The day after Thanksgiving is not just famous for the amazing leftovers. It’s famous for the celebrated holiday of Black Friday, one of consumerism’s biggest days of the year. Stores have team meetings to prepare for the crowds of people rushing through the door, lines can wrap around the block and shopping becomes a competitive sport.   

And yet, as online shopping has grown in popularity, Black Friday seems to have lost some of its appeal.   

Part of the downfall is mistrust in the deals being offered. In the past, retail has taken advantage of the mindset of Black Friday shoppers and offered discounts that weren’t as influential as they seemed. Shoppers began to realize the switch and instead of continuing to fall for this trap, they changed their habits and protested the system.  

Another reason you may not see the same horde of people at the mall is because for some, the idea of shopping with so many people is terrifying. The commercialized idea of a crowd fighting over a cheap TV or trampling each other to get to the Stanley water bottle section has deterred quite a few shoppers. Even if it’s not the reality, the idea of racing around a store for an item that might just have sold out is not encouraging.   

Perhaps the biggest detriment to the practice of being in line when doors open and giving it your all on Black Friday is Cyber Monday. The presence of online shopping offers a safe and verifiable alternative to pushing a shopping cart through a sea of people. With the added incentive of new discounts, it’s become much easier to get Christmas shopping done from home.   

It can be both an experience and an adventure to make the trip out to the mall, and as a college student it could save you some precious dollars on this year’s gifts. In all honesty, if anyone is going to succeed in reaching the limited edition 50% off stock the fastest, our chances are better than most. This is not to say that you should be pushing the little old ladies out of the way — but your chance of success might be a bit higher than hers already.   

For the die-hard shoppers with the ambition and street smarts to make it happen, Black Friday will never lose its appeal. Luckily for the rest of us, it’s not our only option to get the job done. This Nov. 28, whether you’re working a shift, pitching a tent outside of your favorite store or just enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers, I wish you luck.