Black Friday, the day shopaholics wait for. Black Friday is a major annual shopping event held the Friday after Thanksgiving. The term “Black Friday” traces back to describe the large chaos when tourists would come into the city to begin their holiday shopping. The crowds created chaos for the police, who worked long hours and had to deal with traffic jams, theft, and other issues.
But Black Friday today looks very different. Instead of people pushing through store doors at sunrise, many shoppers now do most of their buying online. Stores release deals earlier and earlier each year, and almost everything that used to require an in-person trip can now be ordered from your couch at home.
“I love anything that’s 50% off,” English Director Sara Klos said. “But now most stores start Black Friday sales so early, and you’re able to buy everything you need online at the same price. So I’ll hold out for 50% and then start buying gifts.¨
With so many digital discounts available, a lot of people wait patiently for the perfect moment, especially those who love big savings. But the big question every year is the same: Are the deals actually good? This year the answer was complicated.
At first glance, the sales seemed impressive. Many major retailers promoted huge discounts, such as Amazon, which was up to 52% off, and Best Buy up to 55% off, which sounded too good to be true. Older models of electronics were cheaper, and everyday essentials like kitchen items, clothes, and shoes were much more affordable. For shoppers who came prepared with a list and a budget, Black Friday offers real savings.
Beyond the standout deals, a lot of the sales didn’t live up to the hope. Some “sale” items were only $20 or even $10 cheaper than the normal price. My own experience this year showed me how hit-or-miss the deals can be. When I went to Hollister, the 30% off sale sounded like a great deal at first, but I still ended up spending about $100 on just two things. Even with the discount, it didn’t feel like much of a bargain.
“The deals were definitely overwhelming,” junior Gracie Revilla said. “I’m pretty sure the highest one [deal] I saw was up to 40% off.”
I went into Aritzia looking for sweatpants that were originally $78, only to see them marked down to $65. That barely felt like a sale at all. Both of those moments made me realize that a lot of Black Friday “deals” aren’t actually that impressive once you look at prices closely. Another problem I encountered was the limited stock in big stores. I went into Pink hoping to get sweatpants in my size, but they were sold out, which was frustrating.
On the other hand, Sephora’s deals were amazing. I found some of the best deals there: Rhode Milk Glaze Toner, Gisou hair oil, a concealer that was 50% off, and two gift kits for $20 each. Those discounts actually felt worth it and showed that some Black Friday deals really are worth it.
So were the deals good? In my opinion, I’d say about 50%. A few discounts were great, but others were disappointing, and some “sales” felt like regular prices in disguise. Black Friday can still be a fun tradition, but it’s definitely smarter to shop with realistic expectations and look closely to see which deals are actually worth your money.
