Part of the tradition of the United States ultimate holiday, Thanksgiving, is Black Friday. That day when all the stores have huge sales and that marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. It used to be a curiosity but in the last ten years, with the advent of social media and the habit of sharing everything online, it has become a phenomenon that has spread to other countries, right along with Cyber Monday -the same type of shopping spree with offers, but online and on the Monday following Thanksgiving-.
Today I am writing a basic survival guide to get through the day in one piece, and take home the shopping that you wanted. Over the Thanksgiving weekend I will publish a similar type of guide for Cyber Monday.
Speaking of coming home in one piece, let me start with
Safety
Let be honest, we have all seen the level of craziness that Americans can reach for Black Friday discounts. It seems that the crazies and all their friends and relatives come out shopping this day and you should keep this in mind. Black Friday crowds are loud, rude, driven and ruthless. There have been reported cases of violence in previous years.
Obviously it's not like that everywhere, but it’s good to keep it in mind and stay alert. If someone starts acting strange, erratic or violently, it’s best to move away from them discreetly. Do not leave your shopping cart unattended, and don't bring your kids if you can avoid it. When putting things in your car, put them in the trunk and if you see someone watching you, get into your car and move it to a different spot.
Safety in numbers
That being said, if you can, go with friends and/or family. Not only will it be more amenable, it will be safer.
Planning: your list
Make sure that you make a list of things that you plan to buy. research them, make sure that you get the best price/quality ratio before going shopping so that you know exactly what you want and where you can buy it.
Physical preparedness
Get a good night's sleep is the first rule. Also, take drinking water with you, and know which stores have restrooms. In some places, be ready to wait for an hour or more in line just to pay for your merchandise. Take water to drink.
Mental preparedness
Stay calm, if you choose to shop on the craziest shopping day of the year, you should already know that it is not going to be like other days. Be polite and respectful of others, but don't let anyone walk all over you either. If another customer is giving you trouble, walk away or contact security to report them.
Map your shopping route (for real!)
There are lots of Black Friday sites and apps that can help you route your day based on your shopping list. Get familiar with them and have them on your phone or tablet.
Additionally, shop around for the best deals before Black Friday. Once you have your shopping list ready, go online and compare the online flyers or advertisements t see who will have what you want at the best price. And also...
Today I am writing a basic survival guide to get through the day in one piece, and take home the shopping that you wanted. Over the Thanksgiving weekend I will publish a similar type of guide for Cyber Monday.
Speaking of coming home in one piece, let me start with
Safety
Let be honest, we have all seen the level of craziness that Americans can reach for Black Friday discounts. It seems that the crazies and all their friends and relatives come out shopping this day and you should keep this in mind. Black Friday crowds are loud, rude, driven and ruthless. There have been reported cases of violence in previous years.
Safety in numbers
That being said, if you can, go with friends and/or family. Not only will it be more amenable, it will be safer.
Planning: your list
Make sure that you make a list of things that you plan to buy. research them, make sure that you get the best price/quality ratio before going shopping so that you know exactly what you want and where you can buy it.
Physical preparedness
Get a good night's sleep is the first rule. Also, take drinking water with you, and know which stores have restrooms. In some places, be ready to wait for an hour or more in line just to pay for your merchandise. Take water to drink.
Mental preparedness
Stay calm, if you choose to shop on the craziest shopping day of the year, you should already know that it is not going to be like other days. Be polite and respectful of others, but don't let anyone walk all over you either. If another customer is giving you trouble, walk away or contact security to report them.
Map your shopping route (for real!)
There are lots of Black Friday sites and apps that can help you route your day based on your shopping list. Get familiar with them and have them on your phone or tablet.
Additionally, shop around for the best deals before Black Friday. Once you have your shopping list ready, go online and compare the online flyers or advertisements t see who will have what you want at the best price. And also...
No comments :
Post a Comment