Black Friday is coming up on the 25th, but it doesn’t feel like it. I understand that Black Friday isn’t necessarily a holiday, but there used to be such hype around it. News reports would have live views of people standing outside a big-box store to get the latest electronic gadget, coupons would be sent in the mail so you could get exclusive deals on top of the usual sales, and now would be the time when the Christmas catalogs would be sent out, just in time for the saving season. Sales would be out of proportion, stores would be wiped of their inventory, and the demand for those key items would be ridiculous. The Black Friday shopping and haul vlogs would come out by the dozens, TV shows would work the day into plot lines; it used to be such a mainstream trend, and now it just feels like something on the backburner. The weeks leading up to that day after American Thanksgiving were just so frantic. So, what happened?
There is no surprise that the online world has become a huge part of our lives, and it seems like now we can do anything on the internet. Online shopping has become a very ordinary experience for many of us, and it is convenient if what you’re looking for is sold out of your local store or isn’t even available in your region. With services like Amazon, Instacart, and Skip The Dishes, you can purchase any necessities without leaving your house. For some, it’s easier to pay for that delivery charge than it is to go to the store themselves.
Companies have noticed this shift to the online world and are running with it. They started to include any in-store sales online, and with great response to doing so, they have created online-exclusive sales, not to mention the greater Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales that will last for several days and even weeks. This, combined with the convenience factor, is eliminating the need for people to go to the mall and stand in line for a new laptop when they can get the same deals, if not better ones, with the click of a button at home. On top of this, we also had some unforeseen circumstances in recent years that put the world on hold, forcing many of us to stay inside and utilize the internet and its great resources. A large number of people went from using the internet to purchase specialty items to using it on a regular basis for everyday necessities.
Besides some sales, Black Friday is no longer that special of a day. If you shop almost exclusively online, shopping on Black Friday is the same as almost every other day. You aren’t in a crowded store searching for the items on your list; there’s a search bar now. You don’t need to do the math and see which pair of shoes is a better deal; the online store will tell you. I am not saying that shopping online is bad and that you must go to physical stores this Black Friday, but you have to admit, it just isn’t the same anymore.