Black Friday Bust

Are you one of those who survive the crazed crowds of people to get deals on Black Friday? We spend an entire day being thankful for what we have and then four hours later people are trampling one another as they rush down the aisles to claim their merchandise during the biggest sale day of the year. This year in England, there were so many disputes during Black Friday that police had to get involved to break up the masses of shoppers. People were shoved to the ground, arguing over merchandise, and refusing to leave stores when they were told that items were out of stock. Below are some of the worst Black Friday disasters recorded.

Black Friday is arguably one of the most famous days for yield management pricing in stores. Yield Management Pricing is when stores charge different prices in order to maximize revenue for a given period of time. But the question is, is the madness really worth it? There have been arguments for years claiming that Black Friday is a hoax. Some say that stores jack up their prices on more expensive merchandise and then mark it as 20, 30, or 40% off the original price to make it seem as if the consumer is getting the best deal around.

 

According to Louis Ramirez of dealnews.com, there are 16 myths about Black Friday that consumers should know before venturing out into the chaos. The bold myths are the ones I found most prevalent and reasons to avoid the lines and insane opening hours.

1.      MYTH: Black Friday Sales Begin on Black Friday

2.      MYTH: Stores Have Ample Stock of Doorbusters

3.      MYTH: Doorbusters Are Available In-Store Only

4.      MYTH: In-store Black Friday Shopping is a Dangerous Contact Sport

5.      MYTH: Every Sale You Come Across on Black Friday is the Best of the Year

6.      MYTH: Nobody Will Beat Black Friday Prices

7.      MYTH: All of the Good Deals Are Printed in Black Friday Ads

8.      MYTH: Leaked Black Friday Ads Are Actual Leaks

9.      MYTH: You Have to Go to the Apple Store for Its Black Friday Sale

10.  MYTH: Designer and Luxury Goods Don't Go on Sale

11.  MYTH: If You Go Overboard on Black Friday, You Can Return Your Purchases

12.  MYTH: It's OK to Skip Cyber Monday if You Shopped on Black Friday

13.  MYTH: Deals Are Excellent Throughout Cyber Week

14.  MYTH: Once Processed, All Black Friday Orders Are Final

15.  MYTH: Your Credit Card Info is Secure

16.  MYTH: Bargain Bin Devices Are Always Cheap Quality

So, next time you are considering going out on Black Friday, think about these myths and maybe try sticking to the online shopping. A lot of times you’ll find that the deals online are just as good as in stores and most online retailers offer free shipping from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. So, avoid the lines, go online.