Has Black Friday Shopping Been Killed by the Internet?

United States
November 11, 2009 9:14pm CST
I distinctly remember getting up at the crack of dawn to go shopping with several family members. Some of my earliest memories are of enjoying a fun morning of shopping then a big lunch with my grandmother, aunt, cousins, and mom on the Friday following Thanksgiving. However, even though the number or quality of Christmas presents hasn't deteriorated, I have not been on one of these Black Friday shopping trips in over five years. Where do these gifts come from? After some reflection I thought about where I had done my own Christmas shopping lately. Ebay. Amazon. Half. Overstock. The majority of items on these websites are cheaper than store prices. Even Black Friday sale prices. Not to mention the fact that you do not have to fight off fellow shoppers, stand out in the cold while waiting in line, or even go out of your house at all except to buy wrapping paper and tape. Does this mean that internet shopping has killed Black Friday?
1 response
saizo6
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
12 Nov 09
I really don't think so, at least not in the city I'm living in. I've gone out the last few Black Fridays and all I can say is that it's as busy and hectic as ever. There were actually people camping out in front of stores like Best Buy on Thanksgiving day to ensure that they are one of the first ones in. The number of people that actually get up really early in the morning to wait in some of these lines is absurd. Last year, my siblings and I waited for over an hour, outside in the cold, at Best Buy and the sad thing is that I came back with nothing. I suppose shopping for things online is a bit more convenient and easy for some people. They don't have to deal with finding a parking spot, people pushing and shoving in crowded stores and getting up so early in the morning.