I’m Torn: Black Friday

November 23, 2009     Posted in Reality

black-friday copy

"Out of my way, bitches! These sheets are MINE!"

When November 1st rolls around newspapers, billboards and TV commercials are invaded by Black Friday deals. They have you drooling over discounted cashmere sweaters, luggage sets for 65% off and 2 for 1 shoe bargains. My heart races every time a new ad pops up on my Facebook page. Half priced makeup at Sephora? A new TV for cheap at Wal-Mart? A diamond sale at Kay’s Jewelers? (Perhaps I should email this to my boyfriend…).


By Brianna

But of course this all comes at a price. You have to be up before the sun rises, usually in the freezing cold, and you have to fight your way through all the other women who are after the same deals you are.

Every year I find myself pulled in two directions. On one hand I want those deals and I want them bad, but the other part of me just doesn’t have the strength to battle the crowds when I am barely getting any sleep writing essays and getting ready for finals.

It’s pretty obvious: I’m Torn.

Love It:
An entire day devoted to shopping, what could possibly be better? Stores offer ridiculous deals, and the early bird specials reward those with the willpower to make it there at the crack of dawn with even further discounted stuff and special offers. For a deal-savvy fashionista, the advertisements for Black Friday are like invitations to a shopping competition, where only the strongest survive. And while you may have to wrestle those pumps out of that lady’s sweaty paws, all of us women who have braved the Black Friday sales share a bond. It’s an unspoken one. A slight smile before you both dash for the clothing rack, a nod as you direct the woman entering the store towards the best deal as you exit.

And how fun is it to reconvene with the girls for lunch, as you all scarf down a sandwich and a shot of espresso, triumphantly sharing your merchandise, swapping tips on the must-hit stores, and then disperse for the afternoon session recharged?

Sure, it’s hard work, but nothing is better than spreading all your purchases out on your bed when you get home and reveling over the fact that you got it all at 80% off.

Loathe It:
Having your alarm ring in your ear at 3:30 am? Having to chug watered down coffee that you made at home because even Starbucks isn’t open yet? Not to mention employing your defensive driving course as your weave through traffic and race to find a parking spot. And all that is before you even get there.

Once you’re inside the mall it’s a madhouse. Crowds of women pushing and shoving, merchandise strewn all over the place. And if you aren’t quick enough you’ll be forced to suck in and squeeze into the LBD swearing you’ll live in the gym until Christmas or justifying the fact that you are swimming in that winter jacket with, “I’ll be warmer with more fabric…right?”

If you bring the wrong shopping companion, you’ll both be miserable (read: the huffy boyfriend who stands in the corner checking his Blackberry or the claustrophobic pal who starts hyperventilating the minute she steps foot inside the mall). Even if you bring along your shopping obsessed roommate, chances are the stress of the day will have you bickering over which stores to hit and who spotted those Charles David suede boots first.

Plus, a lot of stores offer online deals too, so why not sleep in and shop in my bunny slippers? It’s much easier to enter my credit card number than wait in line for 45 minutes with the woman who took all eight of the coach purses all up in my shiz.

What do you guys think?  Is braving the stores on Black Friday worth it or should we all pass?

10 Comments on "I’m Torn: Black Friday"

  1. Sara says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 20098:06 am 

    Watered down coffee? You're doing it WRONG. Tragic.

  2. Mary says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 20098:38 am 

    Honestly, I think its just better to pay a little extra on the stuff you want then trying to fight for them at 4am. I've been on both sides of the register-the shopper and the retail slave-and trust me, unless you're REALLY into it, its no fun. And there is noooo parking, ugh.

    But if you do decide to go out, be nice to the person checking you out!! We HAD to be there at the 4am opening, you didn't! Please show us a little respect and don't bite our heads off when we have to find another shirt like the one you are getting because the tags fell off. Just chill the fuck out, 30 extra seconds will not devastate your morning. A little respect and patience never killed anybody.

    As you can tell, Black Friday is no fun for the retail people. Soccer moms yelling at you hours before the sun has even risen when on any other day they'd probably be somewhat nice? No thank you.

  3. Casey says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 20098:48 am 

    Try being a retail employee on Black Friday. We don't even get to experience the excitement of the shopping, instead, that "merchandise strewn all over the place" that you mentioned, we've got to clean it all up. And all those women you have to beat out for the deals, I've got to listen to them bitch about how 85% off isn't enough and I "must be fucking retarded" (actual quote from a woman last Black Friday) because we are out of the shirt they want.

    I haven't even been to a family thanksgiving in 4 years because we're not allowed to request off for Black Friday. So instead of being with my loving family my Holidays are spent with bitchy, hateful, and rude people angry at me for things beyond my control. Just remember, if you're going out shopping on Black Friday, store employees don't make the policies, we don't control the inventory, and we likely can't change prices/ knock percentages off (depending on the store you're in). So be pleasant to the employees, we're there to help and assist you, and we can't (or wont) do that if the customer treats us like garbage.

    I just hate the idea of Black Friday because the holidays are supposed to be about caring for each other, love, peace, giving, and relaxation, but Black Friday is the total opposite of all of that. But I totally understand the appeal.

  4. Casey says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 20098:50 am 

    Glad to see I'm not the only one. lol

  5. Erin says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 20099:40 am 

    Sara. HAHAHAHAHAH I was going to say that. Your failing at making coffee, the best part about making it at home is making it as strong as you like it.Buy a better brand that is oily and dark, that will be strong.

    Casey I am there with you, there is nothing I hate more than working black friday. Or for that matter any major sale day, but that day i the day from hell. Customers treat you like dirt and call you a moron just like Casey said. People who work that day are not retail slaves, we are not stupid or uneducated we just need a job. I don't get paid enough to do this job so cut me some slack if I'm not kissing your ass after dealing with snotty customers. I promise most of us are trying to do our best.

    Casey you hit the nail on the head with the it's about caring and sharing peace and love with family not about the sales or merchandise. Lest we forget the riots and people who die trying to do their jobs. This is a holiday about giving, not buying your way into peoples hearts.

  6. Lenna says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 200910:26 am 

    I feel so bad for anyone who has to work retail, or has to leave their house for work at all, on Black Friday. I just do all my Black Friday shopping online. :p

    I think everyone who has to work Black Friday deserves overtime.

  7. Disgusted says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 200912:12 pm 

    Hey College Candy, way to continue the materialistic, consumer slave stereotype of America.

  8. Candie says:
    Mon, 23rd Nov 20092:12 pm 

    Is Sephora really offering half-price makeup? lol.

  9. Skye B. says:
    Tue, 24th Nov 20097:42 am 

    Has anyone considered participating in "Buy Nothing Day" http://bit.ly/51KcHV rather than traveling en masse to the mall?

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