By Caleb Elliott
Since the 1950s people have gone out shopping to see what deals they could get on different products for the holidays. While this seems nice and safe, stores have slipped into chaos with fights for anything people can get their hands on. Some of these stories are found to be abnormal and hilarious. But with the COVID-19 outbreak, this year’s shopping season didn’t live up to past years.
Black Friday is known for its crazy deals, packed stores, people camping out, and even fights. Some of our Delta students and staff have had their own experiences with Black Friday over the years.
School treasurer Mrs. Jennifer Carrier goes on the same route every year that includes specific stores for various products, coffee runs, and even a midday nap. After spending Thanksgiving with family and friends, Carrier annually starts her trip at 8 p.m. Her adventurous day doesn’t end until 1 p.m. the next day.
In the past, she used to wake up at 3 a.m. and wait in line before stores opened.
The first year she went shopping to get a Christmas tree. There was an older lady standing behind her who was also trying to get one. Once Lowe’s had opened everyone was running and grabbing anything they could. “I ran, grabbed two trees, and ran,” Carrier said. “I put one in her cart and left with mine. I didn’t even care what color it was.”
Mrs. Carrier has gone Black Friday shopping since 2004 and has learned some things along the way. She says that new shoppers need to understand that you’re not likely to get everything on your list. She also said that adults should not bring their kids because of the risk of them getting lost or hurt.
Art teacher Ms. Alicia Fuller went holiday shopping as well but doesn’t go as much as she used to since she has a young son.
“It’s crazy how rude people can be,” Fuller said. “I got rammed into by a lady with her cart, and she just kept on going.”
Not only do teachers like the adventure of shopping on Black Friday, but senior Ainzli Grismore says that she tries to go out to either Target or Walmart to shop.
“One year our whole family went to Walmart, and my dad got me something. Someone had returned it and put the wrong thing in the box,” she said. “So he went to return it because it wasn’t the right thing he bought, so they flagged his credit card and put him on the ‘Wanted List’ at Walmart!”
Even though Black Friday has awesome deals on our favorite products there is a dark side. According to the New York Post, there have been 12 deaths and 117 injuries on Black Friday caused by the inhumanity of many shoppers.
Many stores have thrived during this day and Thanksgiving thanks to their discounts and advertisements. “Since 2016 the number of total spendings from 2016 to 2019 has increased from $5.27 billion to $11.9 billion, but thanks to COVID-19 2020 is predicted to only be a total of $11 billion,” according to the New York Post.
Major stores such as Target, Macy’s, Home Depot, Costco, and Walmart were closed on Thanksgiving.
Most shopping was online and less in store due to the uncertainty of this winter and the Coronavirus.
Cyber Monday, as expected, set a new record for online spending with $10.8 billion.
With the uncertainty of how this winter would play out due to COVID and other viruses, we weren’t sure how Black Friday and holiday shopping would be affected this year. Both Fuller and Grismore were skeptical on going to shop this year and the risk of spreading or becoming sick, but as for Carrier nothing could stand in the way of her deals.
Carrier said on shopping this year, “It was not as exciting as a normal Black Friday. The lines were short, and it felt like a normal shopping day.”
| ONLINE SALES TOTALS (Source: Adobe Analytics) |
|
| Day/Year | Online Spending Totals (Year over Year) |
| Thanksgiving + Black Fri. 2016 | $5.27 billion (17.7% increase YoY) |
| Thanksgiving + Black Fri. 2017 | $7.9 billion (49% increase YoY) |
| Thanksgiving + Black Fri. 2018 | $9.9 billion (25% increase YoY) |
| Thanksgiving + Black Fri. 2019 | $11.9 billion (20% increase YoY) |
| Thanksgiving + Black Fri. 2020 | $14 billion (Record Amount) |
