Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

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Black Friday vs Cyber Monday -- Sacred Traditions or Corporate Induced Frenzy?

Did you know Black Friday isn't the busiest shopping day of the year? It's true! The busiest shopping days often fall on the 2 weekends before Christmas. There is actually a sharp decrease in sales after Black Friday, then an increase again as Christmas nears. Shoppers flock to stores on the Friday after Thanksgiving every year to start their holiday shopping, often leaving right after they nibble their last piece of turkey to stand in long lines.

And then there's Cyber Monday. Holiday shoppers rush to their computers the Monday following Thanksgiving to start their online shopping, and online retailers offer steep discounts on products. But is this detracting from the Black Friday tradition? Or is it a stupid tradition anyway? Did you find a better deal in person, or online? Weigh in with your own thoughts on this Black Friday vs Cyber Monday debate below!

WHICH IS BETTER - BLACK FRIDAY OR CYBER MONDAY? 

Tell everyone why you prefer either one and why!

Have a reason why you prefer Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Weigh in and tell everyone!

Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

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Black Friday Rules!

Cyber Monday is the Only Way to Go!

Lauren says:

I purchased several things online on black friday at Areo. If they get further reduced on Cyber Monday, will I be able to get a price adjustment?Does anyone know?

dstlvr98 says:

I prefer Cyber Monday because it's a lot more convenient to buy something online and have it delivered to you within a week than to just go to the malls and shopping center and fight crowds just to end up getting one or two things

Tipi says:

My God! People are getting hurt, even killed going shopping on Black Friday. That's Madness!!!

ElizabethJeanAllen says:

I'm not fond of shopping to begin with so elbowing my way through a crowd for a few pennies off... Not in this lifetime!

icjackson says:

"Cyber Monday", says the online marketer and shopper...

kiwisoutback says:

Cyber Monday. I hate crowds, and I think it's just a huge hype. I've seen cheaper prices in stores and online throughout the year! It's an excuse to "kick off" the holiday shopping season and add some excitement, generate sales, and make everyone feel like they're way behind on their shopping.

 

Black Friday: Myths, Inconvenience and Hype 

As Black Friday has been marketed more heavily in recent years, there has been an increase in sales on Black Friday. Now, with the addition of "Cyber Monday", retailers are hoping this will extend the buying trend a few days longer.

Some other myths you may experience on Black Friday are that you'll only find the best deals on Black Friday. You may find a lot of bait and switch techniques being implemented by stores. Limited quantities, required purchases that were not advertised in the store, limited shopping times, limited warranties, damaged items, or outdated products are all present somewhere on Black Friday. As shoppers head to the malls early, retailers will search for what they can unload cheaply to draw in customers. Make sure you inspect your product upon getting home if it is packaged, and make sure there is a return policy in place.

You may find better deals every day online. You can use a shopping comparison site, or check eBay for that item you are looking for. You never know, it may end at a very odd time, or the seller may have made an error in the title. Or maybe the seller has a very low feedback rating and blurry pictures, but the product is fine! Who knows? Do your homework on Black Friday before heading out this year!



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Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday 

PROS AND CONS!

Black Friday

PROS
Great experience. Madness, excitement, all-night shopping, great deals. Something to look forward to about holiday shopping! Find deals in person that you may never have found before. Get together with your family or friends and plan a trip. Save some cash! Find new stores with enticing products, deals, and people.



CONS
It can be an awful experience. Waiting in lines, not getting the product that was advertised on sale, the huge crowds, finding a parking space, gas prices, carrying lots of gifts to your car, lugging them around, frustration, and did we already mention long lines? Not finding as great of a deal as you thought you would. Leaving empty handed.



Cyber Monday

PROS

How convenient! Most major retail online stores will offer some sort of discount on this day, all from the comfort of your work or home computer. Save on gas, no waiting in lines, have more of a selection of products, save more money, easily find the best deal on a product, get more for your money, find something extremely unique. No parking problems! Find a new favorite seller!



CONS

Having difficulty finding gifts to give, paying shipping prices, not physically being able to see your product before buying, having to wait for a package to arrive, researching on the computer, possibly not receiving an item, or the item not being as you thought it was going to be.



RETURNS

Is it easier to return a product from an online retailer or from one that you purchased online? Black Friday or Cyber Monday?



THE PERFECT GIFT

Do you have to physically SEE the product before purchasing to ensure that it is just what you thought it would be? Black Friday or Cyber Monday?



LINES

How is your patience? Do you not mind waiting in lines, or would you rather just have it shipped to your home? Black Friday or Cyber Monday?



THE EXPERIENCE

Does it bother you not physically shop for your items? Does the ease of online shopping comfort you? People come from all over the world to participate in Black Friday, while people internationally from their own homes can participate in Cyber Monday. Black Friday or Cyber Monday?



THE MONEY

Do you feel you receive better buys online where you can shop around instantly or would you rather arrive in person and find something others might be missing? Do they offer better deals in person? Black Friday or Cyber Monday?



THE TIME

Do you save huge amounts of time by shopping online? Or do you save more time by shopping on Black Friday and getting it all done in one sweep?




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Need Some Ideas on What to Buy for this Holiday Season? 

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Here are some great gift ideas on what to get everyone on your list for this upcoming holiday season!

 

 

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  • Reply
    WindyWinters WindyWinters Nov 25, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
    Interesting Debate! Our two busy shopping days in Canada are Dec 23rd & 26th but I shop anytime! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Reply
    dstlvr98 dstlvr98 Nov 21, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
    I rather do my shopping online because I find it more convenient. It's true that you will pay shipping costs on most online shopping websites and it may take a week to get to your house but I rather get what i want online then to just get 1 or 2 items trying to fight a crowd for it. A lot of people are using Blastoff. Here's a squidoo page on it.

    http://www.squidoo.com/blastoffshoppingnetwork
  • Reply
    Shelly Shelly Mar 4, 2009 @ 9:47 am
    I like finding special gifts for people "along the way" and that's how I generally shop, so that leaves out Black Friday and Cyber Monday--my style of shopping is stress free and personal.
  • Reply
    Tipi Tipi Feb 22, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
    Kiwi, I added this lens as a featured on my Black Friday Madness lens. - I'm not much of a shopper to begin with, and I don't like shopping when its crowded. Next November's Shoppers will be out in full force again I'm sure. - Hopeful stores will have better crowd control by than so no one gets killed again, or hurt! :))
  • Reply
    ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Nov 30, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
    I hate shopping so I spread my Christmas shopping out over several months. My shopping is usually done my Thanksgiving. That way I can "enjoy" the holidays. I'm behind this year. I have 2 gifts left to buy. I might have to go to the mall....
    Great lens
    Lizzy
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by kiwisoutback

Is Black Friday part of holiday tradition, or just all about greed? How about Cyber Monday? Convenient, or just another lame attempt for a sale?
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