Black Friday isn't fun anymore (2024)

It was fun getting up at midnight to truck on out to the malls to score bargain-basement prices on the season's "in" gifts, standing outside the door waiting for the store to open and sometimes even spending the night in a sleeping bag to assure getting to the deal-of-the-day before it was sold out, huffing and puffing to get from one great deal to the next ("Remember, folks, that's the first 10 customers only!" or "Only 25 in stock at this price!") and just braving the crowds in general.

It was rare that people got hostile with one another or the store employees (but not so rare to get jostled a lot or even injured in the crush especially if you were shopping in Filene's basement!).

Now? Black Friday starts earlier and earlier. Heck, the Amazon website already shows all kinds of merchandise at out-the-door prices right now; it's been that way for days. What's the fun of sitting at a computer chortling at getting a screaming deal on a Whatchamacallit?

So we're pleased that we've saved some money and not dog-tired at the end of the day, but we've missed out on the camaraderie and general good will/good feelings toward our fellow bargain hunters for that one really early morning that often became a long day. It was a fun party atmosphere that set a whole different tone for the holiday season, and I miss it.

Black Friday starts on Thursday afternoon which gets me out of any Thanksgiving commitments. I've never done this before but this year I'm glad for the excuse.

I never bought into the Black Friday shopping frenzie.

I’m content to stay home with the Thanksgiving leftovers.

I remember getting up super early and standing outside in line in Wisconsin in the freezing cold. No thanks I would rather be home on the computer.

Ace hardware used to carry toys just for Xmas. The day after Christmas my mom, sister and I would be standing outside the store in the cold and dark to be first in line to grab the half off toys for next Xmas.

Everyone knew what they were responsible for getting. I just bought fisher price toys because the little kids loved them and they lasted through all 3 of my kids.

Aunt Bea said:

I never bought into the Black Friday shopping frenzie.

I’m content to stay home with the Thanksgiving leftovers.

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Me,too, Aunt Bea.

I have looked, but bought nothing. Admittedly, I only looked at Music sales. Nothing makes me bite.

That said, I bought a knock-down price glove from Amazon this week that is amazing. It's used to de-fur your pet (in my case a dog). I love my dog, but he sheds all year around, and the change of seasons are especially troublesome. This glove, which you put on to pet your dog, surely would do nothing, right? But hey, it was cheap. But WOW! It's amazing. I'm getting handfuls of fur from my dog. Amazing. Sometimes, junk transcends.

VaughanJB said:

I have looked, but bought nothing. Admittedly, I only looked at Music sales. Nothing makes me bite.

That said, I bought a knock-down price glove from Amazon this week that is amazing. It's used to de-fur your pet (in my case a dog). I love my dog, but he sheds all year around, and the change of seasons are especially troublesome. This glove, which you put on to pet your dog, surely would do nothing, right? But hey, it was cheap. But WOW! It's amazing. I'm getting handfuls of fur from my dog. Amazing. Sometimes, junk transcends.

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Have you tried using a furminator?

Georgiagranny said:

Half the fun of Black Friday was watching the 6 o'clock news in the evening to see what kinds of adventures people had

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Getting the paper with bundles of advertisement inserts early and have your battle plan laid out.that

You want to come over here and see what has
happened to "Black Friday"!

We have had a "Black", every day of the week,
even a "Black" week, plus it all kicked off at the
beginning of November.

It must be working, very well, Amazon stopped
next day delivery, they promise two days before
you get your order.

Mike.

The only thing I remember from years ago was the super thick Thanksgiving day morning paper that was stuffed with advertisements.

I don’t remember shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

It was always a regular work day for me.

If the men in the family weren’t working they were deer hunting and the women, at home, were still busy putting things in order.

I don't think I ever shopped on Black Friday. My gift list was small, even when my parents were alive. After dad passed in 1983, my mom and I shopped mostly at garage and rummage sales for each other. When we opened the gifts, we'd reminisce when and where the item was purchased and what a good deal it was (mom sometimes placed a little tag in with the gift telling where and when it was acquired and how much it cost). We never complained about getting used items and were happy with what the other bought. Nowadays, most people would be offended if given a used item as a gift.

This is how many of my collections were obtained.

Black Friday sales were never something that I did, ever. Actually, the online ones, I like better because you can browse from home and not have to be in a crowded store, trying to find what you want to buy, and then standing in line to pay for it, assuming there were any left when you found them.

Walmart started advertising their sales around the first part of November, with an exclusive early start for Walmart+ members, and it seems like Amazon has been doing the same thing for their Prime members.
I also get emails from Woot !, but they always are advertising items that are on sale or closeout, so that is nothing special for them to do.

I am looking through the ads, but the only thing I have bought was a new pair of slippers for my husband. We do not really celebrate Christmas, or buy presents, so unless there is something that we actually need, I pretty much ignore all of the holiday sales.