People are gearing up this year to take on the next Black Friday crowd. Some students are preparing to take on the crowds of Black Friday first-hand and other students will be shopping online from the safety of home. There are also many dangers lurking in the shadows of stores on Nov. 27, including scammers and identity thieves.
Natalya Hill, ’18, is looking forward to this upcoming Friday. Hill finds shopping in the stores to be better than shopping online. She is shopping for gifts for others in her family.
“Shopping in store on Black Friday is always better than shopping online,” Hill said. “I am looking forward to shopping at Target on Black Friday. I am going shopping on Black Friday to get gifts for the toddlers in my family. I don’t know why Black Friday was started, but it’s pretty great.”
The Co-Athletic Director at FC, Mick Fuller is not fond of shopping and hyper commercialism. Fuller does not see any benefit that can come from Black Friday. He will spend Black Friday cleaning up and resting from a family Thanksgiving celebration.
“I dislike shopping and hyper-commercialism,” Fuller said. “I think the emphasis on consumption, spending on frivolous products and the social and commercial pressure to acquire the next “upgrade” promotes poor stewardship of our financial, emotional and spiritual resources. When those things are combined into one experience, the result is extremely distasteful to me. I will not be participating in this cultural event however I do have family members that enjoy shopping and looking for deals. They seem to enjoy the frenetic “carnival” atmosphere that some retailers create for that date. I will be at home cleaning up after a family Thanksgiving celebration and enjoying a restful time during Black Friday.”
A veteran online shopper, Macy Mascarenas, ’16, is looking for a change and is intending on getting a taste at shopping in person this Black Friday.
“I haven’t ever shopped on Black Friday, but maybe for my first Black Friday I will go to Target because I’ve heard that Target has some good deals,” Mascarenas said. “I have shopped online every year, but this year I am actually going to shop in the stores as well as online. When you shop online it’s crazy that you can put something in your cart and then you go to checkout, and its already gone. When it comes to online shopping, you have to act quick.”
Austin Duffy, ’19, will enjoy the safety of home while shopping this Friday. Duffy does not want to die by being trampled by the masses of shoppers this Friday. He plans to only shop online.
“I think it’s pathetic how many people will risk other people’s lives for a vacuum cleaner,” Duffy said. “During Black Friday I usually shop online and buy something for myself. If I did go shopping on Black Friday, I would go to Walmart because Walmart has everything. Although, I would never go there on Black Friday because I would not want to get trampled to death by the other people rushing into the store.”
An online shopper, Hunter Raynes, ’21, is planning to only shop online this Friday. Raynes has shopped online in the past and likes it because of its simplicity.
“I am not going to go shopping this Black Friday because of all of the crowds,” Raynes said. “I will be shopping online during Black Friday. Shopping online is much easier and faster than shopping in the stores and you don’t have to leave your house.”
The Feather wishes safety upon all of those shopping during this holiday time and for a restful week. Please comment in the comments section below on how you will be spending your time on Black Friday.
This writer can be reached via Twitter: _Samuel_Cross_