Black Friday: time to shop!

Black Friday: time to shop!

Kasia Auguste, Staff Writer

Work crews across the U.S are preparing for this year’s Black Friday.

Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It has been regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the U.S., and most major retailers open very early and offer promotional sales.

Typically, the lines begin forming outside the storefronts in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes shortly after midnight. Some shoppers stand in line for the sales right after their Thanksgiving dinners, regardless of the weather condition.

The weather is not stopping the most eager shoppers. Some may experience inches of snow, subzero temperatures and even loss of electricity, but it will not scare the crowd.

Most people snuggle under blankets, while other shoppers stand in lines wearing ski masks and long winter coats.

Some may ask what kind of deal is that good to stand outside in the outrageous weather, well, some deals include an Apple’s 15″ MacBook Pro for $1,799 ($600 off) with free headphones & Office 365, plus no tax. Or an iPhone 6 32GB $129.00 Reg. price $199.00, saving you 35%.

2017 Black Friday deals will also include Sony 60″ Class LED 2160p Smart 4K Ultra HD TV for $599.99 Reg. price $999.99, saving you 40%. And Microsoft Xbox One $189.99 Reg. price $279.99.

Well, you get the point. Is the deal worthy yet?

Mykalah Curry, 20, is a loyal shopper of the Black Friday deals. “I’ve black Friday shopped since I was 14, with my mother. Every year we start in line at WalMart, around 11 p.m., then make our way to Target and other stores. We’re a big family, so we are out until about 3 p.m. on Friday”

When asking Curry if she ever skipped a year due to the weather conditions she said “Oh, no! If we skip a year, then we skip out on our favorite gifts to give. The look on my siblings faces every year are priceless. I bundle up and make sure I’m warm, then me and my mom head out.”

Some shoppers, however, did not prepare carefully enough.

Making sure to bring headphones to pass the time, but forgetting a jacket to stay warm last season, Trent Vargas, 22, of Boston, was in line for nearly nine hours to buy his little brother the Apple Watch, that he saved nearly $80 on.

“I chose the wrong clothes for sure,” he said with laughter, “I don’t know what I was thinking when I left the house. That was my first-year shopping, so I know this year I will bundle up.”

Black Friday may be a day to get early Christmas shopping out the way, but over the years, many witness it bring out the worst in people. From violent outbursts to fights and stampedes that, in some cases, have caused injuries.

“I haven’t been Black Friday shopping since 2015. It was the worst experience. I argued with someone’s crazy mother because she tried snatching the last Barbie Dream House from my cart,” said Nadiya Monterio, 22, of New Jersey. “She swore she was in front of me after the workers sold me the last Dream House. The lady was crazy. She threatened me and even tried fighting me. I’ll stick to online shopping for now.”

Everyone participating in Black Friday this year should make sure they are safe. Also, wearing the proper attire to be warm. Bundle up everyone!