When it comes to Black Friday, two things immediately come to mind: “super discounts” and chaotic crowds. However, have you ever wondered when Black Friday originated and why people go “crazy” for this “Dark Friday”?
Key Facts About Black Friday
The Origin of Black Friday
Black Friday, also known as “Dark Friday,” is designated as the first Friday after Thanksgiving (an annual holiday mainly celebrated in the United States and Canada). Since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, Black Friday usually occurs between November 23rd and 29th.
According to USA Today, the term Black Friday began to be mentioned in 1939 when Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, faced pressure to move Thanksgiving from the last Thursday of November to the fourth Thursday of the month to extend the Christmas shopping season.
“When the shopping season extends, people will spend more, and the struggling economy will receive a necessary boost” – this idea led to the birth of Black Friday. The change in Thanksgiving was officially recognized in 1941, but the concept of Black Friday did not truly gain prominence until about a decade later.
Typical chaos seen during “shopping holidays” on Black Friday.
According to another source, the name Black Friday originated in the city of Philadelphia. In the 1950s, local police reportedly used the term to describe the Fridays after Thanksgiving because it was a “particularly difficult day” for them due to the surge of shoppers flooding into the city from suburban areas.
As noted on Wikipedia, the term Black Friday became widely referenced after the traffic congestion that occurred on the Friday after Thanksgiving in 1965 in Philadelphia, when hundreds of thousands of Americans crowded the streets and sidewalks shopping for the upcoming Christmas holiday. This is seen as the start of the Christmas shopping season, similar to Boxing Day in many other countries.
Shopping enthusiasts eagerly await Black Friday to indulge in shopping sprees.
In English, there is the term “In The Black,” which refers to a business making a profit. In contrast, “In The Red” indicates a business operating at a loss. In the past, to differentiate and track accounts, accountants would record profits in black ink and losses in red ink. Hence, the biggest shopping day of the year was named Black Friday, implying that it is a day of significant profit for businesses.
On Black Friday, most major retailers open around 4 AM or even earlier, offering tens of thousands of items at massive discounts. We’re talking about discounts that can reach 30-40%, or even more for common items like electronics, appliances, furniture, and fashion. Many business owners even allow employees to take the day off like a holiday to go shopping.
People are willing to fight, struggle, or even snatch their favorite items from others.
Because of this, on Black Friday, regardless of the year, hundreds of people are recorded pushing and shoving at supermarkets and retail stores to grab heavily discounted items. This is the only day of the year when even the most reserved and mild-mannered shoppers can turn into a “fierce devotee,” ready to fight for the items they want to own.
By the end of last year, the number of customers pushing and shoving had somewhat decreased, as many opted for online shopping to avoid unfortunate scuffles. However, due to the risk of not receiving items when ordering online, people still flock to supermarkets and shopping centers to grab the items they desire.
When is Black Friday 2024?
Originating from Western countries and entering Vietnam in recent years, Black Friday has been embraced by many Vietnamese businesses, becoming a major shopping event of the year with numerous high-discount promotional programs that have garnered significant consumer enthusiasm.
As mentioned in the section “What is Black Friday,” we can see that Black Friday is the last Friday of November each year, and this year, Black Friday 2024 will fall on November 29, 2024.
Additionally, you can refer to the dates for Black Friday in other years as follows:
- Black Friday 2022: November 25, 2022
- Black Friday 2023: November 24, 2023
- Black Friday 2024: November 29, 2024
- Black Friday 2025: November 28, 2025
- Black Friday 2026: November 27, 2026
- Black Friday 2027: November 26, 2027
- Black Friday 2028: November 24, 2028
- Black Friday 2029: November 23, 2029
- Black Friday 2030: November 29, 2030
Tips for Shopping on Black Friday
While considered the biggest discount opportunity of the year, Black Friday also has many downsides that users may not anticipate, such as:
- Clearing out unsold inventory that is not guaranteed to be of good quality
- Inflating original prices many times, then slapping on a discount label to make consumers feel they are getting a great deal.
- Creating dangerous links aimed at stealing accounts and information on social media platforms.
Therefore, users need to take note of the following six tips to hunt for quality products during Black Friday and avoid ending up in a “burned wallet” situation after this shopping holiday.
1. Create a Spending Plan for Black Friday
Since there are no official regulations on how long Black Friday lasts, many stores have extended their promotional programs for an extended period with a plethora of appealing items.
Capitalizing on consumers’ love for discounts, store owners have rolled out various tricks to stimulate shopping, even prompting consumers to spend more on other products to get additional discounts. Consequently, many people end up in a “burned wallet” situation whenever Black Friday ends.
To avoid this, you need to have a clear spending plan for Black Friday by listing the items you intend to buy along with a budget. And of course, you must stick to this plan until the Black Friday season concludes.
Absolutely avoid the temptation to buy unnecessary items or those you aren’t sure when you’ll use. Additionally, consider paying with cash to reinforce the feeling of “spending money” rather than using cards, as some types of cards may incur additional fees.
2. Inspect Product Quality Carefully
Black Friday is also an opportunity for brands to clear out year-end inventory mixed with other discounted products, so consumers need to scrutinize the quality of items before spending their money.
Be particularly vigilant with items that are priced 70-90% lower than their usual prices, especially concerning the quality of fashion products and the expiration dates of consumables.
Moreover, if you are hunting for deals online, don’t forget to consider factors such as the product’s warranty period, shipping costs, or feedback from previous customers.
3. Compare Product Prices
This Black Friday 2022, remember the principle that “What you see may not be the truth.”
It is not uncommon to encounter advertisements or products marked down by over 70%. However, don’t rush to purchase immediately; take some time to research its price on other websites or at times when the product is not on sale.
Exploiting the consumer’s desire for “massive promotions,” many brands will not hesitate to create false figures by inflating the listed price of the product and then attaching a “huge discount” label.
Therefore, searching for information before shopping is not a redundant task, especially with the upcoming Black Friday 2022.
4. Be Cautious of Unverified Advertisements
Black Friday is also an opportunity for hackers to steal information or scam customers.
Since Black Friday always falls on a Friday, some people will be busy with work and unable to shop in person; instead, they tend to choose online shopping.
This is also a “golden opportunity” for hackers to create malicious applications or links containing malware or viruses aimed at stealing customer information.
To avoid this, online shoppers should be cautious before clicking on any links that are not provided by the official pages of the brands.
5. Actively Monitor Social Media Pages
Most stores have their own social media pages or official websites. Naturally, information about the upcoming Black Friday 2022—such as timing, products, prices, and locations—is frequently updated.
You will easily find great deals, especially promotional information from your favorite brands. So don’t hesitate to go online and check frequently!
6. Consider the Timing of Your Purchases
After taking note of these five shopping tips for Black Friday, the final point to consider is the timing of your purchases.
According to those who have hunted for Black Friday sales in previous years, the “golden time” to buy discounted items is during the first few days of sales. At that time, high-quality products are still abundant, and there aren’t too many shoppers yet.
Therefore, instead of shopping on the last days of this event, try to go early to select the best products for yourself.
