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What is Black Friday?
He was born in the 1950s in Philadelphia, United States, where a soccer match was planned between members of the Army and the Navy. The city was overwhelmed by traffic because it would take place after Thanksgiving.
The police officers who did not have days off because they worked 12-hour days to control the crowds that packed the city are credited with naming that day “Black Friday.”
The initiative was successful and soon Philadelphia merchants began using that term to describe the hordes of people who gathered in the city’s stores the day after Thanksgiving, a custom that continues.
When is Black Friday 2024?
By 2024, Black Friday will be celebrated on Friday, November 29, that is, one day after the Thanksgiving Day celebration, Thursday, November 28.
Is it worth buying on Black Friday?
According to monitoring carried out by OCU, the largest consumer organization in Spain that works in favor of consumer rights, offers are not always what they seem.
In 2022, after comparing the prices of nearly 16,000 products in 69 online stores before, we found that only 2% of products dropped in price on Black Friday.
The monitoring also showed that 64% remained the same and 34% were more expensive.
However, it will be the final consumer who will decide if they invested their money well by taking advantage of the purchase of a product, good or service from the hundreds that are offered during Black Friday.
What are some strategies that shoppers can use to make the most of their Black Friday experience while minimizing stress?
Thank you for joining us today for this special interview about Black Friday. Our first guest is Maria Garcia, a seasoned shopper who has been participating in Black Friday events for the past decade. Our second guest, Alex Smith, is an expert consumer rights advocate and the head of the local chapter of the Better Business Bureau.
Maria, could you please share your experience as a Black Friday shopper? Do you think it’s worth the hassle of long lines and early morning wake-ups to get the best deals?
Maria Garcia: Well, I think it depends on what you’re looking for. I’ve certainly had some successful shopping experiences where I’ve scored great deals on items that I’ve been wanting for a long time. But yes, there is some hassle involved. You have to be prepared to wait in long lines and get up early, but if you plan ahead and have a strategy, it can be worth it.
Alex, as a consumer rights advocate, what advice would you give to shoppers who are considering participating in Black Friday events? Do you think the deals are always as good as they seem?
Alex Smith: That’s a great question. As mentioned in the article, the OCU found that only 2% of products dropped in price during Black Friday last year. In fact, most products remained the same or even increased in price. My advice would be to do your research before hand, compare prices online and in-store, and make a list of items you really want or need. Don’t get caught up in the hype of the event and overspend just because something is on sale.
Moving on to the history of Black Friday, the article mentions that it originated in Philadelphia in the 1950s. Can you provide some more details about how it started and why it’s now celebrated across the United States?
Maria Garcia: Sure, I can share what I know. Apparently, it all started with traffic jams due to a soccer game between Army and Navy teams. The police officers who were working extra hours controlling the crowds coined the term “Black Friday” because of the chaos it caused. Over time, retailers saw an opportunity to attract shoppers with discounted prices and it just snowballed from there. Now, it’
