Criticism: Why is Black Friday business and economic nonsense?

❗💔 Forced consumption instead of sustainability: The dark truth behind Black Friday

Black Friday is often promoted as the consumer highlight of the year, but from a business and economic perspective there are many reasons why this day can be viewed as problematic. Here are the main arguments:

🌍📉 1. Economic nonsense

• Low actual discounts: Studies show that discounts on Black Friday are often smaller than suggested. An analysis found that the average savings is only about 6%, and many products are even cheaper on other days in November. Dealers often increase prices in advance to create artificial discounts.
• Loss of price sovereignty: Permanent discount campaigns like Black Friday accustom consumers to bargains and make it more difficult for companies to sell products at regular prices. This can depress margins in the long term and increase the trend towards a “discount society”.
• Shift instead of additional sales: Many purchases on Black Friday are not additional sales, but merely early expenses that can harm the Christmas business. Smaller traders in particular risk losses as a result.

📦🏃 2. Entrepreneurial challenges

• High competitive pressure: Companies are under pressure to keep up with the large discount providers, which often leads to unprofitable price reductions. Smaller retailers can hardly keep up and are losing market share to large online platforms like Amazon.
• Logistical burdens: The rush for discounts leads to overloads in logistics and customer service. Return rates increase significantly, incurring additional costs and wasting resources.
• Inhumane working conditions: The high demands placed on employees in retail and logistics often lead to overtime and poor working conditions, especially in low-wage sectors.

🔍🤔 3. Consumer deception

• Misleading pricing strategies: Many offers are based on the recommended retail price (RRP), which is often well above the market price. This makes discounts appear larger than they actually are.
• Impulse purchases: Black Friday encourages the purchase of products that consumers don't really need. Neuroscientific research shows that discount promotions activate the reward system in the brain and encourage unplanned purchases.

🌱🛒 4. Environmental impact

• High CO2 emissions: The increased transport demand due to orders leads to a massive increase in CO2 emissions. In Europe alone, deliveries during Black Friday cause around 1.2 million tons of CO2 - almost twice as much as in a normal week.
• Waste of resources: Many purchased products quickly end up in landfills or are returned and destroyed, causing enormous environmental costs.

🌐📉 From an economic perspective, Black Friday generates more shifts than additional consumption

From a business perspective, Black Friday is often a zero-sum game or even a losing proposition for smaller retailers and weakens retailers' price sovereignty in the long term. Economically, it generates more relocation than additional consumption. At the same time, through impulse purchases and environmental pollution, it not only harms society, but also sustainability. Companies could be more successful in the long term if they rely on fair prices and sustainable business models instead of short-term discount campaigns.

💼🛍️ Black Friday has nothing to do with the origins and goals of the actual sales

In the past, sales were strictly regulated and had a clear structure, which is very different from today's practice. Here are the key features of sales in the past:

📜🏷️ 1. Legally regulated sales

The tradition of sales in Germany began in 1909 with the introduction of the law against unfair competition (UWG). This law determined when and how sales could be conducted in order to regulate competition and provide guidance to consumers.

From 1950, summer and winter sales (SSV and WSV) were officially regulated by a regulation. They took place twice a year:

• Winter sales: Last week of January to first week of February.
• Summer sales: Last week of July to first week of August.

The duration was limited to 12 working days at a time, and only seasonal goods such as clothing, shoes, leather goods and sporting goods were allowed to be discounted. Other products such as electrical appliances or stationery were excluded.

🎯📉 2. Purpose of the sales

The aim was to clear inventory from the previous season to make room for new collections. It was primarily about seasonal items such as winter coats or summer clothing. These sales offered consumers the opportunity to shop cheaply at set times, which was a highlight of the year for many.

🛒👕 3. Characteristics and process

The sales were heavily advertised and attracted large crowds to stores. Scenes of crowded stores and tumultuous fights for bargains were not uncommon. Rummaging tables were a typical feature on which discounted goods were presented. Customers often had to get up early and fight through the crowds to get coveted items.

⚖️❌ 4. Abolish regulation

In 2004, legal restrictions on sales were lifted. Since then, retailers have been able to offer discounts at any time, regardless of season or product category. As a result, sales have lost their clear structure and discount campaigns now take place all year round.

🕰️💰 Deregulation in 2004

The previous sales offered a clear temporal structure and were firmly anchored in consumer habits. They served as an organized way for consumers to score seasonal bargains while retailers could clear out inventory. With deregulation in 2004, this tradition was lost, giving up clarity in favor of a constant culture of discounts.

🎉 Historical comparison: sales and their role

A look at the history of sales in Germany illustrates the differences to Black Friday. Sales used to be regulated by law and served a clearly defined purpose: clearing inventory. This tradition offered advantages to both merchants and consumers that have largely been lost today.

✨ Clear rules and time frames

The introduction of the law against unfair competition in 1909 laid the foundation for regulated sales. Until deregulation in 2004, summer and winter sales were firmly anchored in the German retail landscape. These promotions took place twice a year and offered consumers transparent price advantages while retailers could make room for new goods.

🌱 Practicality instead of consumerism

Unlike Black Friday, the sales were limited to seasonal items and had a clear purpose. The aim was to offer winter coats or summer clothing at reduced prices - not to tempt consumers into making ill-considered purchases.

🔄 Deregulation and its consequences

With the lifting of legal restrictions in 2004, sales lost their structure. Since then, discount promotions can take place at any time, which has led to a constant presence of “bargains” and a dilution of the original idea. The associated consumer culture has further intensified in the form of promotions such as Black Friday.

💭 A critical reflection on Black Friday

Black Friday exemplifies a consumer culture that is neither sustainable nor economically sensible. The short-term benefits for consumers and businesses are outweighed by long-term damage to the environment, working conditions and the structure of trade. Companies that focus on fair prices, sustainability and quality could be more successful than plunging into the downward spiral of discount madness.

The key to a more sustainable economy is to promote appreciation for products and services. Avoiding destructive discount campaigns like Black Friday could be a first step towards establishing more economically and socially sensible structures in the long term.

📣 Similar topics

• 📣 The Black Friday myth: How discounts obscure the truth
• 🛒 Consumer culture in transition: Black Friday compared to previous sales
• 💸 Pricing strategy or deception? The truth behind discounts
• 🌍 Environmental pollution caused by consumer madness: Black Friday and its consequences
• ⚖️ Economic nonsense: Why Black Friday weakens trade
• 🚛 Logistics in crisis: The dark side of discount day
• 🥊 Small retailers vs. giants: Who really benefits from Black Friday?
• 📜 From sales to discount culture: The loss of a tradition
• 🤔 Impulse purchases and brain chemistry: How Black Friday manipulates our behavior
• 🔄 Shift instead of growth: The economic balance of Black Friday

#️⃣ Hashtags: #consumercriticism #BlackFriday #environmental pollution #discount strategies #tradeproblems

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🚫🖤 Black Friday boom? There is resistance to the shopping madness here!

There are no countries that have completely banned Black Friday as a shopping event. However, in some countries there are restrictions or criticism directed against the effects of Black Friday. Here are some relevant aspects:

🌐 Restrictions and prohibitions of the term “Black Friday”

In Germany, the term “Black Friday” was temporarily protected as a word trademark, which led to retailers facing legal problems if they used the term without authorization. However, this trademark protection was finally lifted in 2023, so that the term can now be used freely. The ban did not affect the day itself or the discounts, but only the use of the term in advertising.

💭 Critical discussions in France

In France, Black Friday has been viewed increasingly critically in recent years. French parliamentarians even called for a ban on Black Friday special offers, seeing them as harmful to the environment and a symbol of excessive consumption. However, a complete ban has not been implemented, but the debate shows the growing skepticism towards such events.

🌱 Environmental and consumer criticism

In many countries, including Germany and France, there is strong criticism of Black Friday from environmental organizations and consumer advocates. These warn of the negative ecological and social consequences of excessive consumption. Demands such as the introduction of a “Green Friday” that focuses on sustainability were loud. Such initiatives aim to shift the focus of discount wars to environmentally friendly alternatives without directly banning Black Friday.

📣 Similar topics

• 📣 Black Friday worldwide: Are there any bans?
• 🛑 Environmental criticism and consumption: Why Black Friday is criticized
• ⚖️ France's debate: consumption or sustainability?
• 🛍️ Black Friday in Germany: The history of brand protection
• 🌱 Green Friday instead of a discount battle? Alternatives in focus
• 🌍 Black Friday worldwide: Impact on the environment and society
• ❌ France's demand: a ban on Black Friday?
• ⚠️ Black Friday: Is the term still protected in Germany?
• 📜 Legal restrictions: Why Black Friday caused a headache in Germany
• 💡 Sustainable shopping ideas: Where Green Friday could be the future

#️⃣ Hashtags: #consumercriticism #environmental pollution #sustainability #BlackFriday #GreenFriday

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