And yet you people talk about it WEEKS before its even Black Friday..

Same here almost-neighbour. It sucks doesen't it :/

You're missing nothing. People spend hours lining up for a "deal" on one item that will probably be obselete or at 10% off. I am guessing this year their will be something like $20 off of an ipad. I also guarantee walmart will be offering the ipad with retina display at $299 even though it has been at that price for months and just not advertised. When I moved to the US, I quickly realized that they do black Friday to get people into the store and nothing is ever THAT cheap, but people buy a load of crap while there that they wouldn't buy otherwise. Some doorbusters are decently priced, but you have to wear armor to get them.

It's also centered around thanksgiving which is exclusively american. Take a trip to London, Dublin, Brussels, Berlin or any other shopping city in Europe during the run up to Christmas and you will get better deals over a more expansive time frame. Mainstays such as the Buy one get one free in western Europe are replaced in the US by things like buy one get one 40% off. Store will make money either way. Nothing is free.

So, No, you're not missing anything except a load of gullible people standing out in the cold to spend their hard earned $ because a flier told them to. While they could be working during that time, earning more than the money they got off the item. Some do it for the fun. Most avoid it like the plague. That's all there is to it.

it sure does.

It's even harder for me, being an Atari 2600/retro gaming fan and all that. To quote myself:

"I do but since i live in Bulgaria they (retro games) are extremely rare.It's like searching for a needle in a haystack the size of the universe"

well here I cant even find a PS4 but I have to admit last gen for some reason we had all three consoles..now theres literally nothing.

NOTHING.

I'm sorry but I don't know where you are getting your prices or info from. As an Irish person, who has an American ex, I am insanely jealous of all the prices and bargains that are on offer in the states compared to here. Firstly, our taxes are insanely high so that pushes them well over USA. Hell even taking that out, we pay much more.

Prices also go up before Christmas and only on the St Stephen's Day sales do they drop to more normal prices and people think they're getting a 'bargain'

Did you read my comment? I am Irish. I live in the US. Facts? huh? Are products cheaper in the US? Yes. Only because other things are so damn expensive.

ANd what you said has nothing got to do with black Friday and what I said. The standard prices are cheaper year around and don't decrease as much as people from abroad think on black Friday. Standard prices in Ireland are higher, but they DO decrease more of a % during sales. Understood?

ie. An Ipad with retina here is $299 year around but people buy the ipad air instead at $499 because they are told to by adverts. When black friday comes around they will see the $299 one advertised and think it's amazin and it might come with a $20 gift card.

In Ireland, where I grew up, you can get deals like buy one get one free on video games. Gamestop there is MUCH better year around. Are things more expensive? Yes, because  Euro is worth 30% more than a dollar.

Regarding taxes, you have no idea so don't give me the Irish martyr crap (buu huu I just realized that every other rich country in the world pays for water but I don't want to). Thanks. I pay $3,600 a year on property tax, I pay more on medicare and medicaid than you do on PRSI and yet their is NO public health care system. So my health insurance is $1,600 a month. YES, per month. There is state and federal taxes. In Wisconsin for example, on top of any product price you see, there is a 5% sales tax tacked on. But yeah....I hope your still insanely jealous because I get a cheaper rate on a video game console year around, even though that wasn't my argument. My argument was trhat existing US prices don't drop as much as people think around BF. And many other countries get a higher % drop during sales.

To be fair, much of Black Friday is driven by Women's love for shopping and chattering, as well as the excitement of being part of the buzz and event.