Black Friday/Cyber Monday - History & Help!
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
November 12, 2008 1:15am CST
How many of my fellow myLotters here are going to be joining me in shopping on Black Friday this year?
For those of you who are not familiar with the term, Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday may be as early as the 23rd and as late as the 29th of November.
Black Friday is really not an official holiday, but many employers give the day off to workers, thus increasing the number of potential shoppers on this day. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Black Friday marks the first shopping day after Thanksgiving and has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924.
The term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1960s. The term "Black Friday" actually originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day, but more recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).
Many people scout out the ads for Black Friday, but you can actually go online and scan the Black Friday ads at your leisure. I have included a few sites that have Black Friday ads up and available for viewing:
http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/
http://bfads.net/
http://www.bfadsanalysis.com/
http://www.blackfriday.info/sales/
It is not uncommon to see shoppers lined up hours before stores open, and then once inside, the stores shoppers often rush and grab, as many stores have only a few of the big draw items..
Alternately, there is another shopping day online, referred to as Cyber Monday.
The term Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, which unofficially marks the beginning of the Christmas online shopping season. Many online retailers offer lower prices and other promotions on that day.
So, now that Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, I hope everyone finds this discussion useful, sits back, enjoys perusing the ads, and has a great holiday season!
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
It is not uncommon to see shoppers lined up hours before stores open, and then once inside, the stores shoppers often rush and grab, as many stores have only a few of the big draw items..
Alternately, there is another shopping day online, referred to as Cyber Monday.
The term Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, which unofficially marks the beginning of the Christmas online shopping season. Many online retailers offer lower prices and other promotions on that day.
So, now that Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, I hope everyone finds this discussion useful, sits back, enjoys perusing the ads, and has a great holiday season!
Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
5 people like this
21 responses
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Hey schulzie! I think that was really nice of you to explain
in such great detail the meaning of our "Black Friday" shopping
nightmare! I was trying to explain before in a discussion and
I know I probably confused alot of people from other
countries. They were laughing about the people fighting over
the items in the stores because someone mentioned how some
people go just to see the fights! And we know that it's true!
I would never ever go near a store on Black Friday no matter
if they were giving stuff away for free! I hate crowds and I
sure as hell wouldn't stand outside in the cold in the middle
of the night to wait to be crushed when the opened the doors.
I will just watch the fools on the news! I didn't know about
Cyber Monday. I have just really gotten into buying online
recently. I had only really bought jewelry online before but
now I've branched out into bigger and better things! I just
bought my computer desk online! And I also brought a slipcover
and pillows! So now I'm ready to shop for anything! I hate
going to the stores anyway! It's great for the lazy shopper
and ones like me who hate crowds!
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Yes, both Black Friday in the physical stores and Cyber Monday for people who enjoy online shopping are both great options to save money and shop at the same time. And who doesn't need to save money these days?
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
2 people like this
@dreamhealer (812)
•
12 Nov 08
Yes, either option can be good. Just don't get carried away in the frenzy and end up buying 'crud' that you would not normally buy in a saner mood! After all the retailers design these 'give-aways' to get us spending. They certainly have plenty of graduates working away at the marketing to tempt those dollars or pounds sterling, monedas, dosh, euros or whatever out of our pockets!!! ;~0
1 person likes this
@ShellyB (5241)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I have enjoyed reading your discussion but as a norm, I do not go shopping on that day, it is tiresome and I can never be on the stores that early, I wish I could and at that time of the month I am always almost broke.
Thanks for sharing all that info tho.
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
14 Nov 08
Oh we are always broke too, but this year it happens on my husband's payday! So we shall see. I do hate waking up that early myself, but my husband is a morning person so he just loves it!
I am usually cranky and go with no makeup and look like poop!
Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
I am usually cranky and go with no makeup and look like poop!
Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I'll probably be shopping on Black Friday this year. I've gone shopping on Black Friday for several years now, probably two or three so I'm used to and kind of look forward to all of the great deals that you can find if you look hard enough. I really do enjoy finding the last of a certain item and what not. It's kind of fun in a way. Not to mention, if the prices are right and match what I'm shopping for, I can usually get my shopping done very early.
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
13 Nov 08
Yes it is just hard to have extra money laying around at that time of the year to buy those big ticket items.
Sigh...
I'd love to get a nice big television or something but unless I will the lottery that is a fantasy!
[b]Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
[/b]
I'd love to get a nice big television or something but unless I will the lottery that is a fantasy!
[b]Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
[/b]
1 person likes this
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
12 Nov 08
That is a nice histry of the two days. I don't normally go out shopping on these two days. On firday I am at home resting with my sons, since they are off school I like to spend the day at home with them. I am probably going to be too full from thanksgiving anyways to want to do much. Monday we are back to work and school so I don't have the time to shop. I might still go online and see what deals I can find but I have most of my shopping done anyways so there isn't much left to get.
2 people like this
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I do NOT enjoy shopping. So Black Friday is one of my least favorite days of the year. I am happy to sit at home and relax and let all the shoppers run around and try to get their bargains! This includes my mother, sisters, sis-in-law, and almost every friend and relative I have. They are all up early and running around to get the great deals. I will not be shopping from Thanksgiving though the following Weds. Just in case. :-)
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I heard that! We have 4 children and are a one income family. Times are tough, so if I don't shop around for bargains, there will be hardly anything under the tree.
I don't care for me so much as I do my small children. Christmas is not fun for a child if there is nothing to unwrap. Trust me, I had a few Christmases like that as a child and it sucked.
[b]Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
[/b]
I don't care for me so much as I do my small children. Christmas is not fun for a child if there is nothing to unwrap. Trust me, I had a few Christmases like that as a child and it sucked.
[b]Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
[/b]
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
12 Nov 08
The term Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, which unofficially marks the beginning of the Christmas online shopping season. Many online retailers offer lower prices and other promotions on that day.
HA! WELL I DIDNT KNOW THAT!!! In fact I've never heard of Cyber Monday but now that I have I'll have to look into it since I do pretty much most of my Xmas shopping online every yr....Good to know! thanks
2 people like this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Oh I hear you about the money issue! It sucks. I think he gets paid that Friday before Thanksgiving. If not, I might not be going either.
It is nice to be able to have some money to take advantage of the sales though. It stretches the budget a little farther.
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
It is nice to be able to have some money to take advantage of the sales though. It stretches the budget a little farther.
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I'll be definitely working on that day at Macys (my part time holiday job). I'll be trying to sell as many macys star rewards accounts on that day and drive as many sales as I can :) One of our biggest money earning days of the year.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Well, I'm sorry that you will be working and not able to go to the sales. But on the other hand, I hope that you get a lot of new Macy's Star Rewards account sign-ups that day! And get lots of sales. Good luck to you!
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
2 people like this
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I love shopping on black Friday! I have only been doing that for 5 years now and last year I took my husband with for the first time. He is looking forward to that as well. We always manage to get great deals that day. I am not one of those advid shoppers that line up in front of the store on Thursday night to be the first one in the store on Friday though. I do see them all bundled up lining the side walk over night. We get up around 3 am get coffee and dressed and head out to one of the major stores we are planning on shopping at. We may split up this year and start off at different stores to grab the best bargains at 2 locations. It is all about strategy.
I love Cyber Monday as well. Last year I mad a killing shopping online. I completed most of my shopping in these 2 days. I saved even more on Cyber Monday shopping through one of the programs I belong to and got rebate cash backs for all the shopping I did. It was like double savings. Gotta love it.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
14 Nov 08
Yes, I love doing that too. Double dipping is so much fun! Can't beat finding a bargain!
We never sit outside for the sales either. We show up when the store opens. It is not worth saving a little bit of money to sleep on the sidewalk or wait in uncomfortable weather. I will just stroll in when the store opens, thank you.
Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
We never sit outside for the sales either. We show up when the store opens. It is not worth saving a little bit of money to sleep on the sidewalk or wait in uncomfortable weather. I will just stroll in when the store opens, thank you.
Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Cyber Monday is fine, but I'll never venture out on Black Friday ever again!
I did it once... only once. The store opened at 5:00 a.m. I was there at 4:00 a.m. and there was already a line of people practically around the building! I went home and back to bed!
Honestly, I think it's nuts to shop on that day! One of the things I try to accomplish most around the Christmas holiday is peace and good will. It's so hard to keep a kind heart when people are bumping into you, shoving you, trying to get in front of you, just to get those wonderfully marked-down items. I can accomplish peace and good will for those people who chose to shop that day by not being there! One less body in the store is a little more room for everyone else.
Nah, not for me! I shop for Christmas presents throughout the year. If I see something on sale that I KNOW someone in particular would like, I'll buy it even if it's in January, and put it away until Christmas. I have quite a few gifts bought already. I'm almost finished my shopping. I do have a few more to get, but I've actually found the best gifts online! I can find a particular thing for a particular person without having to go to store after store comparing prices or just to find out if they actually HAVE that particular item! Shopping online gives me the opportunity to compare prices and get the best one for the money... usually cheaper than in the stores, even after taking shipping charges into consideration!
It saves a lot of time, too! I have better things to do with my time and, since my energy is very limited, I'll save my energy for what I need it for.
But, if you like shopping on Black Friday, good luck to you! I hope you find everything you're looking for and it's a joyful experience for you!
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Thanks! My husband is the one who really enjoys Black Friday the most. I tag along. And what we usually do is tag team. I will go looking for the stuff while he stands in line. By the time he is at the front of the line I usually have everything I went there for. Then we head off to the next store. It is a lot easier doing it that way. And yes, if I see a frenzy of people I avoid that area. A bargain isn't worth getting a black eye and/or a broken bone over!
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
2 people like this
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
14 Nov 08
my best friend is taking me along to do an all nighter at hitting the sales for their christmas shopping.. im broke so it wont matter to me
1 person likes this
Maybe your friend will buy you some stuff!
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
14 Nov 08
Oh I always hit the sales after Christmas! That is a great time to get decorations or stuff like that for the next year. You know, wrapping paper, bows, garland, icicles, maybe some yard stuff.
I love shopping!!!
Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
I love shopping!!!
Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@ambkeb (782)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Awesome! Thanks for the links! I do a lot of my shopping online. It keeps it secret from my husband incase something is for him. HAHA. So I LOVE the cyber Mondays. I am a "work at home mom" who does a lot of direct sales stuff strictly online. There are TONS and TONS of online parties going on where people are offering some really great sales. So I usually take advantage of that. Its really good to when they start offering the sale way before and just make it better the day of.
My family thinks Im crazy for doing all my shopping online. But what they don't understand is that I can got most everything cheaper online then I can in the store. Even with paying the shipping, which for me is usually less then the gas it would cost me to get anywhere since I live about an hour from any other place besides walmart and that's 30 minutes away.
I'm much to lazy to get up that early the morning of black friday. I don't really like to do with the crazies either. I worked at walmart for years and what I seen those days was just outragous!!
Good luck with your shopping and be careful and safe!!
1 person likes this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Wow you do live far away from your shopping areas! I think you are right, with the high gas prices nowadays you are probably better off just paying the shipping charges!
Wow, I cannot imagine working at Wal-Mart on Black Friday. Shopping is one thing, but working there and dealing with that whole mess is another thing entirely.
Happy online shopping!
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
Happy online shopping!
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
1 person likes this
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I will defiantly be out shopping for black friday. I am hoping that some of the things that I need to get are going to have some good sales. A lot of news groups are saying that the sales aren't going to be as good this year since the economy is in such a rut. happy shopping!
1 person likes this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
13 Nov 08
Yes, I am sure that the sales won't really be spectacular this year either. But you know I shop all year long when I see something on sale. Usually for me Black Friday is just to help wrap up my shopping!
[b]Thanks for your comment and have a nice day!
[/b]
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Not me! I wouldn't subject myself to that if you paid me for it! On the other hand, I have a friend who gets up early and is in line at her favorite store before it opens, she loves Black Friday!
I don't buy much for Christmas but I read a few days ago that internet sites will match or beat prices you can document. I'd go that way if I were buying something!
1 person likes this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Wow, I hadn't heard that! Thanks for the tip! It is always fun to buy online. You don't have to fight the crowds, you usually get a nice, uncrushed box, etc. And it is delivered to your door so you don't even have to pay for the gas to take you to the store! It is definitely an option, especially if they will actually match or beat the price! Free shipping and no sales tax is another great reason to shop online!
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
Thanks for your comment! Have a great day!
1 person likes this
@dreamhealer (812)
•
12 Nov 08
I think that more people might be interested in the annual "no shopping day" this year (or maybe next year?) as a protest against the consumer culture, that has got so many of us in to so much debt! Here's a thought, if people still want to give good/ expensive presents, how about wrapping them with the minimum of fuss, so the packaging doesn't contribute to the environmental crisis (as well as helping the pocket)?
And a second thought, what about buying presents that are actually useful. Not consumer crud that gets broken/ chucked in the back of the cupboard (closet) and is otherwise pretty useless to person or beast?
@katrhina23 (1282)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I will be going to the outlet on Black Friday. I might get a really good deal on something.
You infos are very interesting.
1 person likes this
@jilipino08 (40)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I have always avoided Black Friday's-they are just too crazy for me! I probably will go online on Monday though to check out the deals.
1 person likes this
