Why does a good sale bring out the crazy in so many of us? Perhaps because it’s an innate human drive, and Black Friday discounts and competing for limited stock is the closest most of us get to hunting in the modern era.
Black Friday has long been a source of chaos and, as an observer from afar, entertainment. What once started as an image of long lines in the early morning for limited sales on televisions has now expanded into an all-encompassing day-of-deals, across almost every industry. From yoga studio memberships to language learning apps to subscription streaming deals, Black Friday has left the big box brick-and-mortar world and has entered the realm of online shopping and services… and has even made appearances in the B2B world.
But, I’m not here to talk about sales. I’m here to talk about stories. Because what’s more exciting than discounts? Black Friday lore!
There are a few true stories and Black Friday legends that keep our imaginations alive. And the funniest anecdotes come from shopping that happens offline.
Here are three funny, memorable, and probably untrue Black Friday stories:
Wildlife gone wild
Remember the “bear” who terrorised innocent Black Friday shoppers? As the meme would have us believe, a man in a bear suit went on a mission to destroy the tents of shoppers awaiting store opening. Fortunately, this story was debunked, but this will always be my favourite. My personal hope is that Black Friday continues being an inspiration for myriad memes and silly stories.
The Infamous Fort Builders
If you’re brave enough to go to a physical store to compete for limited stock, you should probably protect yourself. As the story goes, one year, a man stacked multiple flat-screen TV boxes in his shopping cart like a fortress. He slowly moved through the aisles, carefully avoiding knocking anything over. A personal barricade isn’t a bad idea… and we’ve seen YouTubers hide behind toilet paper for protection, too, but the TV box story captures my imagination, because you can still shop in relative peace! Survival skills for the win!
Ah, yes! Flat-screen TVs…the stuff of Black Friday Legends
Not Everyone Is Built for This
Some of the best tall tales in retail involve unwilling family members.
As this Black Friday tale goes, a tired dad was so overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle that he decided to take a nap inside a display couch in the furniture section while his family went on shopping. Once the family realised they had lost him, they searched for 30 minutes! When they finally found him, there he was—napping as if he were at home on an average weekend afternoon!
Black Friday is full of unexpected moments where the shopping frenzy sometimes leads to humorous, heartwarming, or downright bizarre situations! This year, I’ll be avoiding the long lines and staying out of the fight for a cheap flat-screen, but you better believe I’ll have an eye out for this year’s winning stories!
