• Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Policy
  • Guest Post
  • Archive

One Cent At A Time

A Personal finance blog to get rich

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Beautiful Life
  • Becoming Rich
  • Beginners Guide
  • Extra Income
  • Productivity
  • Saving Money

Black Friday Deal or No Deal? Think about it

September 28, 2012 17 Comments

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving, is the biggest shopping day of the year. Last year, consumers spend over $11.4 billion dollars on this day alone.

Black Friday

It is estimated that 152 million shoppers went to retail stores on Black Friday (remember, there are only 311 million people in the United States, so that is almost 50% of all people living in the US). So, what is it about this day that draws so many people out to shop? Is it the deals?

Is it the allure of being out there (some people have made this a tradition)? Let’s look at whether shopping on Black Friday is a deal, or bust.

The Black Friday Deal

Everyone knows about the deals that retailers offer on Black Friday. They offer TVs at 50% off (or more), or cameras and rock bottom prices. There are also all types of toys and housewares products at incredible discounts. If you want a great deal, shopping on Black Friday may get you some great prices.

Many retailers also offer Black Friday online deals, so you can skip the crowd and elbowing. However, they tend to go just as fast as the store items, so make sure you are staying on top of it.

You can get online deals and online coupons any time you want, but, somehow the deepest discounts are offered on Black Friday. We bought our LCD TV from Wal-Mart on Black Friday. The TV still runs fine and it was bought almost at 50% discount to the market price. We definitely scored on that day.

So does thousand of others on this day, otherwise getting 50% of citizens out of their bed one morning is not an easy job.

The Hidden Truth About Black Friday

However, there is another side to Black Friday that many people forget about because they get caught up in the deals. Here are some things to consider beyond the amazing prices. Some of it I expressed in this previous Black Friday post, where, in an imaginary story, I tried explaining how for most the Black Friday sell is not worth it.

Let’s see few of the hard-facts which makes Black Friday deals not so extra ordinary.

The Brands/Prices: First, you are usually getting an amazing price on a so-so brand. Yes the brand of my TV is Polaroid, they stopped making TV afterwards.

Most of the best prices are reserved for cheap, in-house brands and may not be so great. The TVs in every retailers’ ad are usually specially made for Black Friday for that retailer. You can tell because they have an odd model numbers from the regular series.

The Quantities: The next thing to remember is that quantities are limited. That hot TV or camera will probably only have 50 to 100 units at each store. If you’re not one of the first in line, you’re probably not going to be able to get the best price. And retailers won’t substitute, since, like we mentioned above, they are unique items just for Black Friday.

The Lines: Along with the quantities, you have to deal with the lines. People know there are only a few of each item, and so they start lining up on Thanksgiving Day. Many people wait 12+ hours to be the first in line at each store. Then, even once you get your items, you usually have to wait in huge checkout lines to buy your items.

Not many are prepared to spend 2 -5 hours to score a $100 deal. Any time you visit a mall you can expect to see at least 20% sell being offered at brand name stores. Off-course there are exceptions but, not many to count on.

The Future: Finally, Black Friday many not even have the best deals of the season. For many products, the week leading up to Christmas usually has prices just as competitive as Black Friday, especially on other non-electronics items.

Also, retailers have been trying to spread the Black Friday “magic” over several weeks, and so many offer great deals leading into Black Friday or the week after Black Friday. Look for ads such as “Lowest Price of the Season” or “Lowest Price Ever”, and you know that it is the best price the retailer will offer.

The bottom line is, that unless you’re willing to wait overnight outside of a store, Black Friday is probably going to be more bust than bang. Even though you sacrifice sound sleep to grab a door buster, it probably not worth your time.

Readers, I stated my opinion here. Please tell us about your views on Black Friday deals. Do you think its worth the effort and time? Or, do you think it’s a bust? Eager to know about it.

LIKE THIS POST?
I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )
Join our community of 8000+ subscribers to increase your net worth and build wealth
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
The tool that changed the way I manage my personal finance - Personal Capital, The Best Free Personal Finance Tool

Want to start a WordPress blog now? The onecentatatime.com blog is hosted by Siteground Web Hosting. For only $3.95 a month, Siteground can help you set up and host your website/blog quickly and easily.

About the Blogger Hi I am SB, a personal finance enthusiast with a career in software development. I am an immigrant to the USA since 2005, after being born and brought up in India. This 40 something technocrat lives and breathes personal finance whenever he gets time from the day job, job as a husband and a dad

Some links on this page may be affiliate links, if you make a purchase following the links, I may earn a commission. Read affiliate disclosure here
« FAFSA Scam And How To Be Prepared
51 Tips Before you Buy a Home »

Comments

  1. Sean @ One Smart Dollar says

    September 28, 2012 at 9:30 AM

    My wife and her mom love going out shopping on black Friday. You couldn’t pay me to get close to a shopping area on that weekend. I think they like it more for the excitement and the time spent together than anything else.

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 29, 2012 at 8:52 PM

      yeah I think many go out to have plain fun on the day. Not to score bargains always. We go out as well, but a little late around 9 AM’ish

      Reply
  2. [email protected]&More says

    September 28, 2012 at 9:36 AM

    I normally don’t go but if there is something particular I have been waiting to buy it might be worth it.

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 29, 2012 at 8:53 PM

      What kind would that might be? So you normally go out every year?

      Reply
  3. Veronica @ Pelican on Money says

    September 28, 2012 at 1:21 PM

    I did not know they make special products just for black fridays… I guess I’ll have to take your word on that because black friday = I’m sleeping. 🙂

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 29, 2012 at 9:00 PM

      haha nice one. So you never go out?

      Reply
  4. Michelle says

    September 28, 2012 at 3:32 PM

    If there is something particular that you’re wanting and you’ve done your research on prices, it might be worth it. We got two really good deals last year because that’s all we bought!

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 29, 2012 at 10:24 PM

      Michelle, if you calculate the opportunity cost, was the time spent worth the savings you scored?

      Reply
  5. FI Fighter says

    September 28, 2012 at 11:00 PM

    I used to get suckered into going to these things, especially when I was in college. After going to a few and buying a flat screen TV, mp3 player, laptop, etc. you start to run out of things to buy. Worse, a lot of the “deals” I got were the no-name brands you mentioned. The TV my college roommates and I pitched in to get didn’t even last through senior year before it reached end of life. Same with the mp3 player. I now prefer to sleep in on Black Fridays, and buy quality brands more often than not, even if they aren’t as heavily discounted. When in doubt, you get what you pay for.

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 29, 2012 at 11:27 PM

      Absolutely, your example really adds value to this discussion here. We hardly get deals on brand name merchandise.

      Reply
  6. Elizabeth @ Broke Professionals says

    September 29, 2012 at 9:14 PM

    A friend of ours used to work at Best Buy, and said they marked up prices in the fall so that when they discounted them for Black Friday that the deals would look REALLY good.

    I’ve never been a Black Friday shopper – although I’ve bought a few things on Cyber Monday in the past few years!

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 29, 2012 at 11:05 PM

      If this can be proven, this might be an interesting case against the deceptive business practices of Best Buy.

      Reply
  7. Tammy says

    September 29, 2012 at 10:42 PM

    I always avoid Black Friday since the days I worked in retail. I realized the time spent waiting on line and the inferior products offered for those low prices were simply not worth it. Now I prefer to shop on Cyber Monday because there are less hassles and better deals.

    Reply
  8. CF says

    September 30, 2012 at 4:03 PM

    I’ve never gone shopping just “because” it’s Black Friday. I think if I needed to replace a big item, like a TV or an appliance, I might try to wait until Black Friday to get a good sale.

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 30, 2012 at 10:04 PM

      So you are not into brand names much, as big brands usually do not offer black Friday deals. I had the same mindset and brought my TV set, fortunately the TV still works.

      Reply
  9. Michelle says

    September 30, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    Ugh! I HATE Black Friday! There is simply nothing that I want/need badly enough that would induce me to enter that maelstrom of shopping madness.

    Reply
    • SB says

      September 30, 2012 at 10:02 PM

      That’s quiet a strong opinion

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.



Create your own blog in 20 minutes and $20

Personal Capital, a free tool to change your financial health today

I use and suggest Upstart, for your personal loan need

CreditKarma, a free tool to check your credit scorey

I use Coinbase, for my crypto investments

101 Cents at a Time

101 Ways to Earn Extra Money on the Side
201 Frugal and Perfect Birthday Gifts
101 Ways to Save Money Everyday
101 Ways to be Better and Successful at Work
101 Ways to Save Environment and Energy
101 Frugal and Romantic Anniversary Ideas
101 Low-Cost Men's Fashion Ideas
101 Personal Finance Tips
101 Ways to Reuse Household Stuff
101 Things to Do, When Nothing to Do
101 College Graduation Gift Ideas
100 Tips for Ecommerce Startup
101 Ways to Enjoy Indoor During Winter
101 Ways to Beat Procrastination

Popular Posts

Quick Cash - How to make $100 legally, in a day
Living well on less than $15,000 a Year
Top survey sites for side income
What to do when auto repair goes wrong
Where should I invest my money now?
20 Ways to be productive and happy at work
51 Ways to get out of debt
Be a better person in 15 days, 15 ways
Income ideas for retirees and senior citizens
51 side jobs for college students
Urgently need a large amount of money?
Should I buy or should I rent?
Best Personal loan providers
25 Ways to save environment
25 DIY car repairs to save money
How to decorate office cubicle
How to show your wife you care
50 Financial Rules for Success
51 Frugal weekend family activity ideas
Become Rich By Saving 1 Hour Of Daily Wage
How much do I need to save for retirement?
How to negotiate your salary

Follow us on FaceBook

About Author

SB

Blogger by choice and IT manager by profession. Finance is my passion and gardening is my greatest satisfaction. Born in India, settled in US, Husband and a father. I created this blog in 2011 with a vision to help others. Thanks for your patronage. More info on my "about" page.

View all posts


Subscribe

Join our community of 5000+ subscribers to increase net worth and build wealth

Advertisements

Personal Stories

How I got a new HP computer replaced
Was COVID circulating in USA in fall of 2019?
How my credit score went up 800+
Why I didn’t invest in Bitcoins
How I controlled impulses to buy things
Why this blog is named One Cent at a Time

Subscribe via Email

Site Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this web site are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Read full Affiliate disclosure


One Cent at a Time is published by SB. The opinions expressed herein by him are his own and not those of his employer or anyone else. All content on One Cent at a Time is for entertainment purposes only. By reading this blog, you agree that SB and/or One Cent at a Time is not responsible for any actions taken after reading this blog. For the full disclaimer, click here .

Major Media Mention

One Cent at a Time Media Appearances

Copyright © 2023 One Cent At A Time · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media