Liz Ortiz
Metro Editor
Americans and university students may have finally had enough of the Black Friday chaos this year.
Twelve out of 16 University of La Verne students said they did not plan on Black Friday shopping, according to an informal survey.
The National Retail Federation reports Black Friday sales dropped 11 percent to $50.9 billion from $57.4 billion.
The federation’s survey also said more than 87 million shoppers participated in Black Friday, but the numbers are lower than usual with consumers spending less money and time shopping.
“I just feel like the tradition has gotten way out of hand,” said Caitlyn Hurtado, junior child development major.
“The fact that stores are taking their employees away from their families on a holiday upsets me.”
The same 12 out of the 16 students surveyed agreed that retailers take advantage of their employees. Some of the students surveyed work in retail and said they only spend time with their families during the holidays, and now, even that time is being taken away from them.
Five students who did not plan on shopping said they did not want to deal with the Black Friday crowds.
“I’d rather do my holiday shopping online,” said Christopher Gonzalez, junior business major. “Waiting in line for hours and trying to move through the crowds of people doesn’t appeal to me.”
However, the other students said they were excited for the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
“It’s my family’s Thanksgiving tradition,” said Lindsay Simpson, junior biology major. “After we’re done with dinner, we go shopping.”
Others who said they planned on going Black Friday shopping said they could not resist the retailers’ discounts.
The National Retail Federation’s survey said consumers were waiting until Cyber Monday to begin their holiday shopping.
According to the survey, more than 126 million Americans plan to shop online.
Matthew Shay, president and chief executive officer of the National Retail Federation, issued a statement on the federation’s website explaining the factors that influenced the lower number of Black Friday consumers.
Shay said the factors were retailers providing holiday discounts earlier this year, the economy’ improvement and consumers being money savvy.
Although more Americans were able to resist the Black Friday discounts, the National Retail Federation annual holiday sales forecast remains optimistic. The federation estimates that holiday sales will be 4.1 percent higher than last year.
Liz Ortiz can be reached at elizabeth.ortiz@laverne.edu.
