Opinion: Black Friday Isn't What it used to be

As the end of the year approaches people look forward to the abundance of upcoming holidays. Black Friday on the other hand has seemed to progressively get worse and worse as the years go on, seemingly becoming increasingly uneventful with bland deals. Statistically, Black Friday is as much of a success as it has been in past years, but the excitement of deals and eagerness isn’t what it used to be. Massive parking lots built to hold the holiday rush are only half filled on the supposed best day of the year for deals. 

What ruins Black Friday for many is the unusually high prices that are then slightly discounted to become “good deals.” Companies try to find ways to make a profit anyway they can and companies like Target have been caught selling products at nearly the same prices during Black Friday trying to trick consumers that they are getting a deal. Black Friday has lost what made it special years ago. Some would argue the majority has lost interest in the holiday because of a few different reasons: to the amount of carbon emissions being released as a direct result from Black Friday products and plastic wrappings, the quality of most products on a deal, or the lack of a significant deal. A 2019 report made by Phil Purnell, a civil engineering professor at the University of Leeds, had discovered that roughly 80 percent of Black Friday sales including the plastic wrapping quickly ended up in landfills or incinerators, some of the products still in the box unopened, making the holiday very unsustainable. I think it's important for Black Friday to emphasize in-person shopping while the following Monday focuses solely on online sales. Separating the two days would give Black Friday its appeal back of seeing full malls around america.

Although others may disagree with separating the two days, what would make a difference would be to put deals that people want. Companies rarely put their best items on a deal, even for Black Friday. This disappoints shoppers ruining the whole idea around Black Friday. I believe it will be a while before we can finally have an enjoyable Black Friday. As long as companies can still profit, then deals won’t change, when deals don’t change shopping continues to be bland and the cycle will continue of being excited for an upcoming day of shopping with deals.