Here’s proof that Black Friday deals aren’t actually that special
If you were looking for a sign to stay in bed with a turkey coma rather than get up early to go shopping this Black Friday season, this is it. Especially since a website called BradsDeals.com discovered that the deals on Black Friday aren’t anything to wait in line for.
From 2012 to 2014, the site collected Black Friday brochures and advertisements from stores like Target, Walmart, Sears, Toys R Us, Bon-Ton, and Kohl’s. What they found was that, no matter the year, all the deals, and even the layout of the brochures, were exactly the same.
For instance, Target not only had many of the same items, it also used many of the same words. Each brochure had the word “DOORBUSTER” emblazoned across the top, a kitchen mixer in the upper left corner, and a blender, crock pot, and a griddle to the right.
For all the stores, many items were repeated and the prices were about the same every year. The website concludes that “It’s hard not to see Black Friday for what it is: a lot of hype about deals that often return again and again throughout the year.”
This news comes as Black Friday loses more and more of its meaning. Deals start as early as September, and stores are opening on Thanksgiving, getting rid of the need for waiting in long lines early Friday morning. Despite all this, attendance is simply down, as shoppers realize they can stay in their PJs for Cyber Monday.
If the Black Friday deals aren’t actually anything to write home about, then that’s just another reason that maybe this holiday tradition is fading away. Luckily, there’s still a lot of time before we have to make any big decisions. Let’s stick with one season at a time —if there’s not a sale on candy corn, then I’m not interested.
(Image via iStock)