As far as overconsumption in general, I prefer second hand goods and rarely buy things I dont need. I most often give donations to charities or second hand goods as Christmas presents.
Black Friday can ve good if you're restive. If you really need something, or you were going to get it anyway, we'll then it's a good deal(in Ireland it's not a huge deal and not huge sales. So a lot of people don't over buy). I agree that over consumption is a problem. For gifts me and my friends will do a charity shop swap. So for gifts for each other we get everything from a charity shop, like records, jumpers etc, which we all love. They're great for gifts and cuts down consumption
You said it yourself - evaluate the needs. If you absolutely must give a gift, then it's best to find out exactly what the recipient needs (not wants). Or give them money so they can buy whatever they need themselves. Nobody wins when you buy the wrong gift for someone. Also, people who buy trash gifts for white elephant need to stop.
im gonna pin your word on my wall for reminder... since atm im have that excessive need to buy pokemon card... the truth i dont need it i can enjoy more cheaper thing to enjoys thing...
Canada has Pre-Black Friday, Black Friday Week, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Cyber Week, Boxing Day, Boxing Week sales. Boxing Day is our version of Black Friday even though we still have Black Friday.
Same in Italy 🇮🇹🇮🇹 There's also Black Month, which is a short way of saying «We'll be doing Black Friday everyday till the 29th of November but we don't want it to be so obvious»
I find Black Friday a crazy, oversonsuming mess. If you need a special item and wait until then to buy it in order to save some money, yes. But this endless shopping craze just seems way out of proportion!
Hannah K Exactly. That’s the thing I hate with black friday. People fight for things they don’t even need or never planned to buy in the first place. And they think they’re saving money when it’s actually the opposite.
I literally save just for Black Friday every year in case theres a deal that I absolutely cannot pass. Like Bestbuy had a early Black Friday deal earlier this month on a 12TB hard drive for only $180,when I saw that ad I ran to the nearest Bestbuy immediately and bought it without hesitating,I definitely would of waited in line on Black Friday or Thanksgiving for that item because that deal was way too good. Data is more important to me than anything else.
The thing is, if you really need something you can't wait until this time of year to buy it. And anyways, the sales are not on things you will need on your every day life, they are on commodities.
Black Friday has been making its way over to Europe as well.. We recently had some big chains of retailers starting black week, because one day of insane consumerism isn't enough..
This is sad they cannot resist to bring people to consume more. And black friday mean nothing to europeans right? Why bringing it here if we don't have the holidays that came with it! (jk)
@@jess01510 Yeah. it's horrible! Same with Halloween, 'American'-easter and 'American'-Christmas traditions that are all about cheap plastic decorations and consuming things.. I'm just 24, but even for me growing up there didn't use to be the amount of junk around holidays that there are today.
I have been working in retail for 10 years and this year I got a new job and is my first Thanksgiving off. I'm so happy for that. Most customers have no idea what sales people have to go through during balck Friday but besides that I can guarantee to you consumers that you are NOT getting a better deal on black Friday. I've worked for many popular and big brands and the product sold during black Friday is usually made specifically for that day. It's cheaper and poorer quality made just to bring the customers into the stores so they can shop for others products. You can get better deals during other times of the year than on black Friday. Like change of season sale for example.
so true!! What's really crazy is that some companies, especially those with shops inside malls, receive majority of their annual profits from the holiday rushes. They could be in the red most of the year but then the holiday's hit and their sales figures skyrocket and sustain them until the next holiday. it's ridiculous.
The White Cat i go to after Christmas sales for clothes or shoes . To me those are the best deals rather than wasting my time at the mall waiting to buy something thats cheaper
Back to school is the best time to buy computers .late February early spring to buy TVs cause manufactures are getting rid of the old models to bring in a newer models. October generally is the best time to buy appliances .End of every season sale on clothing.you’re not getting any better deals on Black Friday then any other time of the year.
Eryn, yup its called black friday because of american slavery. this was the day white men and white women were auctioning off enslaved Black people . this is the saddest part. this would be like us trying to arrange a fire sale on crystal night .
Lechiffresix six as an American I’m curious to know more about ALL of that. You’re seriously telling people about a MEME that started circling the globe YEARS ago when there is ZERO truth to it. If you want to learn about Black Friday look it up, don’t be taking your history lesson from FB memes. 😂
@@shauntelgill9384 Shauntel Gill no. That's wrong, it's called black Friday because of the increased foot traffic to the northeastern city of Philadelphia the day after Thanksgiving in the 1950s. The term was coined by police officers because they had to work 12 hour shifts. The name also refers to economic stress www.dictionary.com/e/black-friday/ That explanation the other person posted is, respectfully, horseshit. Although America has not successfully dealt with its systemic racism problems, the name does not come from racist connotations.
All religious holidays have already been Americanized to just consume useless products , so why not just create a new holiday that doesn’t need to try and hide consumerism behind a bible ?
Demanding better skills based education would allow people to repair goods that they already own, and craft things they wish to make. Basics such as sewing and cooking, going into leather, metal and woodworking, etc, these are all skills that can be learned in high school and developed into lifelong careers or at least intense hobbies.
I completely agree with your first proposition but you shouldn't forget that intense hobbies can be pretty wasteful as well. A lot of people buying a lot of tools and materials to make things that are basically of no use to anybody else is pretty bad.
I wish these skills were considered more important, in my town, they got rid of all of those classes in high schools bc of budget problems. They're usually seen as useless skills and are the first to get cut when theres not enough money
i agree! sewing and cooking should be the standard. im 18 and can't do either. i wish my school would have set aside an hour or two a week focusing on something like that. though my teachers all made the effort in teaching us about tax, loans, mortgage etc. i would have loved to do something practical as well
@@MaxMustermann-pi6vf Sewing is an incredibly valuable skill. I would never throw out a pair of pants that I could fix myself in ten minutes,I think you're overestimating the time investment. Considering the fast fashion is a huge polluter, I really think we need to return to making our own clothes, or making locally funded/produced clothing options more accessible. The way the system is set up right now favours fast fashion, the cycle of buying and disposing of things in rapid succession, but in an ideal world it wouldn't be that way. As well, a lot of these 'domestic skills' were and are primarily practiced by women, and that work is often devalued or seen as not necessary or useful. Patriarchy, capitalism and climate change are intertwined
I agree. 20 or 30 years ago there were classes in schools here called "économie familiale" or "family economics". It mostly thaught how to budget well, save money, do taxes... but also there was a part to learn how to everyday stuff, sew your clothes, buy food in a smart way, etc. You could even learn stuff like making your own belts with older leather furniture and tires, selling old stuff in garage sales and making a profit, etc. They removed it (ugh budget cuts 🤦🏻♂️) a bit before I got into high school and I always found that so dumb, like from many people I talked to it was a legit great learning experience and it teached useful real life skills. I mean, not saying the quadratic formula ain't important at all, but you know, a big % of high schoolers would benefit just as much if not more from a course teaching family/home basic financial literacy and everyday cooking/sewing skills. It's the BASE. I don't get wtf is up with the school system.
When I was growing up being raised by a single mom, Black Friday was very useful to us because it let us get some things that we otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford. But now that I'm grown and we're both in much more comfortable financial situations in life we don't participate in it anymore. Since we don't necessarily need to get things when they're super cheap we'd rather not participate in a holiday that negates the meaning of the holiday that just ended. I've also watched the Black Friday insanity gradually get worse throughout my whole life. I don't think it was as bad in the 90's as it is now. I might be wrong, though, since the world looks much better when you're a child.
I definitely think you’re right...it’s gotten scarier and more intense (& useless) as time has passed. These days you’re not even getting a deal, and it’s a big scam to get you into stores and spending money
Minimalism is just other word of being poor... and withhold spending money... with high amount the population...if everyone not spending money all hell will break loose....
Your transitions and animations are so good, it took me an extra 5 minutes to finish the video because I had to go back and watch them again! I appreciate you putting so much hard work into your videos, they are both very informative and pleasing to the eyes
I’m a mailman and parcels have gone up since the beginning of November. We can see when there was a good sale because 2-3 days later we are slammed! Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year!
A lot of text, but I had some thoughts I needed to write down. To bring another perspective very briefly touched upon, and that I was made aware of only recently: Sale-days like these are good for a lot of low-income families *and others* who has to watch the budget carefully. It's all well and good to talk about over-consumerism, but it's not helpful to shame people shopping on this day since we can't know their background- maybe they take the opportunity to buy things they otherwise couldn't afford? I'm not saying there was any shaming going on in this video. I'm saying some people in the discussion of Black Friday forget or disregard this perspective. I particularly mention low-income families because while I as an adult think it should be relatively easy for adults to avoid buying things they don't need because of norms- it's harder to do so for your kids. I don't know what the social psychology behind this is, but it seems like it's extra important to fit in when you're a kid and to be able to go do fun stuff with your friends, play a sport, be able to go to the cinema, have clothes/toys- but they cost money. Without these things and activities it can lead to worrying about money and "social exclusion" (As we have a term for in my country) My conclusion is that I think it's OK to shop on sales if you have to, and I'm going to change my rhetoric for how I approach the subject to not come across as shaming anyone that depend on the sales. I still think a lot of people are buying a lot more than what they need, and that second-hand is a good alternative for the people who have the time and ability. I also agree with all the other points made in the video.
A lot of those things ain't that cheap or need something else where the prices stayed high, they also deliberately have fewer items than they know people would buy. Workers have also gotten hurt because of the black Friday crowds.
i agree 100%! at the end of the day, it's about an individual's situation and the choices they choose to make or have to make. i don't want to see anyone shaming anyone else about something like this
Very good points, in addition to the video. I remember fitting in as a kid because I had the latest toy or item, but, do remember my parents also teaching me sense if the product was too much money. Instead of dissecting the psychology about why kids want the latest item to think they belong, maybe the latest trend should be something homemade by them or from a handmade artist? Its a win-win. Or, parents can teach their kids that fads are fads..and to create another activity to fill the void. I think there are alternatives for any family than perpetuating this current consumerism nonsense.
Toyon95 yes omg thank you so much for this! as a child coming from a low income family, this is the one time in the year where i don’t feel extremely guilty for splurging and having to reprimand myself! you put it together beautifully.
I use black Friday to get expensive *needs* that I wouldn't waste and mostly stocking up on skincare products which always are sustainable and recyclable.
Black Friday 2019: I forgot my niece's birthday, so rushed down to the local fancy goods shop on the high street. The wonderful owner helped me select a lovely (sustainable) wooden toy set, wrapped it in ribbons for me, then found a second hand jiffy bag so I could take it straight next door to the Post Office without having to go back home. As we were chatting I found out she'd set up the shop with an inheritance when her Mother passed away, what her daughter was up to, and a smattering of other local gossip. When I paid in cash she nearly bit my hand off, as it avoided the swingeing bank charges. Best Black Friday ever.
Absolutely brilliant examination of "black Friday" and more broadly of consumer culture. I am so deeply appreciative of your videos. I often refer people to them as a point of starting a conversation, sometimes a very difficult one. Thank you for doing this work and helping people like me have critical conversations with family, friends, neighbors and more.
Meanwhile here in germany, I just went to Amazon, looked for a good deal for a new coffeemaker, didn't find it and left. I don't get why Americans are so obsessed with black Friday
@@Murphy-xi1vz I (also German) thought exactly the same. But sadly it's also getting a bigger thing in Germany. Some of my colleague just saved money to buy the newest iPhone on black Friday 🙄
We need more people like you, OCC. You help give light to the problems that are often unmentioned or ignored. I told all of my friends about you, but sadly, only a few took interest in the topics you do. I'm disappointed at how little my friends care for the environment. :/
I would say since last year I’ve tried to focus more on the “what I need” aspect of buying. Is reeeeeaaally hard at first. Specially when you’re constantly surrounded by it. But start small. Question every purchase you make. Even the ones it seem obvious. The one coffee, the random shirt, the extra bottle of ketchup that is 50 cents less but will probably expire before you use it.
Thank you! I love how you emphasized that black Friday is a cultural symptom and not a singular event. Black Friday can only exist within the context of today's society and therefore the way to fix it is not only by not participating in the shopping craze but actively doing things to change cultural norms (and not wait for the holidays to do so). There is a lot of content right now calling for people not to buy anything on black Friday and it sounds cool but like you said, it's more like putting a band-aid on a heavy bleed and doesn't act as a real long term solution.
Working at Target was rough last year. I worked a long shift and people were insane. I didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving with my family. No one should have to work long shifts or Thanksgiving
The You if you replied with something like that then it’s safe to assume that you’ve never had a job before and have no idea what’s it like to go look for one
it doesn't stop certain shops from pushing black friday offers though. we are importing various Anlgo-american traditions, one by one. First Halloween, and now Black Friday
I think we should make gamers (kids especially) buy less consoles and stop the culture off buying a phone or a computer or a console every year, it's simply ridiculous
2nd hand stores, just got the entire hard cover set of a song of ice and fire all 6 novels 4 bucks a piece. All my kids cloths 2 for years save so much $
Hi there Charlie! This video, as always, is excellent! I love the fact that you narrate while putting key words and great animations on the screen. You mention all the key problems and more importantly, you offer solutions, the ones that are easy to be achieved! If I were to make one alternation, perhaps you can try narrating with more tones, low pitch high pitch etc. It will even be more interesting to watch. Thank you for spreading knowledge!
Oh, the irony! One day you’re supposed to be grateful for all things you have, and the next day you feed your own greed, completely disregarding that you were content with all (materialistic and non-materialistic) things you had the day before!
you really stepped up your editing game... again?! :D seriously well done and put together. i definetly won't participate in such cruel business practices.
If there are people here who own a company or who have a lot of influence: Please don't participate in next Black Friday. Instead promote the opposite. Show the facts that we can't keep living like this. Or at the very least make people aware that they shouldn't buy the things they don't need. Another option is to promote alternative products. Products which are durable and products which don't use plastics in their packaging.
Thank you so much for making these kind of videos! It's so important for our future to question and really look at what we are doing in our society. In the Netherlands Black friday wasn't even a thing that long ago but with all the American companies coming to Europe it is becoming more and more populair every year.. Sadly
Thanks. I'm working to get out of my pattern of overconsumption and spending money I don't have and being content with what I have in the face of a society that's constantly telling me I'm not enough without their products.
honestly i used to think that black friday is like the diwali sales of america. we all wait for the diwali sales having wish lists for sometimes 6 months. only buiying electricals and for some families clothes only on diwali. but i feel like that long wait time also reduces the sales extremely around the diwali months. (you can even check out the stats two months before and after diwali salesdip) however would like to kmow if that is thats the case with black friday. or does consumption just increase without any dips around it ?
Honestly, my family doesn't even buy that much, we do buy some clothing but other than that, not much really but I do understand what you're talking about
Black Friday in America is like an annual restock for a lot of families. Companies will make a negative profit margin until the holiday season. The sales around the months of November and December are enough to carry them through to the next year’s holiday. There’s another peak like this at the end of summer right as kids are going back to school but it’s not near as significant.
Basics I get from this Video is; 1. Don't buy New if the old stuff still works! 2. Don't buy More than you need (Why do you need 23 Phone Chargers or 3 Tablets?) 3. Consider when you buy Items and where! In Short: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle as well as Stop & Think Before you Buy!
I'm actually really appreciative of companies that consider their responsibility in this cycle, and I hope to see this more. I'm seeing companies such as Deciem and other smaller brands who are sending out messages encouraging consumers to "shop slower." On their side, extending the time of the sale and explicitly stating that there will not be any additional sales during Black Friday allows consumers have more time to consider their purchases, which hopefully will decrease impulsive shopping sprees. I really hope that there will be more creative alternatives like this during the holiday shopping season.
Thanks giving the day where we are thankful for everything we have. The next day Black Friday where we forget about Thursday and what we’re thankful for.
I refuse to shop retailers that are open on Black Friday. That day, to me, represents the condition of so many people's hearts - completely counter intuitive to giving thanks/being thankful...✌🏾
Hey man I just found your channel last week. I'm a big fan now, I'm definitely not able to pay for this, but I have already been sharing your videos a lot. I just love the approach you take to these topics.
I have always been against the gift-giving frenzy at Christmas (or at Hanukkah, for that matter). For one thing, the stress of spending money that they cannot afford turns people into monsters. There is also the stress of trying to figure out what someone else would like to receive, with all the stress of going from one store to another in search of they know not what. The gift-giving frenzy was started by Queen Victoria, who had more money than God. It's ridiculous that people of limited means would ape a plutocrat. The gift-giving frenzy teaches children to be greedy consumers; inevitably, gift-giving inflation leaves the children disappointed, always raising the bar of expectation. The holiday season should be a time of festive feasting. Period.
@@Tarabyte Traditionally, gift-giving took place on January 6, the Feast of the Three Magi, also known as Twelfth Night. Makes sense, doesn't it? If people were to shift their gift-giving to January 6, that would throw a monkey-wrench into the money-making machine that is our current "Christmas" culture. Money, money, money. That is what "Christmas" is all about these days. For those who believe that they MUST give gifts, if only they would shift it to Twelfth Night, that would be the beginning of the end of "Christmas" as a money-making consumer-culture nightmare.
This American tradition went over to my country since a couple years. Here in the Netherlands, almost every big store has Black Friday deals, also Cyber Monday. They start promoting it 1 to 2 weeks before it happens. So yesterday was CM and last Friday was BF. Except for some discount plug-ins which are digital only, I have bought nothing else in particular.
As long this type of stuff is legal it will keep happening. It would be better if it was more spread out over the year. For example an online re-tailer in the Netherlands (won't name them) they have a more spread out (week) black friday because they offer a certain category in sale for 12h, instead of every category at once (actual black friday).
I’ve worked retail for many years, and I’ve had to work Christmas (even though the store is closed to the public) and Thanksgiving. The experience has turned me off from the holidays. Especially, seeing people pressured to buy gifts, who are struggling to make ends meet.
I remember Thanksgiving. It used to be about giving thanks & enjoyed good food with family (especially Terkey). However, over the past decade Black Friday took over Thanksgiving on Thursday (yet we oddly still call it Black Friday Sales) & as I work retail I now have to work mandatory on the day instead of being with my family where I belong. Although I'm thankful to have a good paying job, it does bother me that Instead of it being a day about family & giving thanks, all I see it as now is as a day celebrating human greed.
I just want to say that I love your channel and that I'm sure this will be an amazing, informative, and thought-provoking video before I even watch it! Consumerism is like an insidious disease that most of us never notice. I have friends who buy a frankly disturbing number of clothes and other products on Black Friday despite having closets full of that stuff. It's crazy.
@@denelson83 honestly in my opinion Black Friday is pretty much outdated, overrated and it's pretty much a scam, I have no evidence to back it up my claim except through a word of mouth, what many shopping malls and retail stores would do is raise up their prices beyond their value months in advance, so by the time that Black Friday comes around they drop their prices back down to the original value, so the mindless and old school consumer thinks that they're getting a discount, but they're actually paying for the original price, in my opinion I considered most shopping malls, retail stores, and grocery stores to be obsolete and a thing of the past, but then again I'm a online consumer that does 90% of my shopping online especially from Amazon Prime.
In Norway, they’ll set up the prices some time before lowering it during Black Friday. So you’re basically paying the «regular» price. It’s better to spend in January, when people are not so eager to buy ;)
my dad worked in an amazon warehouse for six months, it made him super depressed and mentally and physically drained. he isn't even that old either, amazon just has an extremely intense work ethic that is toxic.
I havent done blk Friday nor cyber mond ever. I like to take my time to decide if I really need to buy somethin or not. Most of the time I realize I dont need.. regardless of the price. I like to save as much as I can and not have my house cluttered.
This is a catalyst for action. We need to end the reckless overconsumption on the streets. There will be another global climate strike on Black Friday. Let's make it even bigger!
The economy is actually a consumerism economy, this flip was made back when mass production of items was introduced(prior of the great depression). Black Friday for me is just a way of buying one item(I need) for a cheap price, otherwise I don't buy objects or clothes all the often, for little actually.
Hi guys! if u care for the environment, please use Ecosia as your search engine. For every 45 searches u make, a tree will be planted somewhere. If you think this is fake, u can always check out their UA-cam channel. Stay safe guys :) bai bai
I work retail pharmacy and honestly, I HATE the holidays because the holiday season makes people crazy. I don't get to spend time with family, I get shit on by crazy holiday shoppers, and i have to spend a majority of my time ringing out customers that aren't even getting medication. It's really awful.
I worked 18 hours on Black Friday 😭😭 this is a huge problem. I felt over worked and was only running on 4 hour of sleep, due to working the night before.
Not really, but like I commented, I went to go buy clothes for myself, since it was planned. But I still wanted to at least try on the clothes before buying them. I can't imagine ordering clothes online and them having them come in and not fit true to size.
I've a feeling that what you mentioned in the video could also apply to Singles Day, the Asian equivalent we get where I live (Singapore), as there's huge advertising for that, and I was drawn into buying products I already had similar products to, and managed to steer clear of.
How should we better approach Black Friday and overconsumption in general? I would love your gift-giving alternatives or strategies!
As far as overconsumption in general, I prefer second hand goods and rarely buy things I dont need. I most often give donations to charities or second hand goods as Christmas presents.
Buying anything from a big box store is a emissions nightmare.
Ugh .. who cares. Don’t shop or work at amazon. Don’t work or shop at ghettomart . More importantly think for yourself
Black Friday can ve good if you're restive. If you really need something, or you were going to get it anyway, we'll then it's a good deal(in Ireland it's not a huge deal and not huge sales. So a lot of people don't over buy). I agree that over consumption is a problem. For gifts me and my friends will do a charity shop swap. So for gifts for each other we get everything from a charity shop, like records, jumpers etc, which we all love. They're great for gifts and cuts down consumption
You said it yourself - evaluate the needs. If you absolutely must give a gift, then it's best to find out exactly what the recipient needs (not wants). Or give them money so they can buy whatever they need themselves. Nobody wins when you buy the wrong gift for someone. Also, people who buy trash gifts for white elephant need to stop.
Remember when you see something you don't really need, that discount isn't saving you money, not buying it is.
@@bigballz4u Any examples you want to give then?
@@Sara3346 Pencil sharpeners. A knife works fine, but a sharpener is much faster and easier.
im gonna pin your word on my wall for reminder... since atm im have that excessive need to buy pokemon card... the truth i dont need it i can enjoy more cheaper thing to enjoys thing...
just a little push commen
Canada has Pre-Black Friday, Black Friday Week, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Cyber Week, Boxing Day, Boxing Week sales.
Boxing Day is our version of Black Friday even though we still have Black Friday.
Same in the UK :')
@Kate yep, i've seen "Black Friday in July" sales too.
In Romania we have "Black Friday" every week.
Same in Italy 🇮🇹🇮🇹
There's also Black Month, which is a short way of saying «We'll be doing Black Friday everyday till the 29th of November but we don't want it to be so obvious»
Wtf stop
I love how after a day of thanks for all that we have we go shopping for more.
wow, I didn't even think of that irony :o
I find Black Friday a crazy, oversonsuming mess. If you need a special item and wait until then to buy it in order to save some money, yes. But this endless shopping craze just seems way out of proportion!
Hannah K Exactly. That’s the thing I hate with black friday. People fight for things they don’t even need or never planned to buy in the first place. And they think they’re saving money when it’s actually the opposite.
I literally save just for Black Friday every year in case theres a deal that I absolutely cannot pass. Like Bestbuy had a early Black Friday deal earlier this month on a 12TB hard drive for only $180,when I saw that ad I ran to the nearest Bestbuy immediately and bought it without hesitating,I definitely would of waited in line on Black Friday or Thanksgiving for that item because that deal was way too good. Data is more important to me than anything else.
@@TigerTT 12 TB? XD you should buy an NAS with RAID 5
The thing is, if you really need something you can't wait until this time of year to buy it. And anyways, the sales are not on things you will need on your every day life, they are on commodities.
Can’t agree more with you!
2020: black Friday
2025: black week-end
2030: black November
2035: black 2035
its already "black week" at Amazon
2040: black
2030 be like screw NNN
black: 2050
Black November is already a thing on Newegg lol
Black Friday has been making its way over to Europe as well.. We recently had some big chains of retailers starting black week, because one day of insane consumerism isn't enough..
This is sad they cannot resist to bring people to consume more. And black friday mean nothing to europeans right? Why bringing it here if we don't have the holidays that came with it! (jk)
@@jess01510 Yeah. it's horrible! Same with Halloween, 'American'-easter and 'American'-Christmas traditions that are all about cheap plastic decorations and consuming things.. I'm just 24, but even for me growing up there didn't use to be the amount of junk around holidays that there are today.
Don't go then....
Yesss and they started almost a month in advance. Its so crazy. Fuck off with these American overconsuming holidays
Also been making its way into [South] Africa as well
I have been working in retail for 10 years and this year I got a new job and is my first Thanksgiving off. I'm so happy for that. Most customers have no idea what sales people have to go through during balck Friday but besides that I can guarantee to you consumers that you are NOT getting a better deal on black Friday. I've worked for many popular and big brands and the product sold during black Friday is usually made specifically for that day. It's cheaper and poorer quality made just to bring the customers into the stores so they can shop for others products. You can get better deals during other times of the year than on black Friday. Like change of season sale for example.
so true!! What's really crazy is that some companies, especially those with shops inside malls, receive majority of their annual profits from the holiday rushes. They could be in the red most of the year but then the holiday's hit and their sales figures skyrocket and sustain them until the next holiday. it's ridiculous.
That's right!!! Exactly !
You can get good electronics on sale in April!!
The White Cat i go to after Christmas sales for clothes or shoes . To me those are the best deals rather than wasting my time at the mall waiting to buy something thats cheaper
Worked for bestbuy for 6 months and it was enough to realize every deal is pretty much worthless. They have the same sale every couple of months
Back to school is the best time to buy computers .late February early spring to buy TVs cause manufactures are getting rid of the old models to bring in a newer models. October generally is the best time to buy appliances .End of every season sale on clothing.you’re not getting any better deals on Black Friday then any other time of the year.
Wait people consider black Friday a Holiday? That's so sad
Eryn, yup its called black friday because of american slavery. this was the day white men and white women were auctioning off enslaved Black people . this is the saddest part. this would be like us trying to arrange a fire sale on crystal night .
@@PHlophe what I didn't know that can you show me where you found that I am always researching things on the internet and finding out deep things
Lechiffresix six as an American I’m curious to know more about ALL of that.
You’re seriously telling people about a MEME that started circling the globe YEARS ago when there is ZERO truth to it.
If you want to learn about Black Friday look it up, don’t be taking your history lesson from FB memes. 😂
@@shauntelgill9384 Shauntel Gill no. That's wrong, it's called black Friday because of the increased foot traffic to the northeastern city of Philadelphia the day after Thanksgiving in the 1950s. The term was coined by police officers because they had to work 12 hour shifts. The name also refers to economic stress
www.dictionary.com/e/black-friday/
That explanation the other person posted is, respectfully, horseshit. Although America has not successfully dealt with its systemic racism problems, the name does not come from racist connotations.
All religious holidays have already been Americanized to just consume useless products , so why not just create a new holiday that doesn’t need to try and hide consumerism behind a bible ?
Don't forget: There's been times when people were killed in black friday shopping.
Yeah, the slow people -,-
Demanding better skills based education would allow people to repair goods that they already own, and craft things they wish to make. Basics such as sewing and cooking, going into leather, metal and woodworking, etc, these are all skills that can be learned in high school and developed into lifelong careers or at least intense hobbies.
I completely agree with your first proposition but you shouldn't forget that intense hobbies can be pretty wasteful as well. A lot of people buying a lot of tools and materials to make things that are basically of no use to anybody else is pretty bad.
I wish these skills were considered more important, in my town, they got rid of all of those classes in high schools bc of budget problems. They're usually seen as useless skills and are the first to get cut when theres not enough money
i agree! sewing and cooking should be the standard. im 18 and can't do either. i wish my school would have set aside an hour or two a week focusing on something like that. though my teachers all made the effort in teaching us about tax, loans, mortgage etc. i would have loved to do something practical as well
@@MaxMustermann-pi6vf Sewing is an incredibly valuable skill. I would never throw out a pair of pants that I could fix myself in ten minutes,I think you're overestimating the time investment.
Considering the fast fashion is a huge polluter, I really think we need to return to making our own clothes, or making locally funded/produced clothing options more accessible. The way the system is set up right now favours fast fashion, the cycle of buying and disposing of things in rapid succession, but in an ideal world it wouldn't be that way.
As well, a lot of these 'domestic skills' were and are primarily practiced by women, and that work is often devalued or seen as not necessary or useful. Patriarchy, capitalism and climate change are intertwined
I agree. 20 or 30 years ago there were classes in schools here called "économie familiale" or "family economics". It mostly thaught how to budget well, save money, do taxes... but also there was a part to learn how to everyday stuff, sew your clothes, buy food in a smart way, etc. You could even learn stuff like making your own belts with older leather furniture and tires, selling old stuff in garage sales and making a profit, etc.
They removed it (ugh budget cuts 🤦🏻♂️) a bit before I got into high school and I always found that so dumb, like from many people I talked to it was a legit great learning experience and it teached useful real life skills. I mean, not saying the quadratic formula ain't important at all, but you know, a big % of high schoolers would benefit just as much if not more from a course teaching family/home basic financial literacy and everyday cooking/sewing skills. It's the BASE. I don't get wtf is up with the school system.
When I was growing up being raised by a single mom, Black Friday was very useful to us because it let us get some things that we otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford. But now that I'm grown and we're both in much more comfortable financial situations in life we don't participate in it anymore. Since we don't necessarily need to get things when they're super cheap we'd rather not participate in a holiday that negates the meaning of the holiday that just ended. I've also watched the Black Friday insanity gradually get worse throughout my whole life. I don't think it was as bad in the 90's as it is now. I might be wrong, though, since the world looks much better when you're a child.
I definitely think you’re right...it’s gotten scarier and more intense (& useless) as time has passed. These days you’re not even getting a deal, and it’s a big scam to get you into stores and spending money
minimalism is the way to go, watch Charlie's video on the topic if you haven't.
what video?
that, and buy 2nd hand
Do u have a link?
@@cwang93 ua-cam.com/video/jwAOVc1Nkbs/v-deo.html
Minimalism is just other word of being poor... and withhold spending money... with high amount the population...if everyone not spending money all hell will break loose....
Jokes on them because I can't afford anything even when it's not on sale
Oof same
Then make better life choices.
@@Anonymous-wb3nz "if you're homeless buy a house"
Your transitions and animations are so good, it took me an extra 5 minutes to finish the video because I had to go back and watch them again! I appreciate you putting so much hard work into your videos, they are both very informative and pleasing to the eyes
You’re probably not even getting the best deal they could give you, often they up the prices beforehand or adjust the discounts
I’m a mailman and parcels have gone up since the beginning of November. We can see when there was a good sale because 2-3 days later we are slammed! Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year!
Bless you! Stay warm this winter and holiday season 🎄
Y’all should go to your local climate strike on November 29 instead of going shopping!
em do they have free WiFi there
Yeah!
I plan on doing this!
No, i don't think i will
@@peeking3634 so brave.
A lot of text, but I had some thoughts I needed to write down.
To bring another perspective very briefly touched upon, and that I was made aware of only recently: Sale-days like these are good for a lot of low-income families *and others* who has to watch the budget carefully. It's all well and good to talk about over-consumerism, but it's not helpful to shame people shopping on this day since we can't know their background- maybe they take the opportunity to buy things they otherwise couldn't afford? I'm not saying there was any shaming going on in this video. I'm saying some people in the discussion of Black Friday forget or disregard this perspective.
I particularly mention low-income families because while I as an adult think it should be relatively easy for adults to avoid buying things they don't need because of norms- it's harder to do so for your kids. I don't know what the social psychology behind this is, but it seems like it's extra important to fit in when you're a kid and to be able to go do fun stuff with your friends, play a sport, be able to go to the cinema, have clothes/toys- but they cost money. Without these things and activities it can lead to worrying about money and "social exclusion" (As we have a term for in my country)
My conclusion is that I think it's OK to shop on sales if you have to, and I'm going to change my rhetoric for how I approach the subject to not come across as shaming anyone that depend on the sales. I still think a lot of people are buying a lot more than what they need, and that second-hand is a good alternative for the people who have the time and ability. I also agree with all the other points made in the video.
A lot of those things ain't that cheap or need something else where the prices stayed high, they also deliberately have fewer items than they know people would buy.
Workers have also gotten hurt because of the black Friday crowds.
i agree 100%! at the end of the day, it's about an individual's situation and the choices they choose to make or have to make. i don't want to see anyone shaming anyone else about something like this
Very good points, in addition to the video. I remember fitting in as a kid because I had the latest toy or item, but, do remember my parents also teaching me sense if the product was too much money. Instead of dissecting the psychology about why kids want the latest item to think they belong, maybe the latest trend should be something homemade by them or from a handmade artist? Its a win-win. Or, parents can teach their kids that fads are fads..and to create another activity to fill the void. I think there are alternatives for any family than perpetuating this current consumerism nonsense.
Toyon95 yes omg thank you so much for this! as a child coming from a low income family, this is the one time in the year where i don’t feel extremely guilty for splurging and having to reprimand myself! you put it together beautifully.
Huh, well said 👍
I use black Friday to get expensive *needs* that I wouldn't waste and mostly stocking up on skincare products which always are sustainable and recyclable.
Black Friday 2019: I forgot my niece's birthday, so rushed down to the local fancy goods shop on the high street. The wonderful owner helped me select a lovely (sustainable) wooden toy set, wrapped it in ribbons for me, then found a second hand jiffy bag so I could take it straight next door to the Post Office without having to go back home. As we were chatting I found out she'd set up the shop with an inheritance when her Mother passed away, what her daughter was up to, and a smattering of other local gossip. When I paid in cash she nearly bit my hand off, as it avoided the swingeing bank charges. Best Black Friday ever.
I love shopping during Black Friday. This video opened my eyes to a new perspective during Black Friday. Thanks!
The Problem with Black Friday: *everything*
Pattie, you have a long name, i like. La Duquesa de cali
Absolutely brilliant examination of "black Friday" and more broadly of consumer culture. I am so deeply appreciative of your videos. I often refer people to them as a point of starting a conversation, sometimes a very difficult one. Thank you for doing this work and helping people like me have critical conversations with family, friends, neighbors and more.
Meanwhile here in germany, I just went to Amazon, looked for a good deal for a new coffeemaker, didn't find it and left. I don't get why Americans are so obsessed with black Friday
Because media & companies make them believe that things like black friday are part of "American Culture" (same with Superbowl etc)
@@Murphy-xi1vz I (also German) thought exactly the same. But sadly it's also getting a bigger thing in Germany. Some of my colleague just saved money to buy the newest iPhone on black Friday 🙄
A lot of Americans do the same thing. Don’t just assume all Americans are shopping crazed, a lot of us are with you on that.
All you need for a coffeemaker is a pot, strainer and coffee filters
@@Guppyg53 Iam talking about a machine and was looking for a good deal.
This is an incredibly beautiful video! Extremely high quality and just a masterpiece! Thank you!
I love how you are so chill about whether or not we become patrons
We need more people like you, OCC. You help give light to the problems that are often unmentioned or ignored.
I told all of my friends about you, but sadly, only a few took interest in the topics you do. I'm disappointed at how little my friends care for the environment. :/
Not consuming is one of the pillars for stopping the climate disaster
Man I just want to get some cheap study books
go to thriftbooks man.
Damn, the production value on this video is top notch!
The animations are crazy smooth, the graphics are useful, and everything just feels cohesive.
I would say since last year I’ve tried to focus more on the “what I need” aspect of buying. Is reeeeeaaally hard at first. Specially when you’re constantly surrounded by it. But start small. Question every purchase you make. Even the ones it seem obvious. The one coffee, the random shirt, the extra bottle of ketchup that is 50 cents less but will probably expire before you use it.
Thank you! I love how you emphasized that black Friday is a cultural symptom and not a singular event. Black Friday can only exist within the context of today's society and therefore the way to fix it is not only by not participating in the shopping craze but actively doing things to change cultural norms (and not wait for the holidays to do so). There is a lot of content right now calling for people not to buy anything on black Friday and it sounds cool but like you said, it's more like putting a band-aid on a heavy bleed and doesn't act as a real long term solution.
Working at Target was rough last year. I worked a long shift and people were insane. I didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving with my family. No one should have to work long shifts or Thanksgiving
The problem with Black Friday is that I won’t be able to spend time with my family :(
your family is materialistic. sad !
Lechiffresix six no you asshole I had work to on thanksgiving because of Black Friday
alexy sese then get another job genius
The You if you replied with something like that then it’s safe to assume that you’ve never had a job before and have no idea what’s it like to go look for one
So happy that Black Friday isn’t really a thing here in Scandinavia. Like, no one cares about it
it doesn't stop certain shops from pushing black friday offers though. we are importing various Anlgo-american traditions, one by one. First Halloween, and now Black Friday
Its already a thing in Belgium :(
You're clearly not in Norway. All malls and major chains are having black friday weeks here.
Norway has it. Unfortunately
I know finland isnt in skandinavia technically, but we have black friday here.
Black Friday seems to be expanding internationally. Australia is now having black Friday sales, when we didn't 2 years ago
How to fight it : minimalism :)
alternatively: buying second hand things and keeping items in circulation :)
k eke yeah too ! When I started to live simply I also purchased second hand's stuff and donate mine to perpetuate a circular economy
@@keke3897 if you have to HAVE something, buy secondhand things.
I think we should make gamers (kids especially) buy less consoles and stop the culture off buying a phone or a computer or a console every year, it's simply ridiculous
please preach it!! all these black friday hauls are making me cringe.
2nd hand stores, just got the entire hard cover set of a song of ice and fire all 6 novels 4 bucks a piece. All my kids cloths 2 for years save so much $
Transportation emissions estimates are probably low, especially when it comes to marine transit of goods (which uses some very dirty fuels)
Hi there Charlie! This video, as always, is excellent! I love the fact that you narrate while putting key words and great animations on the screen. You mention all the key problems and more importantly, you offer solutions, the ones that are easy to be achieved!
If I were to make one alternation, perhaps you can try narrating with more tones, low pitch high pitch etc. It will even be more interesting to watch.
Thank you for spreading knowledge!
we are a "consumer culture" after all. a sad culture, but it's true.
LOVE this channel!!
Oh, the irony! One day you’re supposed to be grateful for all things you have, and the next day you feed your own greed, completely disregarding that you were content with all (materialistic and non-materialistic) things you had the day before!
Best video yet 👏👏👏👏
Such an important issue that i wish more people realized
you really stepped up your editing game... again?! :D
seriously well done and put together. i definetly won't participate in such cruel business practices.
this video opened my eyes too glad that i'm not the only one
@@TheS1llyH0wT0 i just hope that some day we will reach a point where this mess of overconsumption will be a tale to laugh about 👀
It’s not just shipping and packaging, it’s production. Barely any item is produced sustainably. A new TV is a punch in the face for the environment.
The way you design your videos, along with your integration of non-biased facts is fantastic! Keep it up👍!
If there are people here who own a company or who have a lot of influence: Please don't participate in next Black Friday. Instead promote the opposite. Show the facts that we can't keep living like this.
Or at the very least make people aware that they shouldn't buy the things they don't need.
Another option is to promote alternative products. Products which are durable and products which don't use plastics in their packaging.
Thank you so much for making these kind of videos! It's so important for our future to question and really look at what we are doing in our society. In the Netherlands Black friday wasn't even a thing that long ago but with all the American companies coming to Europe it is becoming more and more populair every year.. Sadly
Me who only buys a new phone every 4 years when my old phone dies: YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME.
Thanks. I'm working to get out of my pattern of overconsumption and spending money I don't have and being content with what I have in the face of a society that's constantly telling me I'm not enough without their products.
honestly i used to think that black friday is like the diwali sales of america. we all wait for the diwali sales having wish lists for sometimes 6 months. only buiying electricals and for some families clothes only on diwali. but i feel like that long wait time also reduces the sales extremely around the diwali months.
(you can even check out the stats two months before and after diwali salesdip) however would like to kmow if that is thats the case with black friday. or does consumption just increase without any dips around it ?
Honestly, my family doesn't even buy that much, we do buy some clothing but other than that, not much really but I do understand what you're talking about
Black Friday in America is like an annual restock for a lot of families. Companies will make a negative profit margin until the holiday season. The sales around the months of November and December are enough to carry them through to the next year’s holiday. There’s another peak like this at the end of summer right as kids are going back to school but it’s not near as significant.
@@snowangel7980 thanks, I did not know the reason behind it
Basics I get from this Video is;
1. Don't buy New if the old stuff still works!
2. Don't buy More than you need (Why do you need 23 Phone Chargers or 3 Tablets?)
3. Consider when you buy Items and where!
In Short: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle as well as Stop & Think Before you Buy!
I'm actually really appreciative of companies that consider their responsibility in this cycle, and I hope to see this more. I'm seeing companies such as Deciem and other smaller brands who are sending out messages encouraging consumers to "shop slower." On their side, extending the time of the sale and explicitly stating that there will not be any additional sales during Black Friday allows consumers have more time to consider their purchases, which hopefully will decrease impulsive shopping sprees. I really hope that there will be more creative alternatives like this during the holiday shopping season.
Thanks giving the day where we are thankful for everything we have. The next day Black Friday where we forget about Thursday and what we’re thankful for.
These videos are unreal man. I can't believe you don't have a million subs yet.
I love repairing stuff like electronics it gives me such a good feeling!
This helped me so
Much with my essay. THANK YOU. The visuals are great and the commentary is even better!!!!!!!
I refuse to shop retailers that are open on Black Friday. That day, to me, represents the condition of so many people's hearts - completely counter intuitive to giving thanks/being thankful...✌🏾
My family & i haven’t participated in any of the consumer holidays since 2009 feels great
Hey man I just found your channel last week. I'm a big fan now, I'm definitely not able to pay for this, but I have already been sharing your videos a lot. I just love the approach you take to these topics.
I have always been against the gift-giving frenzy at Christmas (or at Hanukkah, for that matter). For one thing, the stress of spending money that they cannot afford turns people into monsters. There is also the stress of trying to figure out what someone else would like to receive, with all the stress of going from one store to another in search of they know not what. The gift-giving frenzy was started by Queen Victoria, who had more money than God. It's ridiculous that people of limited means would ape a plutocrat. The gift-giving frenzy teaches children to be greedy consumers; inevitably, gift-giving inflation leaves the children disappointed, always raising the bar of expectation. The holiday season should be a time of festive feasting. Period.
This is why I make things for people instead of buying things.
@@Tarabyte Traditionally, gift-giving took place on January 6, the Feast of the Three Magi, also known as Twelfth Night. Makes sense, doesn't it? If people were to shift their gift-giving to January 6, that would throw a monkey-wrench into the money-making machine that is our current "Christmas" culture. Money, money, money. That is what "Christmas" is all about these days. For those who believe that they MUST give gifts, if only they would shift it to Twelfth Night, that would be the beginning of the end of "Christmas" as a money-making consumer-culture nightmare.
This American tradition went over to my country since a couple years. Here in the Netherlands, almost every big store has Black Friday deals, also Cyber Monday. They start promoting it 1 to 2 weeks before it happens. So yesterday was CM and last Friday was BF. Except for some discount plug-ins which are digital only, I have bought nothing else in particular.
3:55 ........... I couldnt disagree more. An Amazon truck is much more efficient than people taking their car to buy in a store...
Unless it's fast shipping, then the trucks are underfilled, but with slow shipping, trucks are more efficient
But they will still drive to stores despite also purchasing online. They will still shop for groceries
The point is to buy less in general... Not how you gonna buy stuffs
As long this type of stuff is legal it will keep happening. It would be better if it was more spread out over the year. For example an online re-tailer in the Netherlands (won't name them) they have a more spread out (week) black friday because they offer a certain category in sale for 12h, instead of every category at once (actual black friday).
8:17 what song was that?
Edit: also, have you done economics of spotify?
I’ve worked retail for many years, and I’ve had to work Christmas (even though the store is closed to the public) and Thanksgiving. The experience has turned me off from the holidays. Especially, seeing people pressured to buy gifts, who are struggling to make ends meet.
The problem with Black Friday: things aren’t even that much cheaper. Seriously. Just wait for Prime Day or company-wide sales and you’ll save more.
amazing video! I really enjoyed watching it, keep up the great work.
I remember Thanksgiving. It used to be about giving thanks & enjoyed good food with family (especially Terkey).
However, over the past decade Black Friday took over Thanksgiving on Thursday (yet we oddly still call it Black Friday Sales) & as I work retail I now have to work mandatory on the day instead of being with my family where I belong. Although I'm thankful to have a good paying job, it does bother me that Instead of it being a day about family & giving thanks, all I see it as now is as a day celebrating human greed.
This is just sad, people you must share this video, Spread the message!
You can find cheaper deals year round at Goodwill :)
I also work in a store.
Once a Cattle human came to me and asked "Is black friday still on?"
That day it was a Thursday.
I just want to say that I love your channel and that I'm sure this will be an amazing, informative, and thought-provoking video before I even watch it! Consumerism is like an insidious disease that most of us never notice. I have friends who buy a frankly disturbing number of clothes and other products on Black Friday despite having closets full of that stuff. It's crazy.
It is been 50 years of overconsumption. People want a change now. Green and clean consumption is the key.
I HATE "Black Friday". I'd rather call it RED Friday.
Red Friday or do you mean blood Friday?
@@frankfarmer7706 As in RED ink on corporate balance sheets.
@@denelson83 honestly in my opinion Black Friday is pretty much outdated, overrated and it's pretty much a scam, I have no evidence to back it up my claim except through a word of mouth, what many shopping malls and retail stores would do is raise up their prices beyond their value months in advance, so by the time that Black Friday comes around they drop their prices back down to the original value, so the mindless and old school consumer thinks that they're getting a discount, but they're actually paying for the original price, in my opinion I considered most shopping malls, retail stores, and grocery stores to be obsolete and a thing of the past, but then again I'm a online consumer that does 90% of my shopping online especially from Amazon Prime.
Thank up you for making such a video that raises awareness! Your videos are always so well timed.
an item is sold at $1000, black friday sale at $750, you save $250.
if you don't buy it, you saved $750.
In Norway, they’ll set up the prices some time before lowering it during Black Friday. So you’re basically paying the «regular» price. It’s better to spend in January, when people are not so eager to buy ;)
Just recycle the dang cardboard! If you’re so lazy that you can’t just recycle a box you should probably eat it for dinner.
my dad worked in an amazon warehouse for six months, it made him super depressed and mentally and physically drained. he isn't even that old either, amazon just has an extremely intense work ethic that is toxic.
I havent done blk Friday nor cyber mond ever. I like to take my time to decide if I really need to buy somethin or not. Most of the time I realize I dont need.. regardless of the price. I like to save as much as I can and not have my house cluttered.
Here’s a tip, do all that deciding throughout the year and then buy it on bf to save money.
This is a catalyst for action. We need to end the reckless overconsumption on the streets. There will be another global climate strike on Black Friday. Let's make it even bigger!
Black Friday is also gaining popularity in Africa. The difference in participating between last year and this year in Zimbabwe is staggering
The economy is actually a consumerism economy, this flip was made back when mass production of items was introduced(prior of the great depression).
Black Friday for me is just a way of buying one item(I need) for a cheap price, otherwise I don't buy objects or clothes all the often, for little actually.
I'm looking into becoming a better human. Thats why i started growing trees as a hobby. And tbh i'm loving it.
This video has really helped me realise that I'm spending money unnecessarily, thank you.
And people are just running up their credit cards on these “deals”
Hi guys! if u care for the environment, please use Ecosia as your search engine. For every 45 searches u make, a tree will be planted somewhere. If you think this is fake, u can always check out their UA-cam channel. Stay safe guys :) bai bai
Thank you for your videos! Keep it up. we need to educate the masses.
Every shop in my country doing Friday without black Friday prices. Cuts on electronics almost non existent :(
Very well explained and also animated!
I love Black Friday, but I do understand why some people don’t it can be overwhelming.
I work retail pharmacy and honestly, I HATE the holidays because the holiday season makes people crazy. I don't get to spend time with family, I get shit on by crazy holiday shoppers, and i have to spend a majority of my time ringing out customers that aren't even getting medication. It's really awful.
Great essay. One of your best!
I worked 18 hours on Black Friday 😭😭 this is a huge problem. I felt over worked and was only running on 4 hour of sleep, due to working the night before.
Why do we really need Black Friday when we have cyber Monday?
And neither day have the best prices for the year.
Not really, but like I commented, I went to go buy clothes for myself, since it was planned. But I still wanted to at least try on the clothes before buying them. I can't imagine ordering clothes online and them having them come in and not fit true to size.
I live in the Caribbean and black friday sales have been popping up here, which is quite worrying to say the least.
I've a feeling that what you mentioned in the video could also apply to Singles Day, the Asian equivalent we get where I live (Singapore), as there's huge advertising for that, and I was drawn into buying products I already had similar products to, and managed to steer clear of.