Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

Image+courtesy+of+Business+Insider

Image courtesy of Business Insider

Mia Ryder

Are you going shopping for the holidays but want to avoid sickness and large quantities of chaotic shoppers? Try switching from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. The holiday season can be stressful for everyone. Whether it be checking off your kids’ Christmas list or struggling to find the perfect gift for that special someone, why bring more stress into the process when you can shop in the comfort of your own home. 

The environment during the holiday releases a hectic atmosphere for shoppers resulting in injuries, irresponsible purchases, and scammers. The illusion that shoppers are finding great deals by participating on this day isn’t worth the hours of commitment to waiting in lines wasting both your energy and time. “Those in-store-only doorbusters aren’t usually worth it. When it comes to electronics—the super-discounted items you’ll need to wait in a physical line to buy aren’t exactly top quality.” Lane Kareska “author of “6 Reasons to Avoid Black Friday” states. This quote is an example of how customers are misled to think they are getting a great deal on Black Friday to increase their number of sales. 

Fighting to outrun surrounding shoppers in a hunt to be the first in line during the shopping holiday can diminish the spirit of giving. Christmas revolves around cheer and the spirit of giving. Shopping for christmas gifts should not have to be a competition in order to receive deals on your purchases. When the main message of Christmas is “peace and goodwill towards men,” Black Friday represents the complete opposite. Violence towards others and disarray should not be a component for Christmas time. The term shopping “holiday” seems incorrect considering how Black Friday originated. According to telegraph.com “On Friday 24 September, 1869, in what became referred to as “Black Friday ”, the US gold market crashed and Fisk and Gould’s actions left Wall Street barons bankrupt…”. 

Cyber Monday is a great alternative to Black Friday. Although there are still risks of scammers and other dangers depending on where you’re shopping from, the risks are far less than on Black Friday. The online shopping day still relays that feeling of excitement one receives when waiting to purchase the perfect gift. The difference is that it’s much more convenient and less time consuming. Deals and coupons are a massive part of cyber monday which allows shoppers to save money and earn rewards while obtaining great buys.  “As mentioned, Black Friday’s deep discounts generally attract low-value customers.” says a business owner on Quartz.com. This is an example of how Black Friday can poorly affect businesses by attracting customers that wouldn’t regularly shop at a specific store unless large deals are presented.

Recent events, such as the Covid-19 outbreak, have pushed people to lean more towards online shopping in general. More online options have been presented to the public regarding shopping, school, and work. Cyber Monday allows people to shop without the fear of catching the Corona Virus or any other sickness being spread throughout the public. “Cyber Monday sales in 2020 will have record growth, potentially as much as 40% over 2018.” Keisha Roew voices on ClarionLedger.com. This statistic reflects the growth of online shoppers during the pandemic.

Gift giving has been a key component of the holidays for decades. Time has only increased the amount of presents one buys for another. Cyber Monday leaves buyers room for productive shopping and without a hectic or unsafe atmosphere. “You’re more likely to buy things that you feel good about after reading some firsthand product reviews.” Michelle Larkin from INSIDER revealed.  Giving oneself a peaceful environment without stress or panic is key in making your holidays the best they can possibly be.