Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

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required purchases that were not advertised in the store, limited shopping times, limited warranties, damaged items, or outdated products are all present somewhere on Black Friday.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!

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.

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?