9 Shocking Facts About Black Friday

by SharkClean
on 15 November 2017

We’ve all seen the shocking footage of shoppers climbing over one another in an attempt to reach a limited supply of cut-price TVs. Black Friday brings out the worst in some people — and things can turn ugly.

For most people, Black Friday is a happy time. It’s increasingly viewed as the first day of the festive season, and it’s a day when discounts of up to 90 percent appear in shops all over the world.

Unfortunately, not everyone gets into the spirit of the occasion. In America alone, there have been seven deaths since 2006 attributable to Black Friday sale events. There have also been around 100 injuries that required hospital treatment.

Here are nine shocking facts about Black Friday.


1. Dirty tactics

Most Black Friday sales are first-come, first-served affairs, which often pits shopper against shopper in a fight to the finish. But things went too far in a California Walmart in 2011. One shopper reached the front of the queue by firing pepper spray at fellow bargain-hunters. Dozens of people were left temporarily paralysed — leaving the way clear for the assailant to pick up her bargains.

2. Black Friday? More like black pepper

Shoppers are more determined ever to pick up all of their Black Friday bargains. Between 2006 and 2016, there were 41 recorded cases of Black Friday pepper spray incidents. This famous discount shopping day is fast becoming a war of attrition.

3. Steer clear of Walmart

According to All That’s Interesting, American supermarket chain Walmart is the most dangerous place on Black Friday. Statistics show that shoppers are more likely to receive serious Black Friday-related injuries here than in any other store in America.

4. Black Friday is bigger than Japan

In 2013, more than 137 million shoppers took part in the Black Friday experience across America. That’s more than the entire population of Japan — the world’s third richest nation.

5. Some manufacturers create products just for Black Friday

It’s important to do your homework before buying seemingly unbeatable Black Friday bargains. According to a report in Time magazine, some companies produce electronic devices specifically for the event. They are known as “derivative products”, which are generally not as good as their equivalents. The next time you buy a gadget or appliance at a Black Friday event, check that it’s being sold throughout the year — or you might not be getting something inferior.

6. People drink alcohol to get through the day

If you’ve ever been caught up in a Black Friday melee, you’ll know how stressful and frightening it can be. According to discounting website RetailMeNot, around 12 percent of Black Friday shoppers look for bargains while under the influence of alcohol.

7. Shoppers are often hoodwinked by unscrupulous retailers

Beware large retailers bearing gifts. Particularly in America, large retailers hold onto outdated or obsolete stock in order to sell it at an apparent discount on Black Friday. According to NerdWallet, more than 90 percent of stores offered at product in 2014 that was exactly the same price in 2013. In many cases, these products will be discounted at another time of the year — often the final weekend before Christmas or on 26th December.

8. Some retailers ply their customers with Black Friday alcohol

A lot of people report being unusually generous with their cash while under the influence of alcohol — something retailers are well aware of. High-end retailers offer free prosecco or champagne to customers in an attempt to loosen purse-strings.

9. Prices often go up to come down

Less reputable retailers will stop at nothing to make discounts appear better than they actually are. For example, a recent report in the Wall Street Journal revealed that a fifth of retailers studied actually raised prices by an average of eight percent during the weeks before Black Friday. When it came to toys, however, this price rise was a huge 23 percent. Retailers do this to make discounts appear deeper than they actually are.


But despite all of these problems, Black Friday is still an exciting time for bargain-hunters. Be prepared with a shopping list, and try to avoid impulse purchases. If you have a plan of action, your Black Friday shopping experience should be as fun as it is productive.