Criticism: Why is Black Friday business and economic nonsense?

❗💔 Consumerism instead of sustainability: The grim truth behind Black Friday

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

🌍📉 1. Economic nonsense

• Small actual discounts: Studies show that Black Friday price reductions are often smaller than advertised. One analysis found that the average saving is only around 6%, and many products are even cheaper on other days in November. Retailers often raise prices beforehand to create the illusion of discounts.
• Loss of price control: Continuous discount campaigns like Black Friday accustom consumers to bargains and make it more difficult for companies to sell products at regular prices. In the long term, this can squeeze margins and reinforce the trend towards a “discount society”.
• Shifting sales instead of increased revenue: Many purchases on Black Friday don't generate additional revenue, but are simply advance spending that can harm Christmas business. Smaller retailers, in particular, risk losses as a result.

📦🏃 2. Entrepreneurial Challenges

• Intense competition: Companies are under pressure to keep up with the major discount providers, often leading to unprofitable price reductions. Smaller retailers can hardly compete and are losing market share to large online platforms like Amazon.
• Logistical strain: The surge in demand for discounts is leading to overloads in logistics and customer service. Return rates are rising significantly, causing 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 manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), which is often far above the market price. This makes discounts appear larger than they actually are.
• Impulse buying: Black Friday encourages the purchase of products that consumers don't really need. Neuroscientific studies show that discount promotions activate the brain's reward system and lead to unplanned purchases.

🌱🛒 4. Environmental impact

• High CO2 emissions: The increased transport requirements due to orders lead to a massive rise in CO2 emissions. In Europe alone, deliveries during Black Friday cause approximately 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 shifting than additional consumption.

From a business perspective, Black Friday is often a zero-sum game or even a loss-making venture for smaller retailers, and in the long run, it weakens the retail sector's pricing power. Economically speaking, it generates more shifting of purchasing power than additional consumption. At the same time, impulse purchases and environmental impacts harm not only society but also sustainability. Companies could be more successful in the long term if they focused 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 end-of-season sale.

In the past, end-of-season sales were strictly regulated and had a clear structure that differs significantly from today's practices. Here are the key characteristics of end-of-season sales in the past:

📜🏷️ 1. Legally regulated end-of-season sales

The tradition of end-of-season sales in Germany began in 1909 with the introduction of the Act Against Unfair Competition (UWG). This law stipulated when and how end-of-season sales could be held in order to regulate competition and provide guidance for consumers.

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

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

The sale 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 end-of-season sales

The aim was to clear out stock from the previous season to make room for new collections. This primarily involved seasonal items such as winter coats or summer clothing. These sales offered consumers the opportunity to shop at discounted prices during designated times, which for many was a highlight of the year.

🛒👕 3. Characteristics and process

The sales were heavily advertised and drew huge crowds to the stores. Scenes of overcrowded shops and chaotic scrambles for bargains were not uncommon. Bargain bins displaying discounted goods were a typical feature. Customers often had to get up early and fight their way through the crowds to snag coveted items.

⚖️❌ 4. Abolition of regulation

In 2004, legal restrictions on end-of-season sales were lifted. Since then, retailers have been able to offer discounts at any time, regardless of season or product category. This has led to end-of-season sales losing their clear structure, and discount promotions now take place year-round.

🕰️💰 Deregulation in 2004

The earlier end-of-season sales offered a clear temporal structure and were firmly rooted in consumer habits. They served as an organized opportunity for consumers to snag seasonal bargains, while retailers could clear their stock. With deregulation in 2004, this tradition was lost, abandoning clarity in favor of a constant culture of discounts.

🎉 Historical comparison: Sales and their role

A look at the history of end-of-season sales in Germany highlights the differences to Black Friday. Previously, end-of-season sales were legally regulated and served a clearly defined purpose: clearing out stock. This tradition offered advantages to both retailers and consumers that have largely disappeared today.

✨ Clear rules and timeframes

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

🌱 Practicality instead of consumerism

Unlike Black Friday, the end-of-season 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 entice consumers into impulsive purchases.

🔄 Deregulation and its consequences

With the lifting of legal restrictions in 2004, the traditional end-of-season sale lost its structure. Discount promotions can now take place at any time, leading to a constant presence of "bargains" and a dilution of the original concept. The resulting consumer culture has intensified further in the form of events like Black Friday.

💭 A critical reflection on Black Friday

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

The key to a more sustainable economy lies in fostering appreciation for products and services. Abandoning destructive discount campaigns like Black Friday could be a first step towards establishing more economically and socially beneficial 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 consumerism: Black Friday and its consequences
• ⚖️ Economic nonsense: Why Black Friday weakens retail
• 🚛 Logistics in crisis: The dark side of discount day
• 🥊 Small retailers vs. giants: Who really benefits from Black Friday?
• 📜 From clearance sales to a discount culture: The loss of a tradition
• 🤔 Impulse buying and brain chemistry: How Black Friday manipulates our behavior
• 🔄 Shift instead of growth: The economic impact of Black Friday

#️⃣ Hashtags: #ConsumerismCriticism #BlackFriday #EnvironmentalImpact #DiscountStrategies #RetailProblems

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🚫🖤 Black Friday boom? Here's resistance against the shopping madness!

No countries have completely banned Black Friday as a shopping event. However, some countries have restrictions or criticisms directed at the impact 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 trademark, which meant that retailers faced legal problems if they used the term without permission. However, this trademark protection was finally lifted in 2023, so the term can now be used freely. The ban therefore did not apply to the day itself or the discounts, but only to the use of the term in advertising.

💭 Critical discussions in France

In France, Black Friday has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. French parliamentarians even called for a ban on Black Friday sales, viewing them as environmentally damaging and a symbol of excessive consumption. While a complete ban was not implemented, the debate reflects a growing skepticism towards such events.

🌱 Environmental and consumer criticism

In many countries, including Germany and France, environmental organizations and consumer protection groups have strongly criticized Black Friday. They warn of the negative ecological and social consequences of excessive consumption. Calls for the introduction of a "Green Friday," which focuses on sustainability, have been made. Such initiatives aim to shift the focus from price 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 under fire
• ⚖️ France's debate: Consumption or sustainability?
• 🛍️ Black Friday in Germany: The history of trademark protection
• 🌱 Green Friday instead of a discount frenzy? 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 headaches in Germany
• 💡 Sustainable shopping ideas: Where Green Friday could be the future

#️⃣ Hashtags: #ConsumerismCriticism #EnvironmentalImpact #Sustainability #BlackFriday #GreenFriday

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