Capitalizing on Black Friday

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is an event that occurs in The United States on the first Friday after Thanksgiving. The origin of the name itself has conflicting roots, some saying that it dates back to the Fisk-Gould scandal of 1869, when the price of gold skyrocketed. This instability caused many folks to spend their money quickly, resulting in a large buying spree. Others claim that the name was coined by the police of the state of Philadelphia, who called it Black Friday after shoppers managed to cause a massive traffic jam while looking for best deals. Either way, the short version of it is that on Black Friday, the 29th of November, most retail stores offer massive discounts and lucrative bundles.

What are the best deals?

Black Friday deals are already on offer over on Amazon and other e-commerce sites. For example, the Amazon Fire HD Tablet is currently selling at a $50 discount at $100. For iOS users, there is a $100 discount on Apple Watch Series 4 and other smaller discounts on Apple products. Tech products are usually the most discounted items during the sale and that includes consumer tech like Televisions, Cameras etc. So if you are looking to upgrade your old phone or thinking about getting a new smart watch, this is the best time to do so.

Should I phone a friend?  

Phone a friend, text them the link but be wary of the indefinite waiting period that comes with relying on friends living overseas. There's also the issue of your trusted friend not having the money required. So assuming your friend lives in a country where Black Friday is a thing, make sure he can afford the item over there and if possible, best to deposit the payment in your friend's local account after he confirms the purchase. 

The online way, yay or nay?

While most people in the know have relied on the friend-courier method for the longest time, there are now multiple online stores in Bangladesh that deliver items from foreign online stores for a fee – Backpack Bangladesh and Airposted being two of the most notable examples. These sites have dedicated websites, some of which even listing Black Friday deals. And while the payment process is straightforward and there is a specific date of delivery, most of these websites outsource the delivery process to freelancers. So there is a risk of getting your delivery without original packaging, instruction manual, accessories etc. In worse cases, the item may even be damaged or tampered with. So if you are using one of these sites, make sure you specify how you want your item to be delivered in the "additional instruction" section.