3 ms·

Why people keep saying Black Friday is a scam? I find things on sale worth buying. Like I’ve been eyeing an Xbox Controller and it is now at 40, which normally

by rrgok 2y ago

Why people keep saying Black Friday is a scam? I find things on sale worth buying. Like I’ve been eyeing an Xbox Controller and it is now at 40, which normally is 60 in my currency. Where is the scam? Or the Proton Pass Lifetime Subscription, even though I don’t know whose lifetime, it is a reasonable offer. Where is the scam?

quickslowdown 2y ago
I bet you could answer your questions all by yourself if you read the article.
kerkeslager 2y ago
1. MOST things on sale are not worth buying at any price. 2. The sale price is closer to the actual market value of the item. Instead of viewing sales as a boon from retailers, it's more accurate to view retailers as price gouging the rest of the year, or charging a convenience fee to not have to wait for a sale. 3. It's commonplace these days for retailers to simply lie about normal prices in order to pretend an item is on sale, when in fact it is simply being sold at the normal price. That TV is always $300, but today it's "<strikethrough>$500</strikethrough>$300 (40% off!)".
- _mlbt 2y ago
  1. Then don't buy those things, it doesn't detract from the fact that are things worth buying that are at a significant discount. 2. You're making the point that Black Friday/Cyber Monday etc. are not scams, but are in fact the most reasonable time of the year to buy things. 3. Well then it really doesn't matter when you buy it, so Black Friday is as good a day as any.
  - kerkeslager 2y ago
    I'm just answering the question, man.
dalmo3 2y ago
In NZ, there's a lot of fake discounts, sure, but I found comparing prices worldwide can be a good indicator of a good deal. It's not uncommon for local shops to give massive, real discounts, making items cheaper than Amazon US or even aliexpress, which is definitely not the case in general.
hnbear 2y ago
If you know you need something, then find it at a discount on Black Friday, you’re fine, especially where you’ve tracked the price and know it’s genuinely cheaper. If you find things you don’t need, and otherwise wouldn’t buy, but are convinced by the fake scarcity and fake discounts, then you’re being scammed.

by rrgok 2y ago

quickslowdown 2y ago

I bet you could answer your questions all by yourself if you read the article.

kerkeslager 2y ago

1. MOST things on sale are not worth buying at any price. 2. The sale price is closer to the actual market value of the item. Instead of viewing sales as a boon from retailers, it's more accurate to view retailers as price gouging the rest of the year, or charging a convenience fee to not have to wait for a sale. 3. It's commonplace these days for retailers to simply lie about normal prices in order to pretend an item is on sale, when in fact it is simply being sold at the normal price. That TV is always $300, but today it's "<strikethrough>$500</strikethrough>$300 (40% off!)".

_mlbt 2y ago
1. Then don't buy those things, it doesn't detract from the fact that are things worth buying that are at a significant discount. 2. You're making the point that Black Friday/Cyber Monday etc. are not scams, but are in fact the most reasonable time of the year to buy things. 3. Well then it really doesn't matter when you buy it, so Black Friday is as good a day as any.
- kerkeslager 2y ago
  I'm just answering the question, man.

dalmo3 2y ago

In NZ, there's a lot of fake discounts, sure, but I found comparing prices worldwide can be a good indicator of a good deal. It's not uncommon for local shops to give massive, real discounts, making items cheaper than Amazon US or even aliexpress, which is definitely not the case in general.

hnbear 2y ago

If you know you need something, then find it at a discount on Black Friday, you’re fine, especially where you’ve tracked the price and know it’s genuinely cheaper. If you find things you don’t need, and otherwise wouldn’t buy, but are convinced by the fake scarcity and fake discounts, then you’re being scammed.