Black Friday Frenzy| Young shoppers weigh in

Young shoppers flocked to Menlyn Mall in Pretoria on Friday, eagerly seeking the best deals on their favourite clothing items.

With Black Friday sales in full swing, YNews spoke to some young shoppers about how they’re choosing to spend their money.

Young fashionistas and sneaker enthusiasts were among those participating in the Black Friday frenzy, some of them for the first time.

One disappointed young shopper said that many of the items he was looking forward to buying were already out of stock.

“It’s a mess. There’s nothing. People must just forget about Black Friday,” he said.

Meanwhile, one mom, out shopping for clothes with her daughter, said she won’t be settling for deals less than 50% off.

“Black Friday is not the same anymore. We’re spending wisely because inflation is high,” she said.

Other savvy young shoppers also urged their peers to stick to their budgets this Black Friday, to avoid financial strain during the holiday season.

Household essentials, including clothing, food, and toiletries, have been top priorities for older consumers, many of whom were looking to stock up for the festive period.

As retailers tempt young shoppers with enticing deals on clothing and footwear, some young shoppers were advising caution.

One young shopper said he’s opting out of Black Friday, believing retailers are simply trying to clear old stock to make way for new items

“I no longer find it interesting. People are struggling; there should be Black Friday deals on essential items like bread. But now they’re just offering old clothes,” he said.

Another young shopper, who’s been saving for a year, plans to use the bargains to buy building materials for her dream home.

She’s advised other young people to avoid the flashy sales and use the day of savings to invest in their futures.

“Right now, we have this mentality of ‘buy now and pay later.’ It’s really ruining us as a society,” the future homeowner said.

As the Black Friday frenzy slowly subsided, shoppers expressed disappointment over what they say is the lack of value in this year’s deals. 

“ It’s actually not worth it. We spend a lot of money on items that were supposedly on sale but I’ve lost out,” she said.