With the proliferation of online shopping, steady price inflation, and stores discounting their merchandise year-round, Black Friday shopping deals have weakened over time. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when most students and workers enjoy an added day off, typically kicks off the holiday shopping season with discounts of 50% or more and aggressive promotions like “buy one item and get the second one for free”. Over the years, retailers have increasingly relied upon Black Friday to jump-start consumer interest and create excitement and competitive spending on prized items among shoppers.
Locally, student shoppers were disappointed by the scarcity of discounts to be found during in-person shopping. Black Friday is usually a good opportunity for students to upgrade their wardrobes and have fun shopping.
“I went to the Corte Madera mall,” junior Saoirse Trevino said. “Some of the deals were good, but Alo basically didn’t even have a sale,”
Some stores maxed out their markdowns at 40% and many only offered only 10% off the regular retail items, according to Trevino. In 2024, the average retail discount on Black Friday was 30% down 10% from the 40% average discount in 2015, according to Capital One.
Online shopping allows shoppers to access goods from the comfort of their homes, and became prevalent during the pandemic. As online shopping becomes more popular and replaces in-person shopping for many, the drop in in-store sales is likely to continue.
“My wife used to do the whole Black Friday shopping” history faculty Thomas Apel said. “I think with online shopping, going in person feels old school.”
Others like Apel feel that Black Friday over time has weakened in relevance, with online shopping being more convenient. Many shoppers prefer scrolling through deals from the comfort of their homes instead of waiting in long lines.
“I love online shopping,” freshman Maria Lutz said. “But there’s something more exciting about actually going to stores and shopping in person.”
For Generation Z and the younger generation, online shopping is becoming more of the normal way to buy clothes. Although in-person shopping can have a more exciting, fulfilling feeling that online shopping lacks, according to Lutz.
“It just felt like an average day at the mall,” Trevino said. “It was not exciting.”
