by Emma Dauster
You arrive at your destination. There are hundreds of cars parked in the parking lot. You race to the doors of Walmart along with a crowd of other shoppers. You push eagerly through the people and finally reach the doors. You burst through and find a basket. You sprint to find your desired items. You finally reach the right aisle.
You fill your basket with sale and hot deal items. Just as you turn to race back to the checkout, someone slaps your basket out of your hand from behind. Your precious loot slides across the floor. The shopper gathers your items into her basket and disappears around the corner of the next aisle. Everything you had is gone. Your night is ruined. This night was the only night of the year you could buy that Kitchen Aid mixer you’d been wanting since last Christmas. This insanity is Black Friday.
Black Friday is the Friday before Thanksgiving. Every year, millions of Americans rush into their favorite retail stores to buy store items for next to no money. Many stores have started opening to Black Friday the night before at 7:00-8:00 p.m. Most stores even open for a 4-day Black Friday weekend.
Last year in 2014, Americans blew $50.9 billion in the 4-day Black Friday weekend. It is not hard to say that this is a little absurd, don’t you think? But everyone goes Black Friday shopping, don’t they? Wrong! In fact, only 28% of Americans go Black Friday shopping. Here’s why 72% of us don’t.
“People have grown accustomed to the fact that this is the big holiday shopping weekend, but you can still get deals the week leading up to Christmas. Consumers have other options and they’re going to shop when it’s convenient for them,” said Jeanine Skowronski, a Bankrate.com analyst.
It’s not just because there are other options. Many Americans choose not to Black Friday shop simply because they believe that it has no purpose.
“I’ve never really invested in Black Friday shopping,” said Julie Dombroski. “I think it’s kind of pointless and silly. I mean, people often are hurt or nearly killed over a TV or pair of shoes. It’s not worth it.”
Black Friday isn’t all sugary deals and hot prices. Since 2006, 7 deaths and 98 severe injuries have resulted from Black Friday being taken too seriously.
Maybe it is time to rethink how we view Black Friday. Is a pair of shoes really worth a broken arm? Is a flatscreen TV really worth a concussion or possibly a life? Hopefully, anyone with sense would agree that Black Friday is a little unreasonable. After reading this article, maybe you will consider your Black Friday shopping habits.