In 2015, 48% of Americans plan to shop in brick and mortars on Black Friday, and 42% of Americans plan on shopping online for Cyber Monday. Both holidays feature stores that are focusing on huge deals for the gift giving season (and to make their Q4 numbers a month early), but which shopping day is better?
You may think that Cyber Monday is more convenient, since you can do so from the privacy of your home or cubicle, but think again. Did you know that 30% of businesses block access to online shopping sites to their employees on Cyber Monday?
The following infographic breaks down the Pros and Cons of Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday to help you make your decision this week / weekend while chomping on a Turkey sandwich or two.
Cyber Monday vs Black Friday Created by: Ebates
And some additional statistics on the holidays:
Black Friday
Pros:
- Black Friday has more discounts on most electronics. 2014 saw 48% of deals for headphones, 83% for iPhones and 47% for laptops land on Black Friday.
- You get to see your items in the flesh. Over 60% of shoppers prefer to shop in the store, probably because it guarantees there are no surprises when you get home.
- No shipping costs.
- Some exclusive in-store deals. In 2014, Walmart offered a Vizio 65″ 1080p Smart LED LCD HDTV for $ 648. That’s $ 100 cheaper than most 65″ HDTVs — even refurbished ones — were going for at the time.
Cons:
- Risk of injury. Since 2006, there have been 98 injuries related to Black Friday sales. While your chance of serious injury isn’t high, it’s a lot higher than it would be than if you shopped online.
- Crowds. In 2014, 68 million people shopped in person on Black Friday. Walmart alone had 22 million shoppers altogether.
- Bad timing. In 2014, Barnes and Noble opened at 6 a.m. Friday, while Best Buy started its sales at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving. At least 28 major national chains opened on Thanksgiving in 2014.
- Not all stores are open on Black Friday. While plenty still open in the wee hours, some in 2015 plan to boycott the entire day. Sporting goods store REI has announced it will be closed on Black Friday 2015.
Cyber Monday
Pros:
- It’s much faster. No driving time, and no time spent waiting in huge lines.
- More discounts on toys and travel. Cyber Monday 2014 attracted 45% of all deals on toys and 25% of travel deals.
- Virtually zero chance of injury, not counting the risk of spilling hot chocolate on yourself.
- You can do more research. In 2014, 83% of Cyber Monday shoppers reported doing research online before shopping, while only 64% of Black Friday shoppers did.
Cons:
- Items may be sold out. In 2014, “out of stock” messages on websites went up by 400% on Cyber Monday. Since you’re shopping later in the game, stores may have sold out of certain items.
- Paying for shipping. Though shipping charges are the #1 reason customers abandon their online shopping carts — 88% of shoppers have done it — shipping costs continue to exist.
- You’re more likely to spend more. In 2014, the average shopper spent $ 468 on Cyber Monday, versus an average $ 309 on Black Friday.
- Your workplace might block you from Cyber Monday shopping. 30% of employers block access to online shopping sites.
- You could technically get fired for shopping online at work. 25% of managers report that they’ve fired someone for non-work-related use of the Internet.
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