Black Friday is known as a day of discounts, sales and bargains. However, today is its virtual counterpart: Cyber Monday.
Cyber Monday is a day filled with online sales and according to AOL’s twitter account, Cyber Monday shoppers spend 50 percent more money than Black Friday shoppers.
Cyber Monday is more convenient, as it can be done from home or wherever Internet can be accessed, which saves people the early morning trip to the stores. For Emily Leonard, freshman in marriage and family therapy, Cyber Monday is convenient because the merchandise is more abundant and it is less stressful.
“The best part is that there’s some great deals on stuff you can’t find in stores or was gone by the time you got there on Friday,” Leonard said. “There’s not so much stress and waiting in the cold.”
Others believe shopping is generally cheaper and more enjoyable online.
“I like online shopping because its cheaper than going into the stores and I like wasting time online,” Noah Minshew, freshman in finance, said. “There’s also more of a variety of options.”
For some people – like Molly Brown, sophomore in public relations – Black Friday represents tradition like any other holiday.
“For years my family has always gone shopping on Black Friday,” Brown said. “It has become a tradition and although I do buy a few things, for me it is more about the experience and spending time with the people I love. Although I’m sure there are great deals online, and someday I probably will shop online, Cyber Monday takes away from my Black Friday experience.”
The tradition of the Black Friday experience is different than that of Cyber Monday. In fact, Leonard said that even though she shops on Cyber Monday, Black Friday is still her personal preference.
“I still think I like Black Friday better because the deals are better and more broad,” Leonard said. “Online they are very specific and sometimes all of the stuff you were waiting to buy isn’t even on sale.”
While Black Friday appears to hold the tradition, $1,735 million was spent on Cyber Monday shopping in 2013. Cyber Monday is still holding a position in the Thanksgiving weekend sales in retail.
