Why Black Friday is soooo overrated

Don't Waste Your Money

Black Friday

(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Advertisement

Posted: 10/15/2012

Black Friday has become the most anticipated shopping day of the year in recent years.  

Once again this year, millions of shoppers will skip out on Thanksgiving dinner, stand in the cold, and forgo sleep, just for the chance to rush a store at midnight.

Report: Most deals not that great

But this year, more and more reports are looking at the numbers, and saying the deals on that day after Thanksgiving are really not that great.

In many cases, it's not worth it, according to a new analysis by the Wall Street Journal.

In a report titled "The Myth of the Black Friday Deal," the Journal reports that hundreds of gifts from Barbie dolls to blenders are priced below Black Friday levels at other times, especially later on in the Christmas season.

It checked prices at 50 retailers, and said once you remove a few Midnight "doorbuster" deals, prices on many items tend to be lower two weeks before Christmas.

Other reports have found lower prices on electronics during Cyber Monday, the following Monday.

Doesn't that Stink?

And from the "doesn't that stink" file, how those super Black Friday doorbuster deals sell out so fast, leaving many shoppers fighting over higher priced merchandise.

While $200 laptops, $9 toasters and $300 big screen HDTV's are all great, in many cases stores often have no more than 20 in stock, meaning the doorbusters are gone by 6:30 a.m.

If you get there later, and find no $9 toaster, and you may say "doesn't that stink?"

But it gets us in the door, where we buy other items, in particular, clothing, that are not at the lowest prices of the season.

However, no matter what analysts and price surveys say about Black Friday, it's not going to fade away anytime soon.

An entire industry has grown up around it, and shoppers will continue to line up no matter what.

As always, don't waste your money.
_________________________________

Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.

"Like" John Matarese on Facebook

Follow John on Twitter (@DWYM)







.

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  • Comments
Advertisement
  • More DWYM
JCPenney slaps new high prices on goods
JCPenney slaps new high prices on goods

John Matarese finds dozens of new, higher price stickers on …

Remke-bigg's getting out of pharmacy business, transferring prescriptions to Walgreens
Remke-bigg's getting out of pharmacy…

John Matarese has big news for anyone who uses Remke-bigg's as …

Best generators for power failures
Best generators for power failures

John Matarese has the newest ratings from Consumer Reports …

$20 a month smartphone: Can it be real?
$20 a month smartphone: Can it be real?

John Matarese checks out the newest $20 a month unlimited …

PC users receive strange Microsoft call
PC users receive strange Microsoft call

John Matarese looks into a claim there is a problem with …

Duke Energy offering 2 free Reds tickets
Duke Energy offering 2 free Reds…

John Matarese looks into Duke's new offer to see if it's too …

Shocked by water bill? How to lower it
Shocked by water bill? How to lower it

John Matarese reports why water bills are soaring, and what you…

Nordstrom tracked people as they shopped
Nordstrom tracked people as they…

John Matarese reports on Nordstrom's admission they tracked …

Your old fridge could be worth $1,200
Your old fridge could be worth $1,200

John Matarese shows how that old garage refrigerator can bring …

Do expandable garden hoses really work?
Do expandable garden hoses really work?

John Matarese has a review of those popular "As Seen on TV" …

Meet John Matarese


  1. John Matarese

    John Matarese

    A veteran reporter and two-time Emmy Award winner, John is our Don't Waste Your Money consumer reporter.

    • Send John an email, so you Don't Waste Your Money!

    You Win Wednesday


    • Stay Connected