Black Friday blues? Go anyway
Shopping the day after Thanksgiving may be a hassle and a headache, but it is worth it in the end
Staff editorial
Issue date: 11/25/08 Section: Opinion
The economy is in the dumps. College tuition might rise. Unemployment is at its highest. So what should you do? Go out and buy gifts.
It is noon at the local mall. While well-rested shoppers drift in to see what bargains are available on Black Friday, many droopy-eyed shoppers drift out of the mall, trying to find their car in the packed parking lot after having arrived at the store at midnight.
With a struggling economy, retailers are slashing their prices to attract customers. Even outside of Black Friday, many stores are dropping their prices to an all-time low. Two weeks ago, Wal-Mart and Best Buy offered $300 laptops that were not advertised in their Black Friday ads, according to the Star Telegram.
Sales were reported at the lowest during the month of October, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers-Goldman Sachs Index, in 39 years. Some professionals recommend that consumers wait until after Black Friday to buy because of predictions that prices will be even lower, should FCCJ students make the effort to shop on Black Friday?
Many people are trying to save their money; however, students should take advantage of Black Friday's sales to save money.
Although sales for this Black Friday might not be as spectacular as last year's, some retailers, like Target, are offering more bargains than ever before to compete with their major competitors. J.C. Penney stores are going to offer 20 percent more early-bird specials, according to the Associated Press.
Black Friday will be a day for students who have wanted a new laptop to take advantage of deals like Best Buy's offering of the HP DV4-1114NR with 3GB Memory for $599.77. Wal-Mart will be offering the Toshiba Satellite L305D-S5897 for $548.
Black Friday is a great time to use the limited budget that college students are forced to live off.
Not only is it great because of the wondrous sales that many retail stores will offer but also shoppers can come together as a community. Many shoppers travel in packs, usually carpooling as they travel from store to store in a frantic rush to find the best deals.
In addition, the experience of Black Friday shopping can be very unforgettable. Many shoppers have a blast while shopping. The sheer adrenaline that comes from rushing to make sure that you get everything on your shopping list.
Many stores also hand out free stuff to their patrons. Last year, some shoppers received free Vera Bradley, Disney souvenirs, and a variety of other goods.
Whether or not funds are short during this holiday season, Black Friday is a good way to start off the holiday season.
It is noon at the local mall. While well-rested shoppers drift in to see what bargains are available on Black Friday, many droopy-eyed shoppers drift out of the mall, trying to find their car in the packed parking lot after having arrived at the store at midnight.
With a struggling economy, retailers are slashing their prices to attract customers. Even outside of Black Friday, many stores are dropping their prices to an all-time low. Two weeks ago, Wal-Mart and Best Buy offered $300 laptops that were not advertised in their Black Friday ads, according to the Star Telegram.
Sales were reported at the lowest during the month of October, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers-Goldman Sachs Index, in 39 years. Some professionals recommend that consumers wait until after Black Friday to buy because of predictions that prices will be even lower, should FCCJ students make the effort to shop on Black Friday?
Many people are trying to save their money; however, students should take advantage of Black Friday's sales to save money.
Although sales for this Black Friday might not be as spectacular as last year's, some retailers, like Target, are offering more bargains than ever before to compete with their major competitors. J.C. Penney stores are going to offer 20 percent more early-bird specials, according to the Associated Press.
Black Friday will be a day for students who have wanted a new laptop to take advantage of deals like Best Buy's offering of the HP DV4-1114NR with 3GB Memory for $599.77. Wal-Mart will be offering the Toshiba Satellite L305D-S5897 for $548.
Black Friday is a great time to use the limited budget that college students are forced to live off.
Not only is it great because of the wondrous sales that many retail stores will offer but also shoppers can come together as a community. Many shoppers travel in packs, usually carpooling as they travel from store to store in a frantic rush to find the best deals.
In addition, the experience of Black Friday shopping can be very unforgettable. Many shoppers have a blast while shopping. The sheer adrenaline that comes from rushing to make sure that you get everything on your shopping list.
Many stores also hand out free stuff to their patrons. Last year, some shoppers received free Vera Bradley, Disney souvenirs, and a variety of other goods.
Whether or not funds are short during this holiday season, Black Friday is a good way to start off the holiday season.