Black Friday is supposed to be the best day of the year for all your shopping needs. Since it’s the day after Thanksgiving, the beginning of holiday shopping season, and the biggest sales of the year, it sounds like the perfect day to do your shopping, right? Wrong!
There’s something I absolutely hate about Black Friday. The over enthusiastic lines from 4 in the morning waiting for iPads as if they’re waiting for Lady Gaga to make a guest appearance, the huge crowds of people one must topple over in order to get the desired gift, the selling out of products before it’s even light out…How can anyone stand it?
This year, I heard about a family who rushed their Thanksgiving dinner so they could head out to the stores to wait in line right after it was over. (Hello, I thought Black Friday was on FRIDAY morning?) Mashable published a video of Wal-Mart shoppers crushing and climbing over each other in order to get their desired products. Urban Outfitters and Saks Fifth Avenue, two popular fashion locations, saw lines around the block. Scenes were described as “nuts,” “crazy,” and “staggering.” But who would want to encounter these shoppers that shoot pepper spray for an Xbox or wreak havoc over a $2 waffle maker?
That’s why in the past I’ve waited until Cyber Monday to do my shopping from home where it’s quiet and convenient. Sure, I’m worried about items selling out quickly—but at least I won’t have to be trampled by people in order to reach them.
Just a quick note on the meaning behind Cyber Monday. It’s the Monday immediately following Black Friday, developed by companies online to persuade people to shop on the Internet. It began with a Shop.org press release in 2005 that used the term and subsequently developing a special CyberMonday.com domain for deals. Cyber Monday has also become an international event, more so than Black Friday, which is mainly a US concept.
Where does this fit into my world of fashion? Of course, while I can’t bare the thought of not attending a giant fashion event (like that Versace for H&M runway show, for instance,) I would rather my shopping experience as easy and comfortable as possible, without running into those fanatics. It looks like many of us out there have the same thought. Even before the start of Cyber Monday, Black Friday’s online sales have already risen 24.3% over last year.
And why wouldn’t they? Stores like Barneys NY and Bergdorf Goodman are offering up to 40% off on online purchases. Target is having a Cyber Monday sale on their site all week with giant sales that end just as December begins. Shopbop.com is offering $50 off on a $250 purchase. Nordstroms is offering up to 50% off with free shipping. The Rent the Runway website, a site for people who want to rent designer duds for a lower price, is offering $42 Chamak Bangles to their first 100 customers for free.
Those are just some of the sales going on for Cyber Monday. Even if you didn’t hop out of bed Friday morning (who could after all that turkey!) there’s still time to head over to your computer (so easy!) and make a purchase thats much more of a bargain then anything you would have bought a month ago.
Do you have any Black Friday horror stories? Where will you be shopping on Cyber Monday? What’s the best deal you’ve ever encountered for the holidays?
