While some set their alarms for four in the morning as others overload their virtual carts, testing the limits of digital aisles, Black Friday is a day some wait all year for. This year, U.S. consumers spent an insane $10.8 billion online, a 10.2% increase from last year’s $9.8 billion. Globally, spending reached a new high of $74.4 billion in just 24 hours, a 5% rise compared to other years. Is this manic, absurd shopping fueled by the thrill of the hunt? Or is it sparked from social proof and peer pressure? These questions will still hold relevance for a lot of time.
Many times, people are disappointed in their Black Friday experiences, but nevertheless, the quest for savings can allow you to buy things you wouldn’t think you would buy. Junior Hailey Shackelford at Palisade High School shares her experiences with Black Friday bargains. Shackelford states, “I left the house at 5:30 a.m. to go shopping for Black Friday. I went to Old Navy and the mall. The deals were actually not good at all, there were not a lot of big sales. Each year, I feel as though the deals get worse and worse.” This is a common statement for many people as the deals every year seem to fade.
On a positive note, Shackelford explains, “There were some good deals at Old Navy, pajama pants were only $5! I did a lot of gift shopping and some golf stuff and some clothes.” Black Friday frenzy seems to be propelled by a complicated mix of psychology, social influence, and the simple joy of finding a deal.
