Every year, when the holidays come around, the shopping season starts off with Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving, stores all over the country participate in Black Friday by extending their hours and having huge sales. People will start to line up at these stores as early as Thanksgiving evening in anticipation to be the first to buy items they want before they are sold out.
This is a popular event that many people participate in. They hope to get their holiday shopping done early or to simply buy things at a significantly cheaper price. It is common to see the stores that are participating in Black Friday advertising their sales in the newspaper, television commercials, mailed catalogues, and online.
Some people prepare for Black Friday by leaving as soon as their Thanksgiving dinner is over, while there are some who do not go shopping at all on Black Friday.
“I used to go Black Friday shopping every year with my family. It was something we’d get really excited about and wait in line for after dinner, but every year it started to get less and less fun because people get really aggressive. Three years ago when the doors opened at Toys R’ Us, I almost got knocked over and trampled, but my cousin grabbed me right before I fell. Now I just do Cyber Monday,” Vi Nguyen ’19 said.
Every year, there are more and more reports on violence during Black Friday events, deterring people away from wanting to go.
“Sales wise, I don’t think Black Friday is even worth going to at this point; entertainment wise, it definitely is.” Mark Melby ‘19 said.
“One time I was in Forever 21 and I was trying to get this really cute jacket, but then this girl pushed me because she wanted the one I had,” Kimberly Rookstool ‘20 said.
Despite the dangers and anxiety of Black Friday, there are still those who venture out into stores during the sales.
“My parents, every year- they go Black Friday shopping. I don’t remember them ever not going. They don’t really like for me and my brother to go anymore because of how intense it can get, but they still go themselves.” Nguyen said. “They’ll be gone for literally like six hours, it’s insane.”
A large number of people have stopped going on Black Friday shopping trips, instead choosing to shop in the comfort of their homes on Cyber Monday, which occurs the week after Black Friday, only three days later. The ones who still do, set out for a night of adrenaline and knocked down prices.
