Home Opinion Flamebait Friday Debate: To Black Friday or nah?

Flamebait Friday Debate: To Black Friday or nah?

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146

Woah, it’s Black Friday! What a wild, random event of hyper-capitalistic nightmares distilled into a single day that always falls after Thanksgiving…a holiday we don’t even celebrate here. Look, I know I’m a young bean around these parts (as I’m constantly reminded, despite numerous examples of my back being as frail as some of the dinosaurs plodding around this site) but if I had to really think hard about it, I can’t remember hearing about Black Friday in South Africa before 2014. Maybe it’s some kind of Mandela Effect thing, but Black Friday always feels like such a new, unnecessary event in South Africa, no doubt influenced by the mass plague of media the day receives overseas.

black_friday-1140x411

That being said, it’s clear that Black Friday is here to stay, something that…well, it’s certainly a divisive topic. The majority of people I’ve spoken to have decried Black Friday, labelling it for what it is: An opportunity for companies to sell their outdated stock and still make some kind of revenue off it by driving the public into a frenzy. That being said, I also know many families operating on a lower income that look forward to Black Friday as a means to buy in bulk and stock up for a period of the year that can be incredibly pricey.

black-friday-2018-6

So while many people think Black Friday is an unnecessary cash grab, plenty of other people would say that it’s almost worth the fighting through throngs of people to make out with whatever you can. So I suppose that’s the question up for debate: What are your feelings on Black Friday? Is it something you engage in or avoid? Is there such a thing as ethical consumption under capitalism in a post-modern, post-ironic society?

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.

Last Updated: November 29, 2019

146 Comments

  1. Caveshen Rajman

    November 29, 2019 at 11:05

    I’m personally extremely offended that other people have money.

    Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      November 29, 2019 at 12:59

      Brilliant, brutal and I believe it generated a 29- hit combo!!! ?

      Reply

  2. Pariah

    November 29, 2019 at 11:05

    I’m happy to check out online deals, but in store is a no.

    I did buy some stuff already today. 😀

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    November 29, 2019 at 11:13

    Don’t have the slightest problem with it, at the end of the day it’s just another sale to go along with all the other seasonal ones.

    Reply

  4. G8crasha

    November 29, 2019 at 11:13

    1. I do not have the disposable income.
    2. I buy what I need not what I want, and I often need something at a time of the year that is no where near Black Friday.
    3. I refuse to deal with the crowds and chaos.
    4. Black Friday is a money-making racket where half time, the savings are so minuscule, it’s not even worth the effort.
    5. [I’ll think of something else just now]

    Reply

    • Pariah

      November 29, 2019 at 11:13

      On point 4 – the key is to be smart and look around for the deals which are actually good deals. I just spent R800 on stuff that usually goes for R2000. Early christmas present.

      Reply

      • G8crasha

        November 29, 2019 at 11:13

        True, but let’s be honest. Most people are going to go to a Game or Makro for most things. I don’t know how many would actually look around. We are lazy like that!

        Reply

        • Pariah

          November 29, 2019 at 11:13

          Actually, my laziness is what fuelled this. I shop online so that I don’t have to deal with crowds. So I often see stuff that I like throughout the year and notice the prices and wait for sales. Sometimes there are genuine good deals out there.

          Reply

          • For the Emperor!

            November 29, 2019 at 12:06

            Yeah, I keep an eye online for running shoe specials. Twice this year I got like R1500 discount on something I really needed ?

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:06

            What did you need?

          • For the Emperor!

            November 29, 2019 at 22:22

            Ummmm…running shoes. Trail running and road running…already added a few hundred kilometres to each!

          • Pariah

            November 29, 2019 at 12:06

            Hah, that’s awesome. 😀

    • For the Emperor!

      November 29, 2019 at 12:06

      They lure you in with real specials, hoping you will fall for the fake specials while you are there…

      Reply

  5. Viper_ZA

    November 29, 2019 at 11:13

    No thanks. Bought AoE II’s Definitive edition yesterday, now I am spent lol

    Reply

  6. Admiral Chief

    November 29, 2019 at 11:31

    Increase price 50%
    Discount 50%

    Reply

    • Pariah

      November 29, 2019 at 11:48

      That’s still a 25% discount. Not quite as advertised, but still a decent discount.

      Reply

  7. Admiral Chief

    November 29, 2019 at 11:48

    BLACK FRIDAY CAN GITS

    Reply

    • Yozzie

      November 29, 2019 at 11:48

      • Admiral Chief

        November 29, 2019 at 11:49

        Op die rooi tapyt, gaan skuit, uit die land uit, waar is my ouma beskuit?

        Reply

        • Pariah

          November 29, 2019 at 14:18

          Great. Now I want a rusk. Thanks…

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 14:18

            DIP!

          • Pariah

            November 29, 2019 at 14:18

            Who the actual fuck dips their rusk in anything? It ruins a cup of tea or coffee with the floaty shit that gets in there, and I sure as hell won’t dip a rusk in a sauce…

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            I eat my ouma’s RAW or ONLY in rooibos tea

          • Pariah

            November 29, 2019 at 17:48

            So listen. I understand making a cup of tea specifically to dip the rusk in. As long as you’re not planning on drinking that tea separately. Otherwise, how do you deal with those floaty gross bits?

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 17:58

            Bruh, SLIGHT DIP, not fokken SOAK

            DIP <> SOAK

          • Pariah

            November 29, 2019 at 18:14

            Crumbs do not give a fuck about how long they’ve been in there. They feel that warm liquid and jump right in.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 19:07

            SLICED ouma buttermilk rusks, rooibos tea, 3 second dip, chow, no crumbs

            Crumbs are the cancer of the oumadip

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 17:48

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            Well one needs to be offered up. It’s either coffee or rusks. But never drink the coffee after dunking rusks.

          • Pariah

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            See I can understand that. But I don’t make coffee or tea just to dip rusks in. I make it so I can drink it. So I have both. But separately. No dunking.

            If KFC taught us anything, it’s that dunking is gross.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 17:48

            THANK YOU!

            Dunked wings are disgusting!

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 17:48

            I personally love KFC dunked wings….the taste is glorious, and if I have something stuck in my gut….the dunked wings gets that out ASAP

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            I still don’t understand why people want fossilised biscuits in the first place.

          • Pariah

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            You should try them fresh once in a while… 😛

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            I still don’t understand why people want fossilised MEAT in the first place

          • Pariah

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            I’m not sure charcoal can be considered a fossil fuel.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            HAH

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            Koffie en beskuit, nee dankie

  8. Kromas

    November 29, 2019 at 12:06

    I don’t go to shopping centers om a normal day so yeah … no.

    Also if I happen to see a decent online deal then sure I will buy it. However I avoid takealot as they raise their prices just before black friday. If you need to shop on this day i suggest using amazon.

    Reply

  9. HvR

    November 29, 2019 at 12:22

    Wanted to get a Asus ac200 router for the whole because fuck that Cellc POS.

    Knew the price was around R1000 to R1200 walked into Computer Mania this morning after getiing my crayfish license at hey R750 chi-cheng.

    Also need either cheap PC or laptop, browsed every single online store. 90% of the laptops are normal prices or less than 10% off with some made up retail price. So off to carbonite I go

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      November 29, 2019 at 12:22

      SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, if me and the mrs come down in December, gaan jy vir ons KREEF vang pappie?

      Reply

      • Yozzie

        November 29, 2019 at 12:29

        Kreef seisoen lyk of dit net wee een naweek gaan oop wees hier though.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          November 29, 2019 at 12:29

          Hoe so?

          Reply

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Commercial vang te veel.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Net paar naweke oop, so baie afhangend van die weer af.

            Ek en my broer gaan more en oormore so met 8 krewe elk is dit darem die lisensie geld werd.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Hangklip se kant toe?

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 14:48

            More Grotto, Sondag gaan ons nog sien

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 17:58

            Die golwe daar is kak erg xD

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 17:58

            Dis hoekom moreoggend, min wind amper reguit oos so van die min tye wat jy daar kan duik. Hopelik sak vol mossels ook uit kry.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 18:14

            Snormossels?

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 19:34

            Nee moet eers wag vir my gratis OneDayOnly Durex pak

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 19:41

            Siesa, rubber, nee sies

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 18:14

            Ons begin gewoonlik by moonlight bay, dan beweeg ons Rooielse se kant toe. En by rooiels spring in met viskoppe en vang met die hand.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 19:34

            xD

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 19:34

            Yes maanlig is ook ons goto vir kreef en kayak. Maar op die eerste naweek van die seisoen is dit so fokken mal daar. Laas jaar het die ouens op die skuite die ouens wat duik met spane gedonner.

          • Yozzie

            November 30, 2019 at 01:37

            Jip. Die plek is n paar dae weg van Reggies Rush word.

          • HvR

            November 30, 2019 at 08:47

            Sal miskien sondagoggend deur skiet Rooiels toe. Hang maar van die weer af.

          • Yozzie

            November 30, 2019 at 08:47

          • Admiral Chief

            November 30, 2019 at 09:28

            Hoe lyk dit as ek en my vrou so tussen kersfees en newyears deurskiet?

          • HvR

            November 30, 2019 at 13:37

            Daarvoor is windguru of enige voorspelling useless. Kan op die meeste week voor die tyd kyk.

            Goeie nuus is ek is dan hier (gaan die week voor kersfees suidkus toe) as julle wil kuier/braai.

          • Yozzie

            November 30, 2019 at 09:28

            Soos HvR gese het. Windguru is useless meer as 4 dae laater. Sondag was supposed om 100% bewolk te wees met reen n week terug.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 30, 2019 at 09:28

            4 later wat? 4 ure? 4 dae?

          • Admiral Chief

            November 30, 2019 at 01:37

            ROFL REGGIES RUSH!!!!

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            So, wag, R750 vir 8 krewe???????? Wie kry liksens? Zille??????

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Dis meer n outing as on geld te spaar. Petrol, launch costs is baie veral as jy n vol boot het.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Duik so van die kant af, van albei klein bootjies ontslae geraak hopeloos te veel PT. Gaan vang vis op die kayak.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Ons het n klein pencil duck wat vir racing gebruik was, maar nou is dit net die front runner vir kreef duik voor die groot boot.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Jy weet jy mag nie die boot af duik nie, fokken fauna en flora het ons 2 jaar terug amper daarvoor opgesluit. Gelukkig was ek in die boot met kreefnet met net 2 krewe so kon hulle convince ek het hulle met die net gekry.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:45

            Nee. Die pencil duck word gebeach. Want hy is maklik om te spin en terug in te kry as ons plekke skuif.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:45

            o okay, so julle ry om van SW af ipv ry.

            Gedink om dit al met die kayake te doen maar ons (ie my broer) maak altyd kwota op die gewone plekke.

            Wat wel gaan interssant gaan wees of ek my vet gat in my long johns gaan kry.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:45

            Ja ons launch in Gordons Baai. Dan rei oor. Die seelangs pad na rooielse is infested met GP karre.

            Maar ek praat ook jare terug wat ons even dit gedoen het. Die seisoene was so kort elke keer ons het nie eers gebother.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:45

            Jip, ons wik en weeg ook elke keer. Kry eers lisensies as ons ten minste een mooi naweek tref en dan word dit baie keer kombineer met visvang trip om dit die moeite werd te maak.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            Laas jaar het ek net n vis lesensie gekry. ‘n klomp silver spoons gekoop en Shad in Stilbaai gaan vang.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            *lisensie
            xD

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            Ek tik maar kak in albei taal praat.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 13:14

            xD

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            My luck die laaste 2 jaar was maar bitter kak. Gewoonlik net paar bankvisse,

            Kry gewoonlik goeie waarde uit my ass lisensie uit met mossels en alikreukel.

            My broer het buddies gemaak met ou wat kayak visvang trips doen so hopelik kry hy nou info op beter spots.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            Dit was maar lekke stil laas December. Maar die jaar gaan ons n week in Malgas bly langs die Bree rivier. Kyk of die blerrie kabeljou wil byt.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            Dit was maar lekke stil laas December. Maar die jaar gaan ons n week in Malgas bly langs die Bree rivier. Kyk of die blerrie kabeljou wil byt.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            Kabeljou het like crazy geloop in September, maar moes toe werk

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            Ek ruik n LAGZ visvang trip. Ott, Helgard, Admiral…

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            xD

            Ek dink Helgard is baie meer experienced as my season only fishing ass.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            Pfft, nee ek dink nie so nie. Ek volg maar my broer en neefs se raad

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 13:14

            EK RUIK NOGSTEEDS ‘n TRIP
            @yozzie_ZA:disqus

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            o_O

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 14:18

            Wanneer jy laas het jy legally kreef probeer koop?

            Teen R250 tot R300 kreef spaar jy actually geld, maar soos jy sê dit gaan baie oor die outing en om op Sondag terug te sit en te kyk na die jou bounty van die see terwyl jy jouself dik vreet.

          • Yozzie

            November 29, 2019 at 14:18

            Ek’s nie so into kreef eet. So ek koop dit nooit unless ek dit vang. Ek het nie eers n clue wat dit kos op die mark.

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            R94 vir die kreef lisensie, R750 vir die router.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Hahahah, ok, so as ons kom kuier gaan jy vir my leer hoe om kreef te braai?

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 14:48

            Dude kreef is seker die maklikste ding om gaar te maak. makliker as om eiers te kook.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 14:48

            Ek het nog net EEN keer in my lewe kreef geeet, en self gemaak (pote in pot, lyf op braai)

          • HvR

            November 29, 2019 at 14:48

            Maar julle kan kom, hopelik het ek kreef 🙂

    • Yozzie

      November 29, 2019 at 12:29

      Fok. Asus. ROUTERS!

      (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        November 29, 2019 at 12:29

        Hoekom? Prys?

        Reply

        • Yozzie

          November 29, 2019 at 12:29

          Nee. Net plain kak quality. Kak software.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            I heff da Afrihost D-Link outjie, loop soos stroop, kort so reboot elke maand, maar verder shananananananana

    • Matthew Holliday

      November 30, 2019 at 03:00

      PC and hardware prices this year have been criminal.

      Had a scare this week and started looking for upgrade parts and couldnt find anything that anyone would actually want for more than 10% off…
      The only decent deals were on stuff they cant sell.

      Meanwhile, randomly shopping like a week ago, I see a bed store had started their black friday deals early and managed to buy a new bed for 75% off.

      Reply

  10. Frans J Smit

    November 29, 2019 at 14:18

    Is Black Friday not a week long now? Come next year it will be a month. It’s the only way to have the November sales cycle return to somewhat normal for the economy

    Reply

  11. Yozzie

    November 29, 2019 at 11:05

    I have black listed the word “black friday” on everything I can possibly find in my life. If you are not in the US you are just in a place where everyone is taking a bloody chance to milk easy money out of people’s stupidity and ignorance.

    Reply

  12. Original Heretic

    November 29, 2019 at 11:05

    The nah is strong with this one.

    Though I have been looking for cheap Switch games today.
    My boy’s birthday is tomorrow and his present is waiting for him….and his dad who cannot wait for him to go to sleep!

    Reply

    • Brad Lang

      November 29, 2019 at 12:06

      Nice! What’s he getting for his cake day?:D

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        November 29, 2019 at 12:22

        Switch Lite and Mario Odyssey.
        Already wrapped! Did the whole set up for him already, so he can just start playing.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          November 29, 2019 at 12:22

          You, my dude, I like you

          +1

          Reply

          • Original Heretic

            November 29, 2019 at 12:22

            My little man is awesome. Loves his games (my doing, of course!).
            Watches Mario game vids on YouTube all the time, so it was high time he gets to play one.

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:22

            What a dad!

            My 10yo only interested in stupid music videos and tween kak on Netflix

        • Brad Lang

          November 29, 2019 at 12:29

          Kid’s got a good dad, clearly

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:29

            Ja, indeed.
            Pity my dad couldn’t have had taken some pointers like this about 30 years ago

        • Geoffrey Tim

          November 29, 2019 at 12:45

          ROCKSTAR. Nothing worse than getting a new gadget you still have to bloody update to use.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 12:53

            +1

        • Admiral Chief

          November 29, 2019 at 12:53

          I wonder how my life would have turned out 25-30 years ago if I had a dad like you back then
          ALL THE UPVOTES

          Reply

  13. HairyEwok

    November 29, 2019 at 11:48

    Black Friday is the top point of greed. People will disregard other persons around them just to score a small deal.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      November 29, 2019 at 11:48

      ^^^^^^^^^^^

      Reply

    • Pariah

      November 29, 2019 at 11:48

      Not so much an issue with Black Friday as it is an issue with people. You see the same thing with the looting of trucks and stores.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        November 29, 2019 at 11:48

        Bruhhhhhhhhh truck/store looters are right up there on the PURGE WITH FLAMMENWERFER category as rapists and murderers

        Reply

        • Pariah

          November 29, 2019 at 11:49

          Not sure I’d go *that* far. But yeah they can all get fucked.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 14:18

            HANS!

          • HairyEwok

            November 29, 2019 at 14:33

            Jah?

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 17:48

            Fetz ze flammenwerfer!

          • HairyEwok

            November 29, 2019 at 17:58

            Fuhrer i think we need Gustav for this!

          • Admiral Chief

            November 29, 2019 at 19:07

            xD

  14. Son of Banana Jim

    November 29, 2019 at 14:01

    I like my fridays, like I like my coffee… BLACK... and sweet!

    Reply

  15. Raptor Rants

    November 29, 2019 at 14:33

    Nay.

    Reply

  16. Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

    November 30, 2019 at 14:18

    Shit, Black Friday was yesterday??

    Reply

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