The biggest shopping event of the year, Black Friday, is always the day after Thanksgiving and has been celebrated by millions of Americans since the 1990s. It is known for its frenzy of crowded stores and the adrenaline rush of getting to the sales before everyone else, but online sales have changed the game for Black Friday shoppers.
Black Friday has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many families. It is a chance to spend time with friends and family and have a thrilling shopping spree together. For some, Black Friday is more about the experience than the deals.
Other people live for the rush of Black Friday shopping in stores because it offers a hands-on experience. They can see, touch and try products before buying, ensuring quality and fit — especially for clothes and furniture. Plus, they get the instant gratification of bringing their purchases home right away without waiting weeks for delivery, with risks of damages or dissatisfaction.
But is the sale worth getting trampled in the crowd?
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many Black Friday shoppers to shift to online shopping in 2020. Since then, many consumers found that shopping from home was undeniably convenient and a better option. There was no more staying up all night waiting for stores to open, no more long checkout lines and no more hassle with parking.
Online retailers like Amazon are also cheaper than ever with fast delivery. Even physical stores like Walmart and Target have websites that offer online-only discounts that give shoppers access to products unavailable in-store. This gives more access to shoppers in rural areas as well, eliminating possible transportation troubles or limited shopping options.
Shoppers can easily compare prices and save money with better deals online, as well as get offers such as free delivery and exclusive membership deals. After all, the deals are what Black Friday is all about.
People may argue that the risk of popular items selling out quickly, website crashes due to high traffic and delivery delays during the holiday rush are deal breakers for online shoppers. However, the endless websites and options make seasonal shopping easier.
Though shopping Black Friday online isn’t always without challenges, it is an overall better approach to holiday shopping than in-store. Online shopping is convenient and stress-free, which beats the thrill of in-store shopping, even for those willing to brave the crowds.
