family, cousins, nieces, nephews, even my since-passed Aunt, would literally meet up at 3:00 in the morning and hit the stores; and from what they described “Hit” sounds like an accurate description. They would battle like Templar Knights to get in the front door, run to the items they desired, and then drive like crazy people to get to the next store. I kept telling myself I would give it a try some year, they truly enjoyed it. I never did, and now I wonder with the internet and Ebay and other options, do these “Storm the Store” events still happen? Anyone ever partake? Please share your stories

[MrGoat]

It’s not a thing in my house. Most companies offer Black Friday deals all week if not longer.


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[kieselguhr]

Online yes. I won’t go near the mall or stores on Black Friday. Getting stuck in traffic isn’t my idea of a good way to spend the day. Unless I had chewie’s driver and RR Phantom

[Pw92676]

Black Fridays Matter.

[shaunylw]

Still a thing but online makes it way easier. Seems like most companies are stretching it out for a week., so the actual day isn’t as important.


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[enjoythemusic]

Wait, you mean like, you know, physically going to a retail store????? Not Amazon or a delivery service? Hmm, sounds retro.


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And what about the Quademic???

[dddrees]

If there's one day I always avoid going out, it's Black Friday. Besides on the internet Black Friday sales have been going on since at least the last week of October this year anyway. This is the best way to avoid the crowds and to get deals anyway.

[dba]

It is with my wife and step-daughter. It's been a tradition of theirs for years.

[77T]

It might be, but this year the adverts haven’t arrived here.

No. I didn’t go to those Fridays.


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[Star Ferry]

I still see ads for sales that are “in-store only” and often limited. For example, a television or washing machine in limited quantity. I have never been to a Black Friday sale, though.

[brandrea]

Just ask my wife

[superdog]

I build the material handling equipment in Distribution Centers. Think conveyance, sortation, robots, storage etc.

Black Friday is definitely still a thing. But it’s been watered down by so many pre BF sales and of course Cyber Monday.

But my customers have been furiously shipping and are currently in their busy season. Both retail and ecommerce.

[kulak]

I’d rather pay more to shop in peace.

[OverGeared]

Originally Posted by kulak

I’d rather pay more to shop in peace.

This says it better than I ever could. I know it can be fun to bargain-hunt for stuff, but the cultivated chaos of in-store Black Friday events seems so unpleasant. I'm happier walking into the same store 24 hours later and leaving with my sanity intact.

Also, as others have mentioned, the immediacy of in-person Black Friday sales has been largely evaporated by online offers and retail stores realizing that they don't need to offer crazy-ass discounts just to get people to make purchases. It's been a bit of a relief over the last several years to see many retailers explicitly forsaking midnight store openings and whatnot on Black Friday. I always felt bad for the thousands of employees across the country who had to show up to work on Thanksgiving evening in order to get their store ready so some schmuck can shove past them at 12:01am in an effort to save thirty bucks on a Keurig machine. Retail workers get the sh!t end of the stick, especially around this time of the year. They should at least get to enjoy their Thanksgiving in peace.

[donas]

It's a thing, but not my thing! No sale is worth dealing with the mob mentality that goes on that day; people are just nuts!

[Moondoggy]

Not a chance.

[AzPaul]

Think most of the places have tried to tone things down.
For a few years there, things were out of control.

[Blansky]

Black Friday is like waking up onstage at a Jerry Springer Show.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Black Friday is like waking up onstage at a Jerry Springer Show.

I always look forward to, and shudder at seeing the Walmart frukus

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Black Friday is like waking up onstage at a Jerry Springer Show.

This is the reason I’ve never tried to visit these sales. I’m a snob who doesn’t like crowds and considers fighting for resources unseemly

[beshannon]

Which Black Friday? They now start in July

[sickened1]

Yup, i remember we used to get up like 3 or 4 in the morning just to get in line waiting for stores to be open! These days you just have to be quick on your keyboard and refresh the page fast enough to get the stuff that you want.

[Tri-Tip]

30+ years ago, my mom and sisters used to go shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The term "Black Friday" and opening at 3 or 4 am was still years away, and they said the stores would be crowded, but not crazy.

When my folks used to live in Las Vegas, we would pass a Best Buy the day BEFORE Thanksgiving and there would be people camped out in a line around the store...tents, beach chairs, etc. and the temps there would drop to the 20's or teens overnight.

Never understood how people could afford to take a day off of work to save a few bucks on something they probably don't need anyway.

[enjoythemusic]

Retail Tip: Many stores price match. When you find a store ad with a loss-leader product you want, then find a different retail store with the same product that price matches and buy from them.

[Ferdelious]

I'd rather pay full price than deal with that sh*t show.

[330ci]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

This is the reason I’ve never tried to visit these sales. I’m a snob who doesn’t like crowds and considers fighting for resources unseemly

I feel ya

[330ci]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Retail Tip: Many stores price match. When you find a store ad with a loss-leader product you want, then find a different retail store with the same product that price matches and buy from them.

Fun fact: O'Reillys wouldn't price match a 1500lb engine leveler from Harbor Freight because "they're not a competitor of theirs" pissed me off �� first and last time I try to price match something not in stock elsewhere

[Chewbacca]

I don’t have a use for these gimmicks.

But the night before opening my H1 Visa helpers go around Walmarts Targets and Best Buys telling the sheep they’ll watch their spot for only $100

Then never come back.

The lesson learned for the sheep and money earned by my help saves everyone in the long run. And we film the fights then next day when they’re trying to get back in line.

[HHIslander]

I did this once back in 2005 for an XBOX 360. Waited/camped in line for 14 hours for the doors to open at 6AM. It was a very interesting experience, made more interesting by the copious amounts of alcohol being consumed by a few folks who appeared to not be accustomed to alcohol. Puke and police involved. Luckily, they used a rather orderly system with a list so no one has to fight anyone else when the doors opened. Got the 360 and was a hero on Christmas.

These days, I much prefer cyber Monday like many other older folks do I would imagine.

[330ci]

Originally Posted by HHIslander

I did this once back in 2005 for an XBOX 360. Waited/camped in line for 14 hours for the doors to open at 6AM. It was a very interesting experience, made more interesting by the copious amounts of alcohol being consumed by a few folks who appeared to not be accustomed to alcohol. Puke and police involved. Luckily, they used a rather orderly system with a list so no one has to fight anyone else when the doors opened. Got the 360 and was a hero on Christmas.

These days, I much prefer cyber Monday like many other older folks do I would imagine.

stories like these are why I love America