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Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday: The Bargain Shopper’s Conundrum

Black Friday Cyber MondayEvery year after the Thanksgiving turkey has been stored and the last few pieces of pie have been consumed, a new time for celebration approaches. Before the Christmas bells start to ring, the bargain shopping season arrives just as quickly as it ends. Many shoppers face the difficult decision – a Sophie’s choice if you will – of whether to shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.  4E has compared the two, and here are the results!

Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday:

Cyber Monday Wins with…

1. Safety Let’s say you spend your Thanksgiving with family, and perhaps do not feel inclined to wake up early the next day only to be attacked in a giant clothing outlet. If this sounds like you, then Cyber Monday wins with the opportunity for shoppers to wait til the holiday ends and still enjoy the sales.

2. Comparison When you are online, you can easily compare prices and not get too overwhelmed (or overspend) in the midst of a buying frenzy.

3. Comfort Perhaps one of the most important advantages: Cyber Monday allows shoppers to remain in the comfort of their homes, beds and even pajamas.

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Black Friday Wins with…

1. Trying it on! If you have not experienced waiting for an order to arrive to the mailbox, opening it and – to your dismay – realizing that the small online picture lied to you, then you are very lucky (perhaps buy a lotto ticket at some point?). With Black Friday shopping, you can see what you are buying, recognize the quality and possibly even try it on. Plus, there’s no need to wait for shipping (or pay the shipping fees).

2. First come, first serve Black Friday starts off the bargain season, which means shoppers get first dibs when they arrive. Because of this, Cyber Monday doesn’t always include the same number of Black Friday deals or items.

3. Thrills Some people actually enjoy the rush of running around, scouting for a particular item and feeling the sweet satisfaction of getting that prized item … especially in comparison to simply clicking “add to bag.”

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So, in the end, who wins? Lucky for us, we do not have to decide and can partake in both! Speaking of which, only a few hours are left til midnight and the end of all those Cyber Monday sales. To make shopping a little easier, check out the official Cyber Monday website.

Happy shopping, Hoyas!

 
Photo:itclips, Tumblr
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It’s Black Friday Fixat10ns! Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!

Black Friday Fixations

[8tracks url=”https://8tracks.com/thehoya/let-s-get-ready-to-rumble” ]

 

So you’ve just finished your fourth helping of pumpkin pie and you’re wondering where your life took a wrong turn. How do you solve the enigma that is your life? Shopping. Black. Friday. Shopping.

Black Friday has begun and you must be among your fellow Walmart warriors getting all the steals you can. But with all that tryptophan in your veins, you may be ready to cuddle up next to your pile of pie tins and rest your eyes. Not to fear, 4E is here with a pump-up playlist to get you rearing to go bust down some doors.

1. Let’s Get it Started – Black Eyed Peas Let Fergie pull you out of your turkey-induced slumber with this song.

2.  Eye of the Tiger – Survivor Now that you’re awake, it’s time find the competitor inside of you that has lain dormant since your glory days as the captain of your high school football team.

3. Gucci Gucci – Kreayshawn Georgetown students sometimes have a reputation for restricting themselves to designer clothing (see Chime’s Georgetown Girl), but Kreayshawn reminds us we can be fly without going for the big buys.

4. ESPN Presents Jock Jams Megamix The most important line to remember while vying for a Tickle-Me-Elmo is to “be aggressive, be-ee aggressive.”

5. Fashion Killa – A$AP Rocky So maybe we don’t need to wear all designer labels to be fly … but it wouldn’t hurt, right?

6. TIll I Collapse – Eminem When Eminem was writing this song, he was thinking of calling it Shop Till You Drop but someone told him that wasn’t wise. I would’ve listened to it Eminem, I would’ve listened.

7. Sail – AWOLNATION A lot of head banging is required to listen to this song properly. Give yourself some time to re-establish equillibrium before you start rushing through any revolving doors. Also it’s a pun. Get it, sail/sale? Ha.

8. All I Do is Win – DJ Khaled Stop at nothing to win today. That means get every deal you see and don’t let anyone stand in your way. That won’t be difficult for any Hoyas – we will do anything to win.

9. $100 Bill – Jay-Z So it’s time to acknowledge that you’ll be dropping some big bills tonight. Own it, love it, live it. Be who you want to be, Barbie Girl. And if that person is a mass consumer of Barbies, then girl, that is just fine.

10. Greyhound – Swedish House Mafia Now run, Forest, run! Get those bargains!

Photo: VisitMiNot
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How to Survive Black Friday Shopping

Black FridaySo, you’ve decided to shop on Black Friday. You’re doing one of those activities, something that will be miserable during the event itself but will give you mad bragging rights later, like a presidential inauguration or being awake for a sunrise. Unless of course, you are of those people who loves the thrill of chasing after the perfect dress with the added challenge of overwhelming crowds. This may be the only time you are at risk for “death by trampling,” so watch out.

All of that being said, if you are going in, you better do it right. Here are a few tips to help you survive a dark – but hopefully fruitful – Black Friday.

Plan ahead – Think Dora the Explorer’s Map. It would be ideal if this map could speak, preferably in some variation of entertaining banter, and help guide you from store to store, section to section, steal to steal. Hitting the streets without a game plan is like walking into a wall-to-wall crowded Steve Madden store blindfolded. It may seem thrilling, but once you are tripping in your must-have 20% off shoes and rubbing elbows with the nearby elderly woman, you will be asking yourself why this ever seemed like a funny idea.

Be aggressive – For those of you who haven’t seen the Friends scene where Monica shops for her wedding dress, watch it. For those of you who have, channel Monica’s aggressive, stop-for-nothing “baditude.” Remember, other shoppers are only as scared of you as you are of them. Just kidding, that only applies to rats on Georgetown’s campus. If you want to be the shopper on top, you have to act like the shopper on top. See the store as your very own Hunger Games arena. Stop at nothing. This is not a friendly team exercise.

Use the buddy system – Black Friday shopping may not be a friendly team exercise, but that doesn’t mean you have to fly solo. Create a buddy system and stick to it. Have check-in points, hold hands, whisper sweet nothings to each other: whatever it takes to provide each other moral support and willpower to get through the day. When selecting a buddy, make sure you choose someone who isn’t afraid to take a swing at a fellow BFS (Black Friday Shopper) for you.

Snack, snack, snack – Shopping is work. Just ask anybody who has spent more than 10 minutes shopping ever. Not only are snacks necessary for fuel, but they also help fill your emotional needs when crying over a missed deal and/or feeling overwhelmed by all the aggressiveness around you. Why can’t we all just be friends? Because there is only one dress in your size left. Instead of breaking down, stuff your face with cookies, bubble tea or whatever helps you connect with your inner shopper. But be warned, if you overdo this, trying on tight clothing may be a bit of a struggle.

If you follow these tips, you are sure to have the best possible Black Friday experience. Before you know it, you will be rocking those sick new threads back on the Hilltop. Happy Thanksgiving Hoyas, and best of luck!

Photo: Al Fresco