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Whether it’s Amazon, Manor, Mediamarkt or Fust: On November 26, retailers will have big discounts. Then “Black Friday”. But what exactly is “Black Friday” about? Answers to the most important questions.

Where and when was Black Friday invented?

Black Friday originated in the USA. But in the beginning, it wasn’t about spending money while shopping, it was about burning money in the stock market.

September 24, 1869, went down in history as Black Friday. At that time, two American speculators raised the price of gold. The drop was deep: US stocks lost about a fifth of their value in one day.

In the 1950s, the term originated in Philadelphia, USA. Police officers had to work overtime to cope with the crowds that flocked to the city to march and share on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The Thanksgiving holiday, always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, later increasingly became the beginning of long weekends. More and more Americans have made the Friday after this Thursday blue or free to not have to work four days in a row. Retailers have adapted and have begun attracting shoppers to their stores with Friday deals.

What is the date of Black Friday in Switzerland?

Thanksgiving is not celebrated much in Europe and Switzerland. However, all possible goods will also be greatly reduced next Friday.

There were several restricted Black Friday offers in Switzerland a few years ago. However, it was the Manor chain of stores that launched a massive sale on Friday at the end of November. Black Friday brought 2015 to Switzerland. with economic success.

Other Swiss dealers have seen it too. The following year there was Black Friday at various stores, as well as Coop, Media Markt, and Interdiscount. Migros Aare, Lucerne and Ticino also made discounts. Likewise, Migros subsidiaries Meelectronics, Digitec and Galaxus. Black Friday now has a permanent place in the Swiss shopping calendar.

What does Black Friday bring economically?

Billions of dollars are traded in the US on Black Friday. Still: Black Friday’s importance has waned a bit in recent years. Because, especially in the online world, more and more retailers are trying to attract customers with their own discount campaigns, independent of the holiday business. And for several years now, Black Friday has been followed by Cyber ​​Monday with huge discounts in online retail.

Black Friday is still an integral part of the American shopping world. In the US, the fourth Friday of November marks the start of the holiday shopping season. This accounts for 20 to 40 percent of total sales in the US retail business.

Black Fridays are expected to be black at Swiss department store chain Manor: compared to regular public holidays, the department store chain cycles around twice as much on Black Friday. Experts estimate that up to 60 percent more turnover occurs in the Swiss retail trade at this time of year than on regular business days.

What Black Friday offers are there in Switzerland?

Discount campaigns are completely different. Depending on the seller and the goods. In some stores, only consumers with a customer card get huge discounts. In still others, everyone gets half the price waived.

On Black Friday, you can not only shop cheaper, but also shop longer. Some online stores open their Black Friday offers from midnight. Fixed trade also attracts with longer opening hours: some shopping centers are open until 10 or 23 pm. Other houses open at 7 am.

In 2017, Media Markt went a step further: The electronics retail chain started with a “Red Thursday” to match the corporate color.

Where do the dangers lurk in the discount war?

Some retailers shop specifically for Black Friday. These are not always high-quality goods. That’s why you shouldn’t get drunk, you should look closely. Also on the price tag: Because not all offers are truly bargains.

Consumer advocates complain that prices always refer to outdated prices or manufacturers’ recommended retail prices.

In addition, it is quite possible that one or the other product will really only be really cheap next Monday. Because so-called Cyber ​​Monday is when there are really big discounts at online retailers.