Lessons Learned from Black Friday

It was the night of Thanksgiving when I see my parents and family friends scrounging for deals in the newspaper. Coupon clippings were all that I could see on the evening before the biggest shopping day of the year. It has basically represented the Superbowl of shopping since only the strong willed and disciplined people are able to brave the cold winds and stand outside in long lines before midnight. 

This year, Black Friday brought the biggest vengeance since the death of a Walmart worker a couple years ago. Since stores had earlier opening times, a woman in LA who was trying to buy an Xbox used pepper spray on nearby customers to gain an advantage on the limited amount of products. Many shoplifters were bloodied by cops in Phoenix, and shots were fired near a California mall. It was important to be extra careful that day, so when I went out to shop and score some deals, I learned a few lessons along the way. 

The hottest and cheapest deals have the most scarcity. The idea of luring customers with a few doorbuster deals has been a staple of businesses during Black Friday. They thrive on the idea of scarcity and when something is scarce, it’s more valued.  However, I realized that waiting in long lines is not really worth it because once you get into the store, the best deals are usually gone. It was a little too late when I realized that the $12 hoodies from Aeropostale were already gone.

If you don’t wake up in time, it’s not the end of the world. Most deals last longer than the opening hours of the day and they usually last all the way till Sunday. I thought it would be impossible to score $13 shoes from Payless but when I came back to campus on Sunday, I still had time to drive and get two pairs of shoes before 5pm. 

It’s better to go after a niche of similar items. Trust me, it’s a lot easier just buying clothes on one day rather than trying to score everything on your list. For example, you will save time and probably have the leisure to get the most scarce and hottest deals if you go after only electronics than trying to also buy toys and clothes. There will be less stores to drive to and you will probably be less tired. 

Be smarter than the marketing team and DO NOT impulse buy. It is so easy to get lost in the hussle of wanting to buy everything on Black Friday that we sometimes waste more money than actually saving. Keep a list of everything that you need to buy and do not go beyond that. If you see a deal at a store that you did not know about, reduce your urge to buy and grab some gum instead to keep you at bay.

 -Sarah Hasnain