We’re all familiar with the love-and-hate relationship we have with Black Friday. Consumers and businesses both benefit massively from this time of the year.
The fact that it tails Thanksgiving with Cyber Monday after makes it much better.
With Black Friday approaching with all its hot deals, the frenzied stampede of people who are raging stores is where the hate comes in.
Businesses prep for this day all year with tons of marketing, pre-sales, and stronger websites for online shoppers.
Why is online shopping better on Black Friday 2024?
Black Friday death toll and injuries are on the rise, with 10 deaths and over 100 injuries throughout the last decade. For example, Walmart witnessed its biggest Black Friday violence in 2011, with violence reports in its stores and a website crash.
Fortune mentioned that last year, 10 million Americans chose to shop online rather than in stores for Black Friday weekend. Many retailers, like Target and BestBuy, pushed their online games to increase sales revenue.
Amazon, the number one online competitor, offers Prime members an early peek at Black Friday offers. This doesn’t have to mean better prices than others, but it is a tempting option to consider.
Online shopping sales were over $5 billion on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, exceeding sales from physical stores. It comes with many benefits and even better deals.
Things you can avoid with online shopping:
- You don’t need to wait in endless cashier lines.
- No longer fight over products that’ll go out of stock.
- Wait for hours on opening day to get in early.
- Get pushed, shoved, or injured as you shop.
How to Avoid Black Friday Violence?
1. Shop BEFORE Black Friday:
Many people believe that all the great deals are restricted to Black Friday, which isn’t true. Many stores have pre-sales for that week and better offers on Thanksgiving that last all week long.
This way, you can start your shopping spree at the beginning of the week! Most hot offers are available online on Cyber Monday (after the Black Friday weekend).
2. Beware of Fake Sellers!
With Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas approaching quickly, online shopping is at its peak.
With how crowded shopping centers are during the holidays, a growing portion of people would avoid this by shopping online. And so, spam and fake ads often pop up, and shabby vendors increase.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) stated that from 2009 to 2014, $20 million was lost due to fake online purchases. Yes, that’s a big number, so we must be careful when shopping online.
As you shop, be sure to shop from reputable, well-known retailers like Amazon, Target, BestBuy, Walmart, etc. If the retailer is rare, check its credibility with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.
Also, research the company, check the reviews and ratings, and carefully read its privacy policy.
3. Get a Virtual Mailbox:
Being stuck at home, waiting for your mail and packages with all the online shopping done in the holidays, is the worst. You want to visit family or go on vacation, yet still get all your online purchases.
With a virtual post box, you can receive your mail and packages anytime, wherever you are. Your mail is sent to secured facilities, and you’ll receive instant notifications when new mail arrives.
This way, you don’t need to worry about your packages being snatched from your doorstep. Mail theft has doubled in the holidays because of increased online shopping.
Don’t risk having your packages stolen; send them to state-of-the-art facilities for handling. You can run errands or go on vacation. No need to be home all the time waiting for your mail.
You can log into your mailbox online and choose how to handle the mail piece or package. You can open & scan, shred and recycle, forward, or store.
Get your important bills scanned and shredded, and forward all your purchases to you! And if you aren’t home? Forward it to any address or have your mail provider hold your package until you get home.
PostScan Mail offers a competitive price for your virtual mailbox. If this isn’t the time to do it, I don’t know when it is!
4. Online Shopping Convenience:
The best part about online shopping is that you don’t need to leave your couch to do it. You can shop anytime without standing in long lines, be shoved through the doors, or fight for anything!
Online, your options are endless. You can compare prices until you find the best deals and have many brands to choose from. You’re not limited to one store with a few options, which is the case if you decide to go out and shop on Black Friday.
Following these tips guarantees you will check off everything you wanted from your list and not overspend your budget. So get your high-tech mailbox, prepare your list, and enjoy shopping!
Final thought
Black Friday can be an overwhelming shopping experience, but you can avoid potential disasters with some preparation.
Here are some tips to help you navigate the day successfully:
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