Pro/Con: Shopping on Black Friday

12-hour timespan.

“Cyber Monday because it is guaranteed if it is in stock. You donʼt have to fight for the last item in stock.”

-Chris Venegas, Undecided major

“Cyber Monday is more convenient because people nowadays can just go online and get it shipped immediately. We see on the news, people fighting and screaming at each other.”

-Ricardo Zabala, Mechanical engineering major

Volume 123, Issue 8

Page 6: Sara Harvey was incorrectly referred to as an assistant professor. She is actually the chairman for the department of Chemistry.

MITCH

A day after we are treated with delicious turkey and other tasty foods stuffed into our bellies we are again treated with another grand holiday event. Millions of Americans know this day as Black Friday, or as I like to call it: the best day ever.

Yes, I said it, the best day ever. There’s nothing more beautiful than crowded malls, impossible parking, excruciatingly long lines and the glorious sales. My goodness those sales!

It is the day people in the workforce dread. I was a part of that workforce and I must say, it was a long day. However, now I see the brilliance of the event. The sheer nirvana from a discounted purchase or “steal” was apparent in the eyes of the shoppers’ faces.

They were ecstatic at the rare opportunity to acquire a normally expensive materialistic item at a much cheaper price. Yet, people despise this day.

Black Friday gets a bad rep from the violence and death because of those crazy shoppers who will do anything to get into a local Walmart for a 56-inch flat-screen t.v. as quickly as possible.

If you clear the death, violence and crazy shoppers from the equation then Black Friday won’t seem so... Black.

The event is called “Black Friday” because traditionally retail stores marked positive amounts of revenue in black ink and negative amounts in red ink, therefore this is the day where stores are in the black, thus, Black Friday.

With that being said, it is not the stores’ discounts that provoke such savagery amongst human beings. Rather it is the savages themselves who turn Black Friday into a dreaded event.

It is an event where you can indulge in materialistic items after months of hard-work.

Everyone needs to spoil themselves every once in awhile and this is a perfect time to do so. I don’t know anyone who does not like a good deal. Black Friday provides you with an opportunity to get your ‘wants’ at an extremely low price.

Last year, I bought a discounted Xbox One from Target for $320 and also received a free $50 Target gift card with my purchase. It was the one day I had to spoil myself after a year of working and attending school.

However, the day is not just about yourself as shoppers can be selfless and purchase various items for friends, family or loved ones. It could be buying a normally expensive gift for a cheaper price to show that you care.

Black Friday marks the beginning of the best time of the year, the holiday season. Many of the goods people purchase become Christmas presents.

For me what makes Black Friday the best day ever is not just the spoiling of myself and others but also the unity. It unites the family for another opportunity to spend time together, whether that it is using the recently purchased item together as family, or simply going out to watch a movie together.

VICTOR RODRIGUEZ vrodriguez.roundupnews@gmail.com @vrodriguez2100

Being ripped apart from my family at the tender time of 5:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, I was already not in a good mood heading into work.

Last year, stores opened as early as 6 p.m. showing a complete disregard for employees. Where’s their holiday break?

You hear reports on the news showing just how savage people can be, including but not limited to: stabbing, fighting, trampling, stun-gun fights and the most appalling, actual deaths. People have died from the primal greed that a good “deal” promises.

Imagine walking into your normal place of work and finding in its place a scene from “Beyond Thunderdome.” Your employer’s are more worried about surviving the sea of angry consumers who use money as a weapon (along with actual weapons) rather than actually turning a profit.

And to be clear: Black Friday deals actually aren’t that great. Sure, once in a blue moon you will find genuine savings, but a majority of the sales are actually the same promotions stores have all year-round.

People are fooled by the illusion of savings and are driven mad by low-quantity items, believing they are somehow more valuable because they aren’t in stock in that

Shoppers operate under the assumption that when they arrive to whichever store’s advertisement resonated with their needs, the store will have the exact items they need and the prices they want. But here’s the thing: life happens. There’s more demand than a single store could possibly supply. When customers don’t get the item they expected, it’s somehow the fault of the minimum wage store associates who take more abuse than should ever be asked of anyone.

Here’s a trade secret from someone who has worked in retail for too long: Online shopping is the way to go during the holidays. Almost all retailers have a significant online presence with the same promotions and even participate with online-only exclusives. Save yourself the literally life-threatening trip to the mall, and pay for shipping. That being said, most stores offer free shipping after a certain dollar amount is reached in a shopper’s’ cart.

A website will never deceive you, if an item isn’t in stock, or is sold out you’ll know immediately. Online shopping also allows you to search different stores all at once, even if in real life they’re miles away. Sure, you will have to wait a few days to get your packages, but at least you’ll be in one piece. Black Friday is the cardinal sin of greed brought to life. I’m not unsympathetic to people who don’t always have the funds to buy whatever they like. I understand this night presents a rare opportunity for people to have nice things, but please, remain humane.