The debate on whether the holiday season begins after Halloween or Thanksgiving will never be settled. One thing that celebrators can agree with is that gifts must be purchased early. Whether a shopper is buying for Christmas, Hanukkah, or simply themselves, they want to get the best deal possible. Known for having the best sales for holiday shopping, Black Friday occurs the Friday after Thanksgiving. Some stores even open sales at midnight for shoppers to erupt after their Thanksgiving dinner. However, as times progress and online shopping becomes more popular, Cyber Monday gives Black Friday a run for their money. Essentially, they are the same thing, except Cyber Monday is online exclusive and takes place on the Monday after Thanksgiving. 

Since 1952, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the beginning of Christmas shopping. Maybe it was due to the many Santa Claus themed parades or the fact that Christmas is the next biggest holiday…or both! Either way, the day after Thanksgiving became known as “Black Friday”– the day where holiday shoppers will find the best sales and deals at their favorite stores. Black Friday is also known for hectic and crazy crowds of people trying to get the last of items on their lists. Despite this, sometimes it can be fun and quite an experience to go to a local mall during this time. Even if you don’t have a motive, join in with the crowd for something to do. If you are buying in store, it can be less convenient than online shopping. Stores will have a limited supply, so once something runs out, you may not be able to buy it with the high demand. Also, you will have to fight off other competitors crowding the stores. However, once you buy something, you can take it home with you right away with no additional charge that comes with online shopping. If you can find what you need in stores, there will be no waiting for an item to arrive in the mail. So, Black Friday shopping can be completely worth it if you find what you are looking for, and it is definitely an experience that many can enjoy.

As online shopping takes over the internet, it is becoming a popular way to purchase holiday presents. Similar to Black Friday, Cyber Monday hosts sales sitewide for many important companies. This provides people with the convenience of shopping from their own homes. Unlike shopping in stores, more often than not, the website of a company has more items in stock online than in store. If a shopper cannot find what they are looking for in store, they most likely are going to be able to order it online. However, online shopping for the holidays has its negatives. Although some stores may offer free shipping, paying an extra fee for shipping, or even faster shipping, will rack up a higher cost than if items were bought in store. Packages will not arrive immediately, so shoppers will need to plan ahead to make sure their gifts will arrive on time. This can be a prominent problem in today’s world, after the COVID-19 pandemic. Shipment and supply issues were a huge problem, which could still carry into this year’s holiday season. Shoppers need to be prepared for their items to not come when they are supposed to. Despite this, Cyber Monday may be preferred by many as an easy and convenient way to order their gifts.

Black Friday vs Cyber Monday… which is better? There is no right answer to this, for it truly depends on a person’s preference and what works best for them. Both events provide shoppers with sales to get the best deals and save money during the holiday season– which is extremely pricey.