Photo courtesy of Smithsonian
Black Friday has always been a staple during Thanksgiving week. People rush out to stores and fight over the best deals. However, in recent years with the addition of Cyber Monday, more and more people tend to shop online. The frantic fighting over fifty percent off TVs is no more, for who wants to drive to the store when the next big purchase is only a click away?
Photo courtesy of CNBC
Alani Ramirez, junior at Vestavia Hills High School states that although she will shop at “Sephora, Target, Nordstrom” and take a “stroll around the Summit to take a look at what stores [have] some fire deals”, “Amazon” will be the main location for shopping. Shopping during the holidays can feel stressful with everything going on, but online shopping offers a way to buy without having to make a day of it. According to Statista, a commerce information website, e-commerce numbers have been steadily increasing over the past nine years. Covid appears to be the kicking-off point for e-commerce. After being forced to shop online, it appears that that has become the new favorite.
This fondness of online shopping is completely reasonable; it saves time. In a world increasingly moving faster and faster, the idea of being able to get and buy what is needed in a few minutes draws people in. Georgia Hunter, senior at Vestavia Hills High School, is “not the biggest shopper” but will definitely shop on Amazon because “it has everything and is convenient.” Online shopping provides a new medium to get what someone wants without having to go through the hassle of driving to the store, talking to the clerks, getting a fitting room, trying it on, and finally buying it an hour or two later.
Photo courtesy of ABC News
However, with new innovations comes a certain desire for the past. Ann Nichols Holley, a sophomore at VHHS, prefers “in-store shopping” because she likes to “smell the different scents” and “test out the different shades” so she knows she is getting what she likes. Her trip to the Summit will definitely include Ulta Beauty since “all of [her] favorite brands are almost half off.” Even with the ability to buy and receive what one wants in an instant, in-store shopping will never be completely obsolete. Online, someone cannot test a shade of foundation, or try on some jeans to see if they actually fit like the picture. One may argue and say returns allow someone to do this, but this can prove to be as much of a hassle as actually going to the store.
All in all, with new ways to shop, in-store shopping remains a powerful force where one can be certain they are getting what they want, while online shopping is a convenient way to purchase a wide variety of products that may not be in stock at a store nearby. Both ways to shop have benefits and disadvantages, but one thing is for sure, Black Friday and Cyber Monday still hold the consumerist American people tightly.
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