There was a time when South Africans camped outside stores, queued for hours, and lunged for discounted TVs like it was a competitive sport. But recently, the Black Friday buzz seems to have faded. With tighter household budgets, rising skepticism about “fake specials,” and online shopping fatigue, many shoppers are asking whether the madness is still worth it.
According to Advocacy Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, Sibusiso Mbtoto, the declining enthusiasm is rooted in economic reality.
“It’s a combination of factors, one of them being that salaries and wages remain low in comparison to the goods and services they are supposed to purchase. Consumers feel there is very little difference these sales will make. Under normal circumstances, when you are earning competitively, you can look for a possible bargain. But when income is under such pressure to meet the basics, it becomes a lost cause.”
He said that for many households, the idea of setting money aside for Black Friday deals has become unrealistic.
“Some feel there’s not much that’s going to come out of Black Friday or any other sale. Whether it’s a clearance or closing-down sale, there just isn’t the same appetite we saw about 10 years ago.”
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
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