Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

The two biggest shopping days are Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Both days offers discounts
on all types of products, but which day do you prefer?

Photo courtesy: The Smart Shopper Editors

By: Meagan Chalmers, Nia Lucky, Dominique Taylor, Kardae Knight, and Aleia Wiggins

It’s three in the morning and a freezing cold mist is falling, leaving your skin numb and
cold. Your wife tucks her hands into your back pockets as she wraps her arms around your waist
trying to stay warm as you wait in line for the department doors to open.
You brace yourself for the constant shoving of other shoppers for limited amounts of discounted
televisions and Mac Books. You are in disbelief that this is really how you are spending your day
off.
For millions of Americans, this is their reality every Black Friday in effort to receive the
best deals on overpriced goods. According to The Balance, in 2016 approximately 101.7 Million
people participated in Black Friday shopping. Since the early 1950’s, Black Friday has kicked
off the holiday shopping season, but in recent years, online shopping has taken over the holiday
shopping experience. In 2005, Cyber Monday began to offer customers the option of online
shopping in the comfort of their home or office without the hassle of large crowds and limited
inventory.

Many people have their different opinions on which discount holiday is better. Mikaylah
Holloman , a senior accounting student from A&T prefers cyber monday over black friday
anyday. “I never could understand how people can stand in line outside in the cold for hours. I
rather stay in my comfortable bed and shop till i get tired, Cyber monday is more convenient.”
many stories comes out every year about the danger of black friday, so Mikaylah never
understood why people risked their safety for a deal on a new TV.

Another A&T student, Rashawn Dickerson gave his opinion on which discount holiday
he prefers. “ Black Friday was always fun for me. Every Thanksgiving me and my family would
eat all day then my mom would send me and my cousins to wait in line for those sales. I enjoy
waiting in line and I never had a bad experience from Black Friday...Plus I never liked shopping
online, I have to physically see what I’m buying.” He prefers Black Friday because it feels like
it’s own holiday and he enjoys the experience of the day then staying shopping on his computer.

The statistics this year tells a different story than past years. Online purchases on Cyber
Monday are expected to double from last years $3.4 billion. Adobe Analytics expect over 50
percent of purchases will be made online. If the prediction is true, this will be the first time
Cyber Monday will surpass Black Friday in sales. Which will mean the mass majority prefers
Cyber Monday over Black Friday.