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10 Reasons to Avoid Black Friday Doorbusters
- The Internet provides just as many Black Friday sales, and I don’t have to line up two hours early to get them. As long as my refresh button works, I’ve got just as good a chance as getting the really ridiculous sales as anyone else.
- I value my eight hours of sleep. To get up at 4 a.m., I would have had to go to bed at 8 p.m. last night, kicking out my guests and entirely forgoing cleaning up. My cats would have gotten to enjoy a platter of turkey, but I wouldn’t have been to pleased.
- Aside from the doorbuster sales — which, at most stores, only the first three or four customers actually get — most of the sale prices will last at least until noon, if not all weekend. I can shop at my leisure later in the day, if something’s really appealing.
- 95% of my holiday shopping is already done. I know, I’m in the minority, but most of my gift-giving has to be planned for Hanukkah, which starts December 4 this year. To make that date, I have to be ready to wrap and mail presents this year.
- I refuse to buy things just because they’re on sale. I’ve got a short list of items that I do want to buy, but most of them never go on sale for Black Friday. I did go through the sales papers yesterday morning, but the only thing I spotted that’s actually on my ‘to buy’ list was one game for the Wii.
- Driving around to all those early morning sales eats up plenty of gas. Depending, of course, on the car and the sales you favor, I can see the prices of some items costing just as much as normal if you factor in the gas to get there.
- Plenty of other holiday sales are just as good as Black Friday, without the early wake up call. Labor Day comes to mind, although post-Christmas sales are pretty good, too.
- People are pretty scary on Black Friday. I’ve seen some pretty bad attitudes, and heard plenty of horror stories from my friends who have worked retail. Verbal abuse is expected, and physical abuse isn’t uncommon. I don’t want to subject myself to those sorts of people and I feel sympathy for all the clerks and cashiers with no other choice.
- A lot of people have today off, and for the most part, I’m one of them. Why would anyone want to waste an extra day off fighting his or her way through the shopping malls.
- And my top reason to avoid Black Friday sales: Black Friday is expensive! So many people start going into their annual holiday debt today, and I don’t want to be one of them. I like the idea of celebrating an annual “Buy Nothing Day” today, and plan to stick to it today.
23 November 2007
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