The day after Thanksgiving, people wake up at three o’clock in the morning to venture to the mall and partake in the deals that come with Black Friday. Students and parents have been seen camping outside of stores waiting for midnight when store doors open their sales to the public or forming huge lines that wrap around the building to try and get in first. Students dedicate the day after Thanksgiving to finding the best deals for the people that while receive their presents.
While some wait all year for this one day, others can’t stand the idea of being swarmed with hundreds of people pushing and shoving all to get an item with a slight markdown.
Stores that open early for Black Friday, such as Meijer, have discounts on their electronics, DVDs, headphones and everything in between. Others that participate in the traditions include stores in and near the Midland Mall such as Target, Walmart and Best Buy.
Every year, students from DHS attend sales. Stores around Midland open at crazy times during the middle of the night with outrageous deals that one wouldn’t normally find. Due to the increased participation of Black Friday, some stores such as Walmart and Target have even agreed to open the night of Thanksgiving at 8:00 p.m. to give the shoppers extra time to search the stores.
Students like junior Sofia Cupal look forward to the different stores opening their doors early on Black Friday.
“I like being able to get expensive clothes for cheap,” Cupal said. “Even though it’s usually like four in the morning when you’re shopping, it never feels that way because it’s so exciting.”
Some students complain that Black Friday shopping is too chaotic and miserable to find the things they’re looking for. Another major holiday shopping day takes place the Monday after Thanksgiving, also known as Cyber Monday, which takes place online instead of in stores. DHS students like sophomore Marina Haddad prefer to shop online instead of the hassles of shopping in the stores.
“I don’t really like to wait in line, and there’s so many people.” Haddad said. “When you’re shopping online, you don’t have to worry about waiting for others or not finding your size.”
Perks of being able to know exactly what they’re buying is also a reason people use promotions such as Black Friday. Online, students are able to choose their size and know the price without having to shuffle through tons of shirts and possibly not finding the size that fits. DHS students like junior Mary Claire Bassett admire shoppers that wake up that early, but could never do it herself.
“My dad never went Black Friday shopping, he would never wake up that early to take us so I just wouldn’t go,” Bassett said. “I think people who go are smart though, because they get some really good deals.”
