The Pros and Cons of Black Friday
December 12, 2017
Black Friday is a major shopping event that has been around since the very first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924. This year an estimated 137 million people went Black Friday shopping, a third more than the 102 million that went in 2015. Each year more and more people flood the stores for a good deal. Everyone has a different opinion on Black Friday. Whether you’re for it, against it, or indifferent, we can all agree it’s a crazy day.
Some people are huge bargain hunters who absolutely love Black Friday.
“I like black Friday shopping because every store has good deals,” said junior Kayla Bloom.
Although, the stores are always bombarded with people due to the sales.
“The sales also mean that everyone goes out that day to do their Christmas shopping so it gets really crowded,” said Bloom.
“It’s a crazy time of shopping, madness, and chaos that can either end up being successful, or just plain miserable,” said sophomore Steph Justi.
Each year sales seem to start earlier and earlier, ruining Thanksgiving. For example this year JCPenney opened at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
“I think that Black Friday is a good opportunity to get gifts for your family at good prices, but only if it doesn’t ruin your Thanksgiving,” said freshman Olivia Vissari.
Others also hate how Black Friday runs into Thanksgiving.
“My family only really gets together on the holidays,” said Bloom, “When they leave early to go Black Friday shopping it kinda sucks since we can’t spend time together.”
“I am honestly upset by the fact that people miss out on the wonderful time of Thanksgiving because they are frantically trying to plan for shopping,” said Justi.
Most people agree that it’s not okay to miss out on family time to go shopping. REI was one store who remained closed on Thanksgiving Day. They encouraged their employees to spend time with their families on the holidays. REI wasn’t the only store that stayed closed. Staples, TJ Maxx, and Nordstrom all followed in their footsteps.
“I do not like the way that the sales start earlier and earlier each year,” said Vissari, “Thanksgiving should be spent with family, not at the store.”
“It bothers me that my family and I will be hanging out and then my aunt just leaves to get her Black Friday shopping in,” said Bloom.
Some prefer to shop online deals and skip the chaos of the stores. Around 164 million people shopped online this year.
“Normally I’ll just do some online shopping that day or on Cyber Monday,” said Bloom.
Others hate Black Friday shopping all together.
“I do not go Black Friday shopping because I don’t particularly like shopping on a normal day, let alone when everyone is mobbing the stores for deals,” said Justi.
Some people go shopping as a family.
“My family usually goes Black Friday shopping every year, but only on Friday, never on Thursday night,” said Vissari.
Although some stores are beginning to open earlier, others are standing strong and encouraging shoppers and employees to cherish family time and stay home for the holidays. So, overall most people agree that family time is the biggest priority.
“I prioritize family time over Black Friday shopping for sure,” said Bloom, “I can get my shopping done at a different time, but there aren’t many times that my whole family is together.”
“Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for what blessings you have in life, and it’s time that’s meant to be spent with family,” said Justi.
“Thanksgiving Day should be a time spent being thankful for family, and Black Friday sales should not take priority over that time,” said Vissari.
