Opinion: Black Friday Should Stay In-Person
Media by Aleena Shaik (she/her)
The in-person Black Friday shopping experience is one of a kind. While it might be more easier to shop online on Black Friday, shopping on Black Friday with your family and friends makes it worth while.
As a kid, I didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but shopping on Black Friday was something my family did every year.
Black Friday deals in-store usually started on Thanksgiving night, so my family went to stores with family friends that had doorbusters, such as Macy’s and Walmart. While mostly my parents shopped, I spent my time with family friends.
On the actual Black Friday, we went to St. Louis Premium Outlets, where I usually shop for shoes and clothes for myself.
Every year, I look forward to Black Friday weekend because I can buy items I have been wanting for a long time. My dad would always tell me to “wait till Black Friday” whenever I asked for anything. There are always incredible deals on electronics, clothing and appliances. All the iPads I’ve received throughout my life have been bought on Black Friday.
However, over the years, I’ve noticed that the once overwhelming Black Friday shopping crowd has gotten smaller.
With the rise of online shopping, especially in the wake of the pandemic, Black Friday shopping in stores may become extinct before we know it. With the convenience of staying home, the appeal of online shopping has grown with many who don’t relish social interaction.
But I prefer Black Friday Shopping to not fully go online.
Even before the pandemic, the rate of Black Friday shopping has been going down. In 2019, according to the National Retail Federation, 18.2 million more people shopped online than in stores. Many people shop deals online during Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Black Friday.
Yes, there are positives to shopping online: no crowds, no lines and no fights with people for products. My favorite place to shop on Black Friday has always been the outlet mall. I love sipping a hot drink while standing in long lines in the cold. The warmth you feel when you first walk in a store is a reward. Shopping on Black Friday weekend is an experience you can truly only feel outside your home.
A tangible, in-store Black Friday experience is worth it. If you are shopping with your friends while getting great deals, it makes the whole experience worthwhile.
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Aleena Shaik (she/her), junior, is a staff reporter for the Marquette Messenger. This is her first year on staff. She is a part of multiple clubs such...