Oh, Black Friday. Most people either love it or hate it. Generally, those who love it are super excited to save money and get gifts for everyone on their lists. And those who hate it work (or have worked) in retail, or just think it takes away from Thanksgiving. I happen to fall in all of those categories, so today we are discussing the pros and cons of Black Friday.
Perspective of a former retail worker:
I worked at a big-box retail store for part of high school and most of college. So I know some pros and cons of Black Friday from that fun experience. Back then, Black Friday was actually on Friday. I remember my first Black Friday like it was yesterday. The store was scheduled to open at 5 am, and employees had to be there at 4:30 am. I arrived at 4:15 and was unable to find a parking space in our lot. The line of people waiting to get in the store wrapped around the building. Excited shoppers, bundled against the cold, anxiously awaited the unlocking of the door.
Here comes the flood
Before the store opened, our managers told us that our safety and that of the guests was the highest priority. Um, what? Not sure I signed up for this. We received our department assignments, and I was nervous to learn I was stationed in electronics. As the minutes until opening ticked down, my fellow team members and I braced ourselves for the storm to come.
From the back of the store, we heard the noise of the crowd as the doors opened. Seconds later, we saw a wall of people running (running!) toward us and all we could do was stand there. Electronics was a difficult department to manage on a normal day because the high-priced items were locked in a case and had to be rung up at that particular register. Due to the anticipated sales, the extra product did not fit in the cases and was instead stacked neatly behind the counter.
The idea was that the customers would tell the worker what items they wanted and the worker would ring them up there in the electronics department. Unfortunately this is not how things played out. In their rush to not miss out on any deals, the customers resorted to reaching over the counter to grab the items they wanted and hurrying off without paying for them. Obviously, they paid before they left the store, but this was a major policy no-no. But what were a couple of teenage workers going to do against a mob of crazy deal-seekers? That was the longest shift of my life, and I went home mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted.
Perspective of a frugal mama:
Fast-forward to this year. This year is my first Black Friday as a mom. And a frugal mom at that, one who is extremely budget-conscious and always looking to save money. Especially for the holidays since money is tight. So now I have to figure out the pros and cons of Black Friday from a mom’s perspective.
I’m a huge budgeter. I am extremely conscious of our finances and meticulously plan our holiday budget. Since money is tight anyway, every dollar saved counts. I worked in retail for four years, and I think I maybe shopped Black Friday only one or two years since I left. But now I’m considering getting out there to score some great deals for my little guy (oh, and my husband too, I guess!).
So now that you know my background as both a retail employee and an super frugal mom, let’s discuss the pros and cons of Black Friday shopping.
Pros of Black Friday
I think the pros of Black Friday are pretty obvious. But let’s look at them a little closer:
Great deals save money
Duh. It’s true that there are tons and tons of great deals on Black Friday. From small kitchen appliances for less than $30, to toys, games, and movies, you can pretty much guarantee a great sale. Clothes, electronics, home decor, Christmas decor—it’s all fair game during Black Friday.
Plus, have you seen those doorbuster sales? Holy cow! I’ve seen some great deals on pajama sets, scarves and mittens, DVDs, and more. The catch is that those items are only available while supplies last, or for only a certain period of time.
This year, our family drew names so we don’t have to buy gifts for everyone (we’re all on a budget this year). I like this because I can go into Black Friday with a plan of exactly what I’m looking for.
For a fun Thanksgiving tradition, check out the ads in the paper and see what you may want to purchase. Then, make a plan of attack so you don’t end up wandering around the stores getting distracted and spending more money than you need to.
Finish all the shopping at once
Another pro of Black Friday is that you have the opportunity to get all (or most) of your shopping done at once. I remember when I was a teenage, my parents and aunts and uncles would leave me in charge of all the kids while they spent Black Friday shopping. It was fun for us because we got to hang out with the cousins, and I’m sure it was great for the adults because they got the majority of the shopping done.
Cons of Black Friday
The cons of Black Friday are a little less obvious than the pros, but still somewhat common sense.
Takes away from Thanksgiving
This is one of the issues those who are against Black Friday bring up the most. And I tend to agree, since in recent years, Black Friday has actually started kicking off in the afternoon on Thanksgiving. Many people are upset about this because they feel that it’s not right for retail employees to have to work on Thanksgiving. And as a former retail employee, I agree. It was bad enough to have to get up before dawn to work Black Friday; nowadays, those employees don’t get to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families.
But the problem with this logic is that the store wouldn’t open if people didn’t line up to get in. It’s simple economics. Honestly, the only way to change this now is for everyone to boycott Black Friday on Thursday.
And keep in mind, there are so many other people who have to work on Thanksgiving, too: military personnel, law enforcement officers, medical personnel, firefighters. People in those fields miss out on time with their families, too, but they do it because they care about the people they serve.
Promotes materialism and selfishness
This is what bothers me most about Black Friday. After working in the electronics department that first year in retail, I didn’t look at it the same way again. Granted, I know many courteous people who are genuinely interested in getting gifts for others. But so many others are really just shopping for themselves.
I don’t know many people who buy a huge-screen TV for someone else (but they may be out there, so I’m trying not to judge!). During my time at a cash register, I often asked my customers who they were purchasing certain items for (not in a weird way, just making conversation while ringing them up). I was so surprised at how often they responded sheepishly, “Oh, it’s for me.”
Please, don’t get me wrong, I know not everyone is like that. But I do think that Black Friday does promote selfishness and materialism to a certain extent.
The verdict:
So after examining the pros and cons of Black Friday, I think it’s important to go into it with the right mindset. As a frugal mom, I believe there are a few deals I’ll take advantage of. I obviously can’t stay away from Target! But I plan to do my research and only by what we need for those on our gift list.
However, I absolutely refuse to go out on Thanksgiving. Instead, we plan to spend the day with our families (we’re having two dinners!), and reflect on what we’re thankful for. We’ll enjoy good food, maybe some football, and share memories.
Okay, mama. Now you know the pros and cons of Black Friday, so it’s up to you to decide what you want to do. Consider all the points we discussed today, and decide how you want to deal with it. Regardless of what you decide, remember to teach your children gratitude this Thanksgiving.
What are your pros and cons of Black Friday? Tell us in the comments!
