Black Friday: The Bargain that Lost Its Thrill
Ah, Black Friday. That magical time of year when people brave the wilds of shopping malls armed with nothing but a credit card and a sense of desperation. But hold your horses! This year, it seems our beloved discount extravaganza is taking a hit. Bargain hunters, once frothing at the mouth for that killer deal on a flat-screen TV, are now looking elsewhere. Temu and Shein have swooped in like a hawk on a hapless mouse, offering deals that make even Black Friday feel like a day at the park (and not the good kind with candyfloss, mind you).
The Key Takeaway
- The grandest shopping day, Black Friday, falls on November 29th.
- This year, we hear whispers of cautious spending.
- The culprits? Temu, Shein, and a growing list of bills that make you weep.
Now, more than 40% of savvy shoppers in Germany are saying, “Hang on a minute! Why wait for Black Friday when I can get these deals all year round?” The mystery solver here is none other than Temu and Shein, creeping in like sneaky squirrels into your backyard picnic. According to a survey, many shoppers simply don’t see the need for the usual discount campaigns because “the Asian providers have everything I want, and they’re not just waiting for one day a year to give me a discount!”
It’s absolutely wild! The days where we’d camp outside stores to get that *one* gorgeous purchase seems to have transformed into a simple click on our phones. Nothing screams “retail therapy” quite like scrolling through irresistible deals while still in your pajamas.
What People Are Saying
According to the crystal ball from the Cologne retail research institute IFH, approximately 46% of online shoppers are feeling the thrill of the hunt this Black Friday. But, and it’s a big ‘but’, that figure is down three whole percentage points from last year. So you could say that while some are still clamoring for bargains, they’ve got their skeptical glasses on! After all, you can’t trust everything that glitters.
Meanwhile, across the border in Switzerland, the cautious consumer spirit is alive and kicking! Salesforce Switzerland indicates that 40% of consumers plan on pinching their pennies a bit tighter this Black Friday compared to last year. Rising costs are making everyone rethink their shopping strategies, and many are declaring, “I don’t even need anything!” Wow, talk about self-control! If only I had that kind of resolve.
So, What’s the Deal? Or Is There Even One?
For the brave souls ready to dive into the discounts on November 29th, anticipate a plethora of deals as retailers slap labels on everything in sight. However, keep an eye out for cheeky price hikes in the days leading up to Black Friday—uh-oh, the game is afoot! Retailers have been known to get a bit crafty, dropping prices pre-Black Friday, making it sound like those special offers are genuinely “special.”
Black Friday originally comes from the good ol’ U.S. of A., where it marks the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season after Thanksgiving. You know, that charming day when people eat too much, then promptly argue about who gets to claim the last slice of pumpkin pie. Oh, the joys of family gatherings!
So, as we gear up for this year’s Black Friday, the question is: will you be joining the hunt for those elusive bargains, or will you be steering clear and filing your taxes instead? One thing’s for sure: whether you’re chasing discounts or lounging on your couch, the thrill of shopping—at least for now—might just be taking a backseat. And we’re here to find out if those cheeky portals like Temu and Shein truly have redefined the shopping landscape.
Black Friday, renowned as the ultimate bargain day, is traditionally a magnet for thrifty shoppers. This year, however, many customers are shifting their spending habits towards platforms like Temu and Shein, diluting the significance of the iconic shopping day.
Black Friday is hailed as the pinnacle of discount shopping. Yet, the anticipated demand may not match the exuberance of previous years. – keystone
The most important thing in brief
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The highly anticipated Black Friday event is set for November 29th, promising an array of discounts.
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This year, however, consumers appear to exhibit a more cautious approach towards spending.
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Such hesitancy is attributed to alternative shopping platforms like Temu and Shein, coupled with escalating fixed costs.
In Germany, promotional events like Black Friday are diminishing in relevance due to the year-round deals offered by Asian e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein. A survey reveals that over 40 percent of shoppers feel these ongoing discounts eliminate the need for special sales days.
This insight comes from a survey conducted by Idealo, wherein the market research firm Kantar surveyed 2,000 individuals in September. Similarly, an analysis by the Cologne-based retail research institute IFH supports these findings.
Black Friday historically bolsters sales in the retail sector. – keystone
Among online shoppers, only 46 percent intend to seek out bargains this Black Friday, a decline of three percentage points compared to 2023. Many are strategically planning to capitalize on discounts for their holiday gift purchases.
Will you be hitting on Black Friday?
1Yes, there are great bargains there.
2No, I don’t trust the deals.
The Swiss also pay attention to their finances
In Switzerland, a similar trend is emerging, as many shoppers are expected to scale back their spending during Black Friday this year. Salesforce Switzerland’s survey indicates that 40 percent of consumers plan to spend less than they did the previous year.
This growing reluctance to spend is primarily linked to rising fixed costs—a “disruptive factor” that nearly one-third of participants cited as influencing their shopping behavior during promotional events. Additionally, nearly half indicated that they currently have no pressing needs.
As November 29th approaches, various retailers are gearing up to offer an extensive selection of discounted items for Black Friday. In recent years, it has become commonplace for early promotions to begin in the days or even weeks preceding this shopping holiday.
Originating in the United States, Black Friday takes place the day after Thanksgiving, marking the onset of the crucial Christmas shopping season.
