BS: Black Friday

Subject: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 08:34 AM

This is a fairly new phenomenon here in UK, but seems to have caught on in a big way. I've been idly looking at Black Friday special offers on various sites, and many of the products appear to be end-of-line stuff, in tiny sizes or old stock. Others I can see have merely raised the price of an item then gaily announced a 'discount' of a certain percentage which brings it back to the original price.
Anyone bought anything interesting at a good bargain price, or is it a massive panic-buying hyped con?

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Greg F.
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 11:11 AM

or is it a massive panic-buying hyped con?

Dunno about the UK, but the answer in the US is "Yes".

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 11:52 AM

We were in Asda today (don't like the place, but they sell those chillies called Scotch bonnets which my husband needs for his cooking)
It was very quiet for a Friday, and we wondered if everyone was at home frantically buying stuff at knock-down prices online.
I expect the couriers' vans will be flying about like wasps delivering all these items in the next few days!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: MikeL2
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 02:56 PM

Hi

It is just a gimmick to get rid of a lot of unsaleable stock. many of the shops and stores around here held Black Friday Sales to try to combat the on-line offers.

But it does appear to be catching on, especially with the younger ones amongst us.

Mikel2

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 03:41 PM

I saw on the TV News that Amazon will probably make about 1.66 billion dollars with this Black Friday malarkey.
I wish I knew where people were getting the money from to buy all this stuff!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: BobL
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 03:37 AM

According to "Which?" magazine (Dec 2016 issue), a lot of these offers are spurious. Half of last year's Black Friday specials were the same price, or even cheaper, a few months before or after.

Having said that, I did have occasion to buy yesterday, at Carphone Warehouse, an item listed at £128. I paid £90, and got an accessory thrown in. Black Friday, or is it their usual everyday practise?

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 03:50 AM

"I wish I knew where people were getting the money from to buy all this stuff!"

Credit cards, obvs!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 06:21 AM

Well, I suppose people do run up a bucketful of debt just before Crimbo. And spend all year trying to pay it off.

Don't tell him, but I got my husband a lovely football shirt for Christmas (Arsenal) with Black Friday reduction of 20%. I know it's a genuine bargain as I'd been looking at this top for a few weeks.
He's a bit of a football tart, as he likes all the teams and has many different tops. I'm now on to getting the 'away' tops, and even the 'third' tops!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 06:33 AM

BobL, well done with your Carphone Warehouse bargain. That's quite a saving. I saw their advert on TV last night; they seem to be giving lots of good reductions.

We buy African cotton block-printed material online (lengths of 6 metres) for our family in Ivory Coast. They make a nice outfit for a lady or gentleman (long skirt/top or long trousers/shirt) We aim to have about 10 lengths for our next visit. The firm we use is a cotton wax-print importer called Middlesex Fabrics. I always keep an eye on their stuff. Last week, all their prices suddenly went up. A length costing normally £16 was now £20. Then they had the cheek to send me an advert saying 25% reductions for Black Friday!! Blooming sharp practice in my view.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 10:40 AM

An Arsenal shirt. And him a United fan.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 12:57 PM

I know Rap, it's awful isn't it? He adores Rooney, and also supports Norwich City. And Chelsea. And Arsenal. And the Hammers. And he has loads of England stuff. He has nearly every team's top in his drawer.
Talk about 'team loyalty'! He even has an Ivory Coast top ('Les Elephants') I think he just likes the bright colours. He has all the baseball caps to match. A real football tart!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 02:17 PM

Not wanting to deal with Black Friday crowds, I bought a Sony camera last week at a pretty good price, and the camera dealer assured me the price wouldn't go any lower for Black Friday.
This week, the price went $129 lower. I asked for a refund, and got it without a hassle.

I did get some DVDs at good prices yesterday at Target and BestBuy, and I didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes in the checkout line at either store. I suppose the next time I need a television, I might be likely to wait for Black Friday. TV prices tend to be good on Black Friday. U.S. stores sell good brands and models on Black Friday.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 02:25 PM

Most of the Black Friday adverts I got online linked me to sales that were no different to the usual ones. I did however buy an Amazon fire stick for £25 and reduced that to £15 with a £10 voucher I had acquired from filling in surveys! Bargain indeed :-)

Joe - Stop buying DVDs. Go streaming. Save the planet! :-D

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 02:33 PM

Forgive my ignorance, but has Black Friday been going on for many years in USA?
Joe, that was very honest of the camera dealer to refund the difference.

We foolishly set out today into Norwich to get an artificial Christmas tree which was on a Black Friday offer of half-price. Got the tree alright, but oh my word, the crowds! And the traffic jams! All the shops had huge Black Friday posters in their windows, and we all felt like lemmings, surging in. Everyone was getting bad-tempered, on the roads and in the shops.
My husband carried the tree in its box on his head (he carries everything on his head) and we hurried to the car and hurtled home. We're so, so glad we live in this quiet little village.
Nice cup of tea, buttered crumpets and a short 'napette' restored us.
I reckon we'll be giving Black Friday a miss next year. We're too old for this caper!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 03:19 PM

I have just been informed of the origins of the name by someone who admits they could be wrong. Maybe one of our US friends could confirm or deny?

She was told it was named Black Friday by the shop staff who had to work extra hard, with no extra pay, to support the extra demand by people who take advantage of an extra days holiday after thanksgiving, which, of course, said shop staff cannot do :-( If that is true I cannot condone or support the concept in any way. Particularly in the USA where the new administration is likely to erode workers rights still further. I work in retail myself and, although I am not shop floor staff, I know how hard they work for little pay and less appreciation.

Dave the sad Gnome

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 03:50 PM

I always feel sorry for shop assistants in the busy times before Christmas. People can be so impatient and rude.
However, while we stood waiting to pay for our bargain tree, I was amused to see we were all politely formed up into one single queue facing the checkouts, and as each till became free, the front person stepped forward in an orderly fashion. It was somehow so 'British', I had to smile. And the young lady who served us (a teenager I would guess) looked so tired, but did her job beautifully, bless her.

That was the last item to get for Crimbo, so no more shopping for us! (except the dreaded food shop just before The Day; mustn't forget lots of packets of crumpets.)

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 03:59 PM

Maybe some Chistmas tree crumpets, Eliza?

:D tg

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 05:12 PM

Oooh Dave! Christmas tree-shaped crumpets! Now that IS a festive idea!!
With those, my homemade mince pies and sausage rolls, we'll end up in the New Year like a couple of beached whales!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Nov 16 - 01:56 AM

Wikipedia has quite a piece on Black Friday. The story I always heard is that Black Friday, the first day of Christmas shopping, is the day merchants' ledger books turn from red ink to black.
Wikipedia says that's just one of many explanations.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 01:41 PM

and here we are again.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 02:16 PM

I thought it was called Black Friday due to the severe bruising one is likely to receive from elbows thrown by greedy shoppers fighting over dwindling supplies of whatever hot item people just can't live without this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Howard Jones
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 03:08 PM

In the UK "Black" days usually signify some kind of disaster ("Black Wednesday" was when the government had to withdraw from the European Exchange Rate mechanism, with disastrous results for the economy) so far from encouraging me to go out and spend my instinctive reaction is to avoid it. Probably wisely as it mostly seems to be a con with few genuine bargains.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 03:11 PM

Senoufou - the best deals you will find anywhere for African wax prints is in the shops around Montmartre in Paris. Much greater variety and much lower prices than the UK. But it will take you most of a day to look round them all.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 03:47 PM

Actually Jack the best prices are in Abidjan, where the markets have cloth sellers with heaps and piles of all the different designs. Very colourful and bright.

The 6 metre lengths weigh quite a bit (heavy cotton) and ten of them fill a suitcase and use up the baggage allowance. Next July when he's over there he's decided to take his mum and sisters round the market in Adjame (part of Abidjan) and they can choose their own designs.
They'll probably have more fun that way.

I was speaking to a Hermes courier this morning. (He brought a parcel for the neighbours which I took in for them) He told me Norwich was absolutely gridlocked with Black Friday shoppers.

He's quite an old chap, and he added that for the next TWENTY ONE DAYS he'll be working with no day off. Black Friday and Crimbo online shopping means the poor couriers will be flat out, poor things. He gets 50p per parcel, and runs his own little van and pays the petrol etc.

I'm finding all this consumerism a bit depressing.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Acorn4
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 11:42 AM

Black Friday

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 12:24 PM

I saved tons of money on Black Friday. I didn't go anywhere or buy anything!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 12:49 PM

Hahahaaa Stilly! Same as us! Saved hundreds!

We went to the big supermarket, Tesco Extra, this morning (just for our usual groceries). The place was awash with daft Black Friday rubbish. Clothes racks dotted about with 'Black Friday Bargains' signs. The stuff was of the poorest quality imaginable. They'd obviously ordered in container loads of ghastly cheap tat.

The most ridiculous thing I've EVER heard is the fights and fracas surrounding Kevin the Carrot. (It's a series of Crimbo animated ads about a carrot and his family, promoting the supermarket Aldi)

Apparently, they're selling gigantic 3ft tall cloth Kevins for £20. Then folk are re-selling them on ebay for £60 or even £100.
Have people gone completely bonkers??

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 12:59 PM

I danced on the Friday, cos it was black
I bought an alpaca and a cut price yak

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 01:03 PM

Acorn, I'm dying laughing at that song you posted.

"Let's sound a seasonal note
With our hands round someone's throat..." Hahahaaaaaagh!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 01:17 PM

And Big Al, that's hilarious too! Hee hee!

I've just looked at the News online, and people are buying the entire Carrot family (there's Kevin, mum and three children)
Do youngsters nowadays really want a stuffed toy family of blooming Carrots for Christmas?? Blooming CARROTS????

We also noticed in Tesco that weird and sinister 'Elf on The Shelf' for sale. My husband didn't know about this, and when I explained what it's for, his eyes opened very wide. He called it 'sorcellerie'.

I was tempted to buy one, as he's very easily convinced about magic and it would make him behave himself right up to Christmas Day! :)

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Jos
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 02:21 PM

It's not just stuffed toy carrots that are trying (and succeeding in) cashing in on this. There are those meerkats that have been around for several years, as an incentive to use whatever service it is that they advertise.
The other day I had an email from the gas company telling me that they had decided to communicate with me by email in future instead of sending me printed statements. If I agreed to this I would qualify for 'rewards'. To find out what the rewards would be I had to click on a cartoon fluffy toy penguin! The rewards turned out to be either free fuel days (I reckon a free fuel day would be about a 0.03% reduction in my bill - big deal), or O2 arena tickets (I can't see myself bothering with those), or fluffy toy penguins. How old do they think I am? Seven at the most.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 02:45 PM

It's odd isn't it Jos, the things 'they' think will attract customers?

I use comparethemarket.com as a comparison site to get a good deal for electricity suppliers and car insurance. They used to offer a meerkat toy if one accepted one of their recommended suppliers.

I did this three years running, and each time a meerkat arrived. Our lovely neighbours-up-the-road have three delightful children, and my husband popped round each year with yet another meerkat for them.
We got the 'baby meerkat' for the youngest child. They were ecstatic.

But then the site started offering free cinema tickets, which we'd never use. Or cheaper meals in a restaurant (ditto)
Still use them to find the cheapest suppliers, but no more 'incentives' sadly.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 07:13 PM

Nasty winter storms in parts of the US during this time,
so much the worse for people out on the road
or, heaven help them, on the job in those retail stores.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 01:16 PM

Husband wanted to 'just have a look' round his favourite Nike shop at Riverside in Norwich today. I've already bought and wrapped his Crimbo presents, but I didn't mind 'having a look'.
It wasn't any busier than usual, and everything was '30% off for Black Friday'.

While he was 'just having a look' I got chatting to a young saleswoman, and she told me that Black Friday will go on until NEXT Friday. So, Black Week then?

Apparently, tomorrow is now called Cyber Monday. Gawd. Utter madness.

This poor youngster was exhausted. She's about eighteen or so, I talk to her often. She said she hadn't sat down all day and was longing for a cup of tea. Surely that isn't legal?

Can you guess what I'm now going to say?
Yes, he got some MORE Nike trainers. And I paid for them.   sigh...
However, he works so hard doing his full-time school cleaning, and it was nice to get him a small treat. He grinned all the way home - I told him to concentrate on his driving!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 01:28 PM

I've skimmed this thread.. too much to read.. too little time...

There are all sorts of political and smartarse intellectual reasons why I think black Friday is a shite phenomena...

However, i just got some bloody good bargain music software
which for most of the rest of the year is staggeringly over priced
and out of the reach of 'ordinary' musicians...

..and have more lined up in buy now baskets to decide on before the end of Monday...

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Jos
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 02:28 PM

I'm glad someone is making the most of it, but -
I've been going through all my emails every morning and deleting anything containing the words 'Black' or 'Cyber'.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 04:18 AM

Amazon's own products (Kindle, Firestick, Echo etc.) are always cheaper over the black Friday period. Which is usually about a week!

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 04:41 AM

Husband is prancing about in his new Black Friday Nike trainers this morning, looking very happy.
I have to say they're a really nice design, and we saved about £20.

Our cheeky neighbour (a very dry, hilarious Norfolk chap) asked me, "Woi didn't yew boi a lood of owl spor'y gare fer yerself? A noice noo tracksoot fer exaaample, ur some boo'iful runnin' shoes?"

I told him to sod off! :)

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: JHW
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 11:42 AM

I sang 'Black is the Colour' in the Black Lion (Richmond, N.Yorks)

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 12:27 PM

Email announcements from one of the biggest UK music gear shops...

Thurs night "Black Friday"

Sun night "Cyber Monday"

Mon night "Xmas Sale".....


As for the software sale prices I've been monitoring...

Some folks might be well pissed if their great black friday deal they bagged
was even cheaper from the same seller on cyber monday...

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Nov 22 - 06:35 PM

Well, all of the previous posts were BEFORE Covid-19.

I suppose, with protocols relaxed as much as they are,
Black Friday will be one monstrous Super-Spreader event . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Nov 22 - 06:58 PM

Con.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 04:39 AM

we have it here, too & I avoid it.

My ISP even offered something for Black Friday, but I just deleted the email without even reading it - shock horror!

I might have missed out on something wonderful like a very useful fancy app for my simple (not smart) phone. Or maybe an offer for a streaming service which I don't use (I don't even have a TV) ... more shock & horror

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 07:55 AM

We get Black Fridayed in the UK too now. Mainly it's an excuse for those wretched everlasting "Best Sale Ever!!!" carpet sales to change the text, as well as this week's closing date, on those "Absolutely Last Chance!!!" adverts on the telly.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 08:29 AM

So you are saying...
Black Fridays Matter,

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 08:39 AM

... and, of course, Amazon's such a wonderfully caring employer.


Amazon warehouse workers stage Black Friday strikes and protests around theworld

Headline from today's 'Guardian'.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Nov 22 - 12:27 PM

Sluggish this year due to inflation amongst other things.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 22 - 02:23 PM

I still didn't go out or buy anything anywhere. We had a family visit underway, which was part of it, but I also simply don't enjoy the risk to my person or vehicle with the way people drive in the parking lots and adjacent streets around malls and large stores. I've always held that anyone who drives into the Walmart lot (including me) looses about 20 IQ points just for proximity to the store.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Dec 22 - 06:46 PM

I just realized that the day after Christmas,
a day almost as infamous as Black Friday after Thanksgiving,
falls on a Monday --
making for a long weekend.
That weekend will be a good time to stay off the roads.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Dec 22 - 08:38 PM

In Ontario, the statutory holiday for Christmas Day is displaced to Tuesday, resulting in a four-day weekend for those who don’t work in emergency services, health care, hospitality or food service, or on the highways.

The big-box shopping centres will be apeshit. Thank God, I have zero reason to go near any of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Dec 22 - 10:32 PM

The day after xmas is a day for sales. It used to be, at any rate. It is estimated that about 1/3 of the malls will disappear in the next couple of years (I read that yesterday but don't remember where, and the numbers are approximate). But the gist is, malls are toast.

The story I read was about Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth - it used to be an elegant high-end mall, with anchor stores of Foleys and Nieman Marcus. Now it has a Dillard's Outlet (Dillard's is a nice store) but I think the Penney's may have gone. I'm sure the Sears has gone. There's not much in the interior where there used to be lots of little shops. So that mall might be a quiet place despite the day after xmas.

I used to go to the Foley's near me after xmas to buy some of the really beautiful tree ornaments at a deep discount. I haven't had a tree in years, but I still put some of the other decorative things on the mantle.

Subject: RE: BS: Black Friday
From: Senoufou
Date: 21 Dec 22 - 01:24 AM

We've been visiting many supermarkets, and the commercialism of Christmas sickens me. All we wanted to buy was food supplies, but there was a mad scramble everywhere, with trolleys piled high with CrimboTat. I know I sound like the Grinch, but I loathe Christmas. Such stress, queues everywhere, the roads are choc-a-bloc and tailbacks enormous.
And husband has just lost his job, and is in utter despair, so we don't have much to spend. Roll on 2023!