Doomsday is almost here, aka Black Friday, but really, it is really worth going?
CNN reports the secrets retailers do to make you sit in the cold weather with 100k people to get that special present:
- Limited quantities: If you see something advertised as a "Limited Supply" item, it means in reality, depending on the product, there is probably only a small amount of it available.
- "Derivative" products: Consumers usually go for the big ticket electronics. However, what you don't know is that HDTV you wanted for a long time might be slightly different from the original model. What is the difference? Something could be missing or it was made with cheaper materials. Consumer Reports says that retailers don't advertise the prices most of the time, and consumers don't always do their research to compare the model numbers.
- Online deals: The article explained one example of a washer-dryer, where some customers got a bad deal when the company shipped them a substitute model.
- Rainchecks: If you get a raincheck, it can be an empty promise. A raincheck doesn't guarantee that you will get the deal posted on Black Friday.
I'm a little more educated about the "evils" of Black Friday.
Even if you know or knew about these "secrets," will you still go Black Friday shopping? How much research do you do beforehand?Image Source
Comments (8)
I don't care about the dirty secrets - as long as I still get my deals. Period.
I hate shopping.
well... i'm not going to trample over people to get that cheap desktop computer, so i don't think this really applies to me.
i already keep close tabs on the things i want (clothes), so i'll know when i get a good deal on black friday. :]
Every time someone walks over to that damn Zhu Zhu Pet aisle and read the "Limited Quantity" sign, everyone is convinced that we're hiding them in the back for ourselves T_T I'm working Black Friday at a major retailer and oy vey, I'm bracing myself.
i like to do all my research before hand to make sure that i am not a victim of stores little tricks.
I love Shopping to say the least, but I don't think venturing out into a pack of mad wolves to get a "so called "GREAT" deal" is a good idea for me. I can't really stand crowds, and the last time I went, it was so cold that whilst walking through the parking lot to get in line my cell phone froze on a call !! Clothing and less likely electronically items are worth the trip, but if your going after that big flat screen t.v. "GOODLUCK" !
I love to shop, but I hate the rudeness of fellow shoppers during Black Friday. Grabbing, snatching, loitering at the cash register (and actually trying to haggle!) while there is a line pile up of 45 people behind them... None of that makes for an enjoyable shopping experience, especially when I'm now sleep deprived.
Most of what I shop for are toys and games, bath and personal care products. I rarely shop for electronics during Black Friday sales. I don't want to have to fight for the five big screen TVs or the two laptops advertised.
The best part of Black Friday shopping for me is waiting in line for the store to open. People start lining up before midnight here. I usually go with a group of friends. We bring blankets, snacks, thermoses of hot coffee or iced tea, and iPods with speakers and we make a party of it with ourselves and the people around us in line. Twenty minutes before the store opens we start taking turns loading the stuff back into our cars...Then we shop.
Ugh, Black Friday, the bane of any retail worker's existance...