How Cyber Monday is more beneficial than Black Friday?
The day after Thanksgiving, when everyone is in digesting mode, processing the great meals that they just consumed and or cooked themselves, there are two types of people that follow: those who are determined to get their hands on the best deals and take part in Black Friday shopping and those who choose to skip out on the large crowds and wait until the following Monday to catch the same deals from the comfort of their own home.
Why be miserable and cold as you wait in long lines for possibly hours at a time, when you could get the same great deals while relaxing from home? It sounds like a simple question with an easy answer, yet 151 million people participated in Black Friday in 2015, 121 million shoppers are expected to participate this year, according to CBS News. Resulting in people wondering if Cyber Monday even offers the same as Black Friday. Now is the time to decide if the large crowds of determined holiday shoppers are really worth it.
Black Friday
An overwhelming 75% of shoppers prefer to shop in stores, according to a survey done by Fox News. This goes to show that not everyone dislikes the components that come along with Black Friday such as the lines and crowds. Senior Brianna Hughes said, “I prefer to shop in stores instead of online because I’ve only ever had bad experiences with online shopping. Whether I ordered a size too small or the color isn’t he same as it appeared on the screen.” Hughes is a senior at New Albany High School, who you can find out shopping on Black Friday every year. She claims that she “lives” for sales and holiday shopping. Although Hughes does have a point, all of the negative qualities of Black Friday overpower the few disappointing possibilities of shopping online, specifically Cyber Monday.
Cyber Monday
While it seems that not nearly as many shoppers partake in Cyber Monday as they do Black Friday, 85% of consumers said they will be shopping on Cyber Monday, up from 76% in 2015. Some say the reasoning for this misconception is because of the lack of ads that exist for Cyber Monday, compared to Black Friday, according to a poll done by WBNS news cast in Ohio. Cyber Monday is estimated to generate $3 billion in sales this year, a 12% increase from last year, according to CNBC. You’re probably taking a guess that Black Friday will pass that number with flying colors, but in reality it does not. Although not much of a difference, Black Friday is expected to bring in $2.7 billion in sales.
Cyber Monday is bringing in more money from sales, meaning this day of online shopping is not necessarily offering the better deals, but they are attracting more customers. This retail holiday is just as good, if not better than Black Friday. Senior Kelsey Humphrey said, “I personally enjoy both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so I usually take part in both retail holidays.”
Unless you enjoy the hassle of Black Friday, then skip out on the cold weather and large crowds, and just enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday. Wait until the following Monday when the deals are still available, and shop until you drop, or just until you credit card has reached its limit.