A week of full bellies and power naps might be enough for some Americans, but for others, the exciting sales of Black Friday are all that is needed to convince them to wait in lengthy lines all night for the opening of stores.
The rise of Black Friday came to be in the 1960’s, the day after Thanksgiving and before the yearly Army-Navy football game, when consumers would rush to buy products from retailers, often overwhelming law enforcement. As retailers began to catch on to this trend, they adapted their prices in an attempt to draw even more attention to their deals, thus luring more business. Over the decades, Black Friday has become more than good deals and busy traffic, but rather developed into an anticipated tradition nationwide.
Due to Black Friday’s intense popularity, it is not uncommon to hear stories of people being trampled and items being fought over, as it is a convenient time to shop for holiday gifts. So, as America falls victim to the enticement of good deals, which further lead to overspending, it is a good thing Black Friday is only one day out of the year. But is it really? With the increase of online shopping and emailed discounts, it seems that each year, more and more emphasis is placed on a store’s online sales, rather than the ones in person. This leads to longer lasting sales online and less of an infrequent splurge of spending.
While it is never good for anyone to be trampled or injured in the process of buying the latest flat screen TV at the lowest price, there has been a shift in the excitement of Black Friday over time. It is as if the chaotic magic and intensity of the day has begun to wear off. The contrast between waiting in competing lines all night outside of a store in the cold November air, to waking up later and still being able to get the same deals all from one’s couch seems to be what changed the most. Though the decrease in Black Friday horror stories is a relief, it is bittersweet to hear that the shopping spree is slowly becoming more virtual and less competitive.
