Pros and Cons of Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Despite being one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals aren’t for everyone. As an online shopper, you’re probably aware that many major retailers offer special deals on the Monday after Thanksgiving and the Tuesday before Christmas to entice customers and boost sales.
These two days are known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday because they involve a lot of red ink from all those deep discounts. However, not everyone thinks this is a bad thing. The popularity of these two days has led to many other businesses creating similar sales in October, November and December.
In fact, some retailers will even extend their Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals during those weeks instead of just one day. Do you need to take advantage of these deals? Here are 10 pros and cons to help you decide:
The Pros of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals
There are many advantages to shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. First, you’ll be able to find some amazing deals that may not be available at other times of the year. While some of these are one-day deals, many retailers will extend them for several days, or even weeks, around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
You can also expect stores to offer more coupons than usual during this time, making it easier to find even bigger savings. There are also a number of other benefits to shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
If you’re looking for a new smartphone, you may be able to get a great deal on a device on either of these days. Similarly, if you need a new computer, you may be able to score a great deal on a new computer on one of these days.
Pro: You Can Find Great Deals
One of the biggest benefits to shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday is that you have a great chance of finding some amazing deals. Many retailers will offer deep discounts on their products during this time.
If you can find something you need at a much lower price, you should definitely take advantage of it. Similarly, you may be able to find gift ideas at a much lower price.
If you know what you want to get for someone, but you can’t afford the full price, you may be able to find it during Black Friday or Cyber Monday at a much cheaper price.
Pro: Shops Are Especially Optimized for Fast Load Times
If you shop during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you’re probably aware that many retailers optimize their websites for quick loading times. This means that your page will load faster and be less frustrating to use.
If you shop at one of these times, you may even notice that your pages load faster than normal. Similarly, many retailers will offer a more streamlined shopping experience during these times. If you want to find the best deals, however, you may have to do a bit of extra digging to find them.
Pro: Many Shoppers Are Just as Tired as You Are
If you’ve ever wondered why retailers have been extending their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for so long, you may find your answer in this pro. Despite the fact that some of these sales actually started in October, many shoppers are just as tired of them as you might be. In fact, some researchers have found that many shoppers are growing tired of the annual spending spree.
According to the National Retail Federation, the number of people shopping on Black Friday 2018 was expected to drop to about 103.5 million compared to 108 million in 2017. In a poll by the NRF, about 83% of those shoppers said they were “exhausted” by the holiday shopping season with many saying they were “fed up” with the promotions, big crowds and long lines.
Pro: If You Do Your Research, You Can Find Great Deals on Big Ticket Items
If you really are in need of a new computer or TV and you know exactly what you want, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times to buy. However, you have to be extremely careful when shopping during these sales.
If you’re not careful, you could end up buying the wrong item or paying too much. Before you buy anything, make sure you read reviews and compare prices online. You should also check the item’s compatibility to make sure it works with your existing equipment.
Not only will this help you make sure you’re getting a quality item, it can help you avoid buying something that doesn’t work with your existing equipment.
Pro: There are Plenty of Online Only Deals That Don’t Require you to Go Out in the Cold or Fight Crowds
If you’re not a fan of the crowds or extreme competition that comes with shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, there are plenty of online only deals you can take advantage of.
Some of the best deals for online shoppers are on things like electronics and books. If you’re looking for a great deal on a book or you’re in need of a new e-reader, there are plenty of online only sales you can take advantage of.
Pro: Many Stores Only Deal During These Days
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to shop at stores that offer significant discounts on a regular basis. However, these days are the only time you’re likely to see those types of deals.
Some stores, such as Best Buy, will only offer special discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Other stores, such as Amazon and Walmart, will offer specials during these days but will also extend them to other dates in October, November and December. You can also find plenty of online only sales during these months.
Pro: Many Stores Are Only Online During these Days
If you want to avoid the crowds and extreme competition that comes with shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are plenty of online only retailers you can shop at.
When you shop online, you can avoid the crowds and extreme competition that comes with Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. However, many of these retailers will offer special discounts and deals on these two days.
By shopping online, you can avoid the crowds and extreme competition that comes with Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. However, you can also take advantage of the special deals on these two days.
The Cons of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals
There are a few drawbacks to shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. First, you may find that many of the deals aren’t actually very good. Retailers often offer Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that aren’t actually very good.
They may offer you 50% off a product that was overpriced to begin with, or they may offer you a gift card to bring the price down. While these may be good deals if you intend to buy that product anyway, they aren’t actually great if you were hoping to find an amazing deal on something else.
There’s also the fact that you may have to be prepared to deal with a ton of crowds and chaos. Many people are shopping online during the week of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which means that the websites can get pretty crowded. If you choose to shop in person, you may also have to deal with long lines and a lot of chaos at the stores.
Con: You Can Find Great Deals
If you’re hoping to find amazing deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you may be disappointed. While many retailers offer amazing deals, others offer only normal deals, or even more expensive products.
If you’re hoping to find amazing deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you may be disappointed. Similarly, if you’re hoping to find amazing deals on gifts, you may be disappointed.
Many retailers will offer special deals or sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but they’re usually on products that you don’t need.
Con: It’s Crazy Competitive
The first thing you have to remember about Black Friday and Cyber Monday is that the deals are extremely competitive. Retailers are going to be slashing their prices to an extreme that even the most frugal shoppers might not want to take advantage of.
If you’re looking to save money on big ticket items like a TV, computer or camera, the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale is the time to do it. However, if you’re looking for a fun gift for a friend or family member, you might want to think twice.
The price cuts on many of these items will be so deep that they’ll be almost giving them away. Do you really want to be that person who gives a gift that’s so cheap, it may be insulting?
Con: You May End up With Stuff You Don’t Want or Need
The biggest con to shopping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is that you may end up buying more stuff than you need or want. During these sales, it’s easy to become caught up in the excitement and forget about the reasons you were shopping in the first place.
While there are some great deals during these sales, most of them are on items that you may not need or want. This can result in you spending more than you can really afford or simply buying stuff you don’t need.
What if you end up buying a TV and then find out you have no way to set it up or use it? What if your computer is too old to run the latest operating system? These are just a couple of examples of what can happen if you don’t think before you buy.
Con: The Ads are Often Misleading or Inaccurate
The best advice you can take from this con is to remain skeptical of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday ads. Many retailers have been known to stretch the truth or flat-out lie about their discounts.
Some have even been caught misquoting the prices of items or listing products as “discounted” when they really aren’t. Perhaps the easiest way to protect yourself from being scammed by the ads is to wait until the last minute to do your shopping.
If you’re able to wait until the Friday or Monday after Thanksgiving, you can take advantage of the same deals without being scammed.
Con: If It’s Hassle Free, It Might not be Worth Much
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to buy electronics, there are many other items that aren’t worth the hassle. If you’re in the market for a new camera, watch, purse or other high-end item, you may want to think twice about shopping during these sales.
While you might find a great deal on these items during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, they might not be worth what the retailer is selling them for.
The best way to protect yourself from overspending on these items is to do your research and make sure you’re getting a quality product. If a camera is touted as “discounted” but it doesn’t have the features you need, it’s not really worth anything.
Deciding Whether To Participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals
If you’re still deciding whether or not to participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, you’ll want to consider a few different factors. First, you’ll want to consider what kinds of products you want to shop for.
If you need new clothes or housewares, these are two great times to shop for those items. If you want to shop for a gift, however, you may want to wait until after the holidays. If you’re looking to shop online, you may also want to consider how much time you have to shop.
Many of the best deals will be available for a limited amount of time, so if you aren’t able to shop quickly, you may miss out on the discounts.
How to Find the Best Deals During Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
If you want to find the best deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you’ll first want to decide what you’re shopping for and where it should be purchased. You may not be able to find the best deals on everything, or you may be able to find better deals at certain times.
Some things, such as groceries, gas and other necessities, should be purchased at any time, with the exception of large crowds. However, for other things, such as products from Amazon, or products from other websites, you may want to wait until after the holidays.
This way, you’ll be able to avoid the inevitable rush of people who are shopping for Christmas presents.
Should You Shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
If you’re looking for the best deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you should definitely shop online. Retailers can reduce their overhead costs by not having to pay employees to work on Thanksgiving and by not having to run the store on Black Friday.
This means that they can probably offer better deals than they could in the store. If you want to shop in person, you may want to wait until after the holidays.
Many people will be shopping for Christmas presents, which means that you may have to shop very early in the mornings or very late at night, and that you may have to deal with longer lines and more crowds.
Why You Should Jump on Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals
If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should jump on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, you should. These are two of the best times to shop for many products. Target and Walmart, for example, offer Black Friday deals every year.
If you wait until after the holidays to shop, you may find that many of the best deals are gone. Another reason to jump on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals is that it’s easier to find coupons for these days.
Retailers often offer coupons for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, which you can use to get a better deal. If you wait until after the holidays, you may miss out on special offers, including coupons, gift cards and other promotions.
Why You Should Skip Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals
If you don’t really need anything new, or you don’t have time to shop around and wait for shipping, you should probably skip Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Many of the best deals will be on products that most people don’t need, and they’ll be quick to go.
If you’re hoping to shop for gifts, you may want to wait until after the holidays. Many retailers will offer gift cards as part of their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Instead of buying someone a gift that they may or may not want, you can simply buy them a gift card.