Black Friday 'Doorbusters' Don't Always Hold Up

Onkel Neal · 11-23-12, 09:59 AM

Man, people really are nuts! Camping out to buy a TV?

Quote:

Every Black Friday, retailers lure shoppers in the cold, predawn hours to wait in long lines with the promise of one-day-only deals that can't be beat. And every year, shoppers ask themselves, "Is this really worth it?"

The answer, it turns out, often is, "No."

An analysis by pricing research firm Decide Inc. and The Wall Street Journal of this year's most-touted Black Friday deals found that many of the bargains advertised as "doorbusters" were available at lower prices at other times of the year, sometimes even at the same retailer.

Sears, for example, is advertising a KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer for $319.99 this Black Friday. Decide found that the retailer offered the same mixer for $296 in March.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...559716180.html

danlisa · 11-23-12, 10:18 AM

I have noticed quite a few instances of "Price increases" just before a sale price, myself.

Most shoppers are drawn by a % discount thinking they're getting a better cash sale but in the end 75% Off is only as good as the starting price.

Would be nice if (online at least) retailers offered a historical price tracker, but then they wouldn't make as much money.

Herr-Berbunch · 11-23-12, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danlisa

Would be nice if (online at least) retailers offered a historical price tracker, but then they wouldn't make as much money.

For the last couple of days I've been following SSD prices on Ebuyer ready for today, payday. Wednesday, 128 Gb £48, Thursday £57, today advertised at £64 - cleared my cookies and went via topcashback (woohoo 1.51%) I got it for £53.

They know what you look at and push the price up.

I've a nice little add-on for FF/Amazon called Camelizer, it doesn't work for all products but still for quite a lot. It tracks the price of new from Amazon, new 3rd party, and used 3rd party. For instance, this morning I bought (via Subsim

) a pci to sata card, cost £5.85. I thought that was a real bargain when I'd seen many others starting at three times that price, then I discovered that it was only £2 last December, but £7.49 only a month or so ago.

Grey line is just where I cut out a few months of no change in price.

If any UK-ers out there want to get cash back please use my referal http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/herrb to earn me some extra pennies.

Jimbuna · 11-23-12, 12:31 PM

I use that site on occasion

Platapus · 11-23-12, 02:54 PM

There was a news report last Sunday reporting people camping out in front of a local Best Buy......6 days before "black Friday".

Even the reporter had to comment that there was nothing at best buy worth camping out for.

Unless a store is offering 90% off, I can't see the purpose. It is not like these same stores won't have similar sales in the coming month.

Stealhead · 11-23-12, 03:15 PM

I wonder what dose a person that can afford to camp out at a store for six days do for a living?

If they missed work to camp out I would fire them unless they took time off to do so other wise surely they either skipped on work or lied about an illness.

Black Friday is just a gimmick for suckers.Of course now that many places open on Thursday why even call it Black Friday.

It is a reflection of what is wrong with our society I think.People in lines to buy stuff that they dont really need and often times they could have purchased at a lower price if they truly shopped around all the time.You dont have to buy a gift at a certain time of year.

11-23-12, 10:18 AM	#2
danlisa Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 5,499 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 1	I have noticed quite a few instances of "Price increases" just before a sale price, myself. Most shoppers are drawn by a % discount thinking they're getting a better cash sale but in the end 75% Off is only as good as the starting price. Would be nice if (online at least) retailers offered a historical price tracker, but then they wouldn't make as much money. __________________

11-23-12, 12:31 PM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I use that site on occasion __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

11-23-12, 02:54 PM	#5
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	There was a news report last Sunday reporting people camping out in front of a local Best Buy......6 days before "black Friday". Even the reporter had to comment that there was nothing at best buy worth camping out for. Unless a store is offering 90% off, I can't see the purpose. It is not like these same stores won't have similar sales in the coming month. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-23-12, 03:15 PM	#6
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I wonder what dose a person that can afford to camp out at a store for six days do for a living? If they missed work to camp out I would fire them unless they took time off to do so other wise surely they either skipped on work or lied about an illness. Black Friday is just a gimmick for suckers.Of course now that many places open on Thursday why even call it Black Friday. It is a reflection of what is wrong with our society I think.People in lines to buy stuff that they dont really need and often times they could have purchased at a lower price if they truly shopped around all the time.You dont have to buy a gift at a certain time of year.