Black Friday Battle

By Becca Aiken and By Nathalia Teixeira

Pro:

By Becca Aiken

I anxiously set my alarm for 4:30 am Black Friday morning. My friend and I had been waiting for this day to come since school began, and now it was finally here. We had seen all of the commercials for it for weeks and we were beyond ready to take it on. We sleepily rolled out of bed and into the car with our pockets filled with money ready to be spent. After a quick pit-stop for caffeine we were ready to take on the day.

The fluorescent lights spilled out of  Walmart as the car rolled to a stop in the packed parking lot. There was already a herd of people crowded around the front entrance with eyes as wide as saucers. The doors were opening at 5 am and we had gotten there just in time to make it in with the first crowd. Choosing not to get involved in the pushing and shoving needed to get to the front, we waited for the crowd to disperse before walking in.

     I had never seen such a sight. People were tearing off shelves; the store had a constant ringing at the checkout counters. Shopaholics from all over the Cape had gathered there that morning to get the biggest bang for their buck and I was one of them. I hadn’t gone to the sale for one or two specific items but instead for the experience. So many people in my family had talked about the tradition and I knew it was time for me to take part in it too.

     I browsed through every aisle with a whopping $20 in my pocket. I was determined not to spend any more than that since this was the biggest shopping day of the year. At the age of 14, I decided to spend my money very carefully… on candy and movies. I walked around the store until I come to the section with the huge wire baskets of every candy imaginable and the wall with all the old blockbusters. I filled my basket with Sour Patch watermelons and all three “Spy Kids” movies and was content.

The wait in line for checking out wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated, but watching the rabid soccer moms with their shopping carts filled to maximum capacity, there was no way I was going to try to get in their way. Black Friday for me had been a total success walking in with $20 and leaving with candy, movies, and $9 leftover.

     As much as I love shopping, I love to save money too. Black Friday brings together the best of both worlds and can appeal to everyone from shopaholics to the most frugal. Black Friday is a new tradition of mine and I try to take part in it every year. Everyone should experience it at least once.

Con:

By Nathalia Teixeira

In the U.S., the majority of people are certainly aware of what happens the day after Thanksgiving, a day better-known as Black Friday. The all-nighters and early-morning risers line the buildings, malls, and stores, just in the hopes of finding the best sales.

This day has unquestionably marked a new Thanksgiving tradition. Various families across the nation begin to prepare for the long lines just after Thanksgiving dinner. On a family-oriented holiday, some members will leave their families just to save that $20 on a new pair of shoes. It’s somewhat ironic how the holiday of being grateful is interrupted by a day where people are trampling each other to buy more material possessions. Thanksgiving is a day of giving thanks; and, just hours later, we’re barging down doors, pushing and shoving for discounts that aren’t worth it. In hindsight, Black Friday has the opportunity to be a day where people should be excited for the upcoming season of giving, but instead it’s usually filled with aggravated and angry shoppers.

Barricades are a must to avoid any unsafe actions and anyone who is familiar with Black Friday knows that this day is known for the chaos and danger. According to the Black Friday death count, there have been seven deaths and 98 injuries on Black Friday since 2006. The fact that there’s even a website solely dedicated to recording the number of deaths and injuries on  this day goes to show how ugly shoppers can become when trying to save money.

There’s something about chaotic lines filled with sleep-deprived people waiting and trying to take advantage of the “deals of the season” that doesn’t necessarily seem appealing to me. I’ve only gone Black Friday shopping once in my life and it’s safe to say that it was less than enticing. Half of my day was spent waiting. Waiting in lines to simply enter the store, waiting in more lines to pay, and waiting on my friends. After we left one store, we’d repeat the process again with the next one. And, of course, I can’t forget about the angry customers around me. I remember thinking how bizarre it was that for one day a year, all manners and common courtesy are thrown out the window. By the end of the day, I was exhausted; and frankly, I found myself being guilty of this irritability and loss of manners as well. The worst part was realizing how I had also transformed into “that person” because of Black Friday. That person who became crazed, angry, and annoyed while trying to “save” money on deals; when, in reality, I was spending that money on things that I didn’t necessarily need.

I found great deals; but thinking back, was waiting in those hour-long lines really worth it? Not entirely. Especially when I know I can find these sales and avoid the stress all while in the comfort of my own home because, well, there’s always Cyber Monday. I’d much rather avoid the chaos and spend that extra time with my family eating leftover turkey.