Online Verses Stores on Black Friday

Black Friday. A word associated with cons as well as pros for the shopping enthusiasts. Had a hard time last year waiting in line for that certain product you could've got.

It never fails. you listen to the ads for over two weeks before this famous Friday. Items being slashed 50-99%, gifts and door prizes being given away, and the catch that makes everyone get outta bed so early...you have to buy certain items within a certain time frame! This introduction into the behind-the-scenes look at why you should buy on-line, and why you should go shopping for that great item for Christmas

Black Friday. This idea was created in mind from someone who obviously owned a store. Black Friday, (named because of the chaotic people involved), is the Friday following Thanksgiving Thursday and consists of holiday purchasers buying items at this particular date, and sometimes at particular, (and peculiar), hours. shoppers get up EARLY on this Friday and buy items "on sale". creating a chaotic frenzy, tens, and sometimes, thousands of shoppers attempt to go holiday shopping at the same time, trying to save money, while buying for their loved ones. As with everything else in life, you have different types of people. Some are gung-ho about the whole idea, and make it a mission to get as much out of this "invented day", as they can. Nearly half of all shoppers would like to get what few things they are trying to buy and get outta range from the one's who are gung-ho. Lastly, you have a very small percentage who make life for the first two types of people mentioned, miserable. these are the type of people that will step on you, take your parking spot on the last second, create a bigger, problematic shopping experience, and all around, will probably be the one who puts their hand on an item you just picked-up. These people are the type that no one should encounter, but still do. Do yourself a favor. Prepare yourself for the one's who fit this last category. These folks are the reason why news casters still go to stores every year with a camera.

Shopping Pros and cons.

PROS_ You can't beat the idea of actually seeing, feeling, and smelling the product you are buying, RIGHT THERE AND NOW. This is THE number one reason why you should shop for a product, rather than buying it online. You know the product is authentic, you are not waiting for shipping, and you know the present will be under the tree.If the item breaks, you know where to take it back, and better yet, you do not have to ship the item back for a refund that might not even occur if you buy it online. Many of hearts have been broken waiting for the mailman to deliver a package that might not ever come.

CONS_ One of the biggest problems to shopping in stores is the fact that if you are looking for a certain item that you seen in a store, they might be sold out before you get there. Even the biggest conglomerates run out of certain items fast. The present that you promised little Johnny or Susan might've been on the shelf a half an hour ago, but is now sold out. What's worse? the lady in line at the cashier's stand probably has the last one available. ever want something so bad, can actually see it, want to buy it, and can't? It tears your heart out. HINT: If you have a child that says, "I want that for Christmas!", train yourself early to say, "I'll see what I, (or Santa), can do". Don't work yourself up into having a heart attack because you made a promise you can't keep because the store didn't carry enough of this item. Another great idea that will help you before the crisis starts; find a similar item and the accessories that go with this item. No one is gonna think you love them less because you didn't get the EXACT item. We all try, I know. Don't feel bad.

Another problem that occurs shopping in stores is the hectic surroundings, as well as the long lines, the time-frames on which you can buy a certain item, and worse of all, the parking. this event could take one of the greatest holidays and turn it into one of the worse. your best bet for this occurrence? Plan ahead. get the timing right, and best thing of all, give yourself an extra half hour between stores. no one ever calculates the time wasted in between shopping experiences, especially when it comes to finding a parking space.

Online pros and cons

PROS_ If you are experienced at buying online, you know how to break away and execute shopping without the chaos associated with going outside early on black Friday. you can spend hours online and find everything with just a click on your PC. Some of us have even had the option of going back to bed and sleeping the rest of that turkey we stiffed ourselves on last night. This experience, although still new for some, is the only way some of us prefer our shopping. you save gas, you stay away from the crazies, and best of all, you can stick around the house and actually enjoy this day off for anything you like.

CONS_ One of the most important cons about buying online is that you are actually buying information. Whether you get a worded description, picture, video feed, or an online order, you never actually touch the product or see it in front of you. This means there is a chance that the product either isn't in stock, not as described, or worse yet, doesn't even exist. This isn't to say that this is the norm, but stories of this type are not rare and ARE true and yes, you are taking a chance at purchasing items online.

FACT: Nearly 3% of all websites are deceptive. These websites are not out there to get your business, they are out there to get your money, or worse yet, your information. You have to trust the website you are buying from, and even the truly honorable websites have glitches.

Even skipping all the horror stories, (there are thousands), most retailers do not take pictures of the actual product at times. if they are selling you a certain model of a camera, for instance, they will use a picture of the model, not the actual, physical camera. The purchaser bought a camera by an example of a picture only, and sometimes you get a similarity. Not a great way to do business, but this happens alot.

Another bit of information never described to the potential buyer is the way of DROP-SHIPPING. This process involves a retailer selling an item, but not having it in stock. the distributor for this item actually ships the product for the retailer. sometimes this creates a flaw that isn't even the retailer's fault. By example; If you wanted to buy a drum set from a music store, you purchase it online. the retailer at the other end calls the distribution agent and he sends the drum set to the purchaser's house. The distributor has none of these in stock. who gets stuck? Not the retailer. The purchaser is the one who will have to wait for the item to be re-stocked before it can be shipped. another problem with this is the information has to be sent to yet another entity, (the distributor), and sometimes the information that was sent is different than the info the purchaser first sent. this a time-wasted way of purchasing an item, which the purchaser himself never calculated, which in turn, either makes the item late for the holidays, or worse, never gets sent. Chances are, you will receive a refund, but this is not the reason why you spent time ordering the product to begin with. Please be VERY careful when ordering online, and watch the shipping charges as well as the shipping dates, this is of a valuable asset when dealing with December 25th.

OVERALL_ People still generally like to go out during black Friday, most to shop, others, to watch you shop. If this wasn't successful, this would not exist long after the first couple of tries, so someone is getting something out of this. Black Friday generates almost half of all the profits for most stores, so they definitely welcome it.

Please, just be careful on whatever idea you pick, and remember the true reason for the holidays,

God bless