Source: http://www.wareable.com/black-friday-deals
I didn’t go home for Thanksgiving. I stayed in Atlanta. Maybe to save money, maybe to avoid family drama, maybe just because I was simply damn tired. But this doesn’t matter because I still Black Friday-ed.
I woke up bright and early on Friday, ready to hit the Lenox Mall before noon. I arrived around 9:30am. The Lyft line ride was smooth (and cheap), surprisingly clear for the day after Thanksgiving and the commencement of holiday shopping.
Festivities
The end of Thanksgiving marks the beginning of all things winter holiday, especially Christmas. Ornament-laden trees dotted the mall in every corner, holiday lights strewn the stores, and Salvation Army jingle bell-ers marked every mall entrance. Lenox became a winter wonderland overnight, just in time for the holiday shoppers looking to score some killer savings on clothing, gifts, and more. In the holiday spirit, stores were giving out free samples left and right: from apple cider at Anthropologie to makeup samples for all the browsing customers. It’s safe to say that Mariah Carey was the primary artist on repeat in most stores (A La “All I Want For Christmas Is You”).
Lines
The wait to checkout was the ultimate downfall for this Black Friday. I waited in line at Zara (the international fast-fashion brand) for about forty-five minutes. Simply walking around the store was difficult, with big, sharp shopping bags cutting into you at any moment. Thank God for Madewell’s durable denim, or else I’d be scratched and bruised up. Not to mention the long lines overwhelmed the rest of the shopping experience as they often wrapped around the store or weaved through the general areas, a huge interference when trying to look at all the displays and items on sale.
Not to mention, the lines for the fitting rooms. Those were awful. At a few stores I kept my fingers crossed I wouldn’t find anything I liked. That way I could avoid the fitting room. But, being the type of girl who heads to the fitting room with the max number of items allowed into a room, I screwed myself over repeatedly. Plus, I wore jeans and shoes with shoelaces so getting in and out of a room was no easy thing. #Brutal
Lack of Availability
It’s safe to assume that on Black Friday, a large chunk of the nation is out shopping. It’s known to be the busiest shopping day of not only the holiday season, but of the year. With this, comes a lack of availability: from the size that you are on the lookout for, to the specific item you want. There’s less to choose from on this day because so many people are out doing the same thing. Not to mention, the stores I went into were pretty destroyed from the Black Friday mobs. Displays were self-destructing. Mannequins were dying slow deaths. I was at a loss of luck whenever I attempted to seek a store employee to find a size in the back. Either I couldn’t locate an employee, he/she was with another needy customer, or it was no use with the crazy crowds. On Black Friday, people fend for themselves, as do the employees. I don’t blame them—working on Black Friday is a b****.
Sales + Deals
The main reason I go shopping on Black Friday? To save money. All the stores have awesome savings, and if you’re willing to deal with the Black Friday craze, it’s perfect. Some people hate it, others get a thrill from the excitement and holiday spirit of the day, and I’m a bit in the middle. I love the savings but hate the hustle and bustle. I’m more of a casual, slow shopper. I like to appreciate the experience and take it all in. Browse the entire store, front to back, and spot hidden treasures. Black Friday makes you move; get in, get out. However, I was in need of some winter wear, so I went for it. A lot of the savings I got on clothes made it worth it. Some of the sales included: 50% off the entire store at Abercrombie, 30% off the entire store at Zara, 50% off the entire store at Gap, 25% off the entire store at Madewell; the list goes on. I was also really excited to hit up Sephora, which had a ton of exclusive makeup set sales. Any store that is on your go-to shopping list had a sale on Black Friday.
So next year when you’re thinking of hitting up Black Friday, weigh the pros and cons. Are you willing to sacrifice some of your sanity to save some money? Although, scoring those deals is kind of a no-brainer, don’t you think?
The alternative is to shop online. All of these stores have online Black Friday sales, not to mention Cyber Monday. This way, you can shop while avoiding the crowds, watching Netflix, and in bed wearing your pj’s. Now that’s definitely what I’m doing come next Black Friday. Only about 360 days left and counting.