Video games offer some of the biggest sales. Huge hits that are normally $60 may go down to $40 or even $30. Of course, that gets people all riled up. Mario games are always popular, but then there are games like Call of Duty, Battlefield, and even Animal Crossing. Of course, the fights go double for game systems.
Back when the Xbox 360 was first released, people were seriously duking it out to get their hands on the latest system. One Reddit user recalls how he watched a guy shove a kid and a 60-year-old woman to the ground to be the one who got the last 360 at this particular store. It doesn’t come much of a surprise that most of these happen at Walmart.
Small appliances are getting more and more expensive. No, people aren’t breaking out in fights over a toaster, but that Instant Pot? Yeah, customers really want to cook their food fast, and they don’t care who stands in their way. The worst part is that small appliances only have a discount of about 18% or so, according to ABC News.
That being said, things like crockpots, air fryers, and the like are what customers want the most. A survey was conducted by Cyber Week which found that 39% of consumers are headed toward the “small appliance” section. Your best bet is to order the items online and avoid the brouhaha this season.
With Apple products being insanely expensive, it’s no surprise that some of the biggest fights happen over anything related to the tech company. Last year, the top-selling electronics included Apple Air-Pods and Apple Watches (not to mention the newest iPhone). If you are looking for an Apple product this season, we have a tip or two.
First of all, buy online. Whenever possible, buy your item online to avoid any fights – that’s a given. Second, go to an actual Apple store. Apple tries much harder to prevent all-out brawls in their stores compared to Walmart (whose employees have literally died because of Black Friday crowd surges).
TVs seems to be the biggest reason people lose their mind on Black Friday. Doesn’t everyone want a massive TV for just $200? Of course! But there’s a limited number available, and that’s where the fights start. In 2014, police in Texas had to respond to a Walmart after a brawl broke out over the 50-inch TVs. The customers rushed the display and started grabbing what they could.
That’s no surprise considering most fights start out at Walmart and Best Buy. According to Foundation Digital, 59.1% of all injuries occur at Walmart! Skip to 2018, reports came out that there were multiple brawls at a Walmart in California where even an employee was hit with a rack all over TVs.
The weirdest thing about this addition is that smart home items like Google Home and Amazon Echo go on sale regularly throughout the year, so why bother waiting until Black Friday? ABC News found that smart home items became one of the most popular items on the shopping list last Black Friday.
It rose a massive 592% from the previous year. Like many of the other items on this list, the best sales will likely be online. Instead of going to your local Best Buy, check out Amazon. Stay in your warm home and avoid the stampedes that are almost guaranteed to happen.
The first thing that likely came to mind was people fighting over whatever the most popular toy is that year. We all remember the hype over Tickle Me Elmo. There were only 400,000 made at the time, and all of them were gone before Black Friday. Then…the toymaker sent out 600,000 more. That’s when the chaos started.
A Walmart employee was trampled in 1996, which caused damage to his back, jaw, and neck. This isn’t anything new. Before Tickle Me Elmo, there was Cabbage Patch Kids. Today, it’s items like Hachimals that send people duking it out in the aisles. Whatever the popular toy is, it will always cause unexpected fights.
Why do people go crazy over clothes? We've heard many a story of people literally pulling clothes out of peoples’ hands to buy them on Black Friday. However, nothing is as crazy as the major name-brand stores. In 2012, Victoria's Secret was rocked by customers during Black Friday. Customers were literally throwing punches at each other over underwear.
An employee told the local Fox News Station, “After the doors were open, customers there went crazy, climbing up on the ‘panty bar,’ throwing clothes and boxes, pushing and shoving and trampling each other. She said one girl got hit in the head with a box and another, punched in the stomach.”
Out of every item on this list, smartwatches have become the “brand new thing.” Since last season, smartwatches have risen to be the top dog. ABC News found a 606% increase since the previous Black Friday, meaning if you want a smartwatch…good luck! People will most certainly duke it out over this item.
To avoid getting attacked this season, get your smartwatch now. Not only has Black Friday begun earlier than it ever has before, but the biggest smartwatch companies have also put their tech on sale ahead of Black Friday to avoid the flood of people. If it isn’t on sale now, you may also get a better deal during Cyber Monday.
Most people jump straight to toys and electronics when they're planning for their Black Friday escapade. But other people have other things in mind that might be as coveted as a Talking Elmo but will still cause quite the rush. We're talking home furnishings. Many furniture retailers use Black Friday and Cyber Monday to slash prices on everything from large furniture sets to rugs and pillows.
But if you really want a bargain, don't buy your Christmas and holiday decor before the sale days hit because you can snag quite the deal on the decor you'd be buying anyway at full price. On Black Friday, it's the perfect time to buy ultra-discounted Halloween and Thanksgiving decor and prepare for Christmas with a new tree, fancy ornaments, and other knick-knacks.
Beauty products range from drugstore quality (and prices) to luxury, but everyone who wears makeup agrees that it gets expensive very quickly, even at CVS. During the holidays, most beauty brands release special Christmas editions of their makeup. Even better, they'll produce special Black Friday bundles and deals on their gift sets... Sounds great! What could go wrong?
Unfortunately, snagging a beloved beauty fight set from high-end brands might leave you with a black eye and a bruised ego if you're not careful. Whether it's perfume sets, skincare, or limited-edition holiday eyeshadow, pay attention to what's popular and make a game plan to get it. Keep in mind that some brands intentionally produce fewer products to drive up demand, so don't fall into the trap of fighting over a product that's nearly impossible to get anyway.
