export_ofoct.com (27)
[00:00.39] Aimee: OK, so hey Todd, so I have a question. I've noticed recently in the U.K.
[00:05.64] that this holiday called Black Friday has appeared, and this is a new thing for us.
[00:13.89] I don't really know why it has appeared. I think it is American. Shops just give super discounts in November and people are going crazy for like TVs and stuff.
[00:25.39] Do you have experience with this?
[00:28.14] Todd: Yeah, unfortunately, I think it is one of our worst exports. Like I am not a fan of Black Friday.
[00:35.39] We've had it now probably for like ten or twenty years. I can't remember but it started where the department stores would have these massive sales on Friday which is the day after Thanksgiving, which is always on a Thursday in November.
[00:48.64] Aimee: Ah, that's the connection. OK, after Thanksgiving.
[00:50.89] Todd: Right, and I think it was called Black Friday because that was the day that the stores could show that they had a profit for the year, or something like that.
[00:58.14] Aimee: OK, so it's blatantly all about money?
[01:00.64] Todd: Oh, totally and originally, what they would do is they would entice people with really good bargains, but then they kept ratcheting up the bargain,
[01:10.64] so now they have these really, really low teaser products like they only offer ten TVs or something like that for like twenty bucks.
[01:19.89] Aimee: Oh, so it's like a limited, a really limited supply of really good deals?
[01:25.64] Todd: Yeah, and so then what you do is you get these huge crowds that converge on these stores, and then they open the doors and people rush in and literally it's a free-for-all.
[01:35.14] You have fights and it's so crazy.
[01:37.39] Aimee: I've seen that. I've seen videos and clips, and it started happening in the U.K. now
[01:43.89] Todd: Oh, no!
[01:45.39] Aimee: And I can't believe it that people can be so greedy.
[01:48.39] Todd: And especially what's bothersome is that you're with your family on a holiday.
[01:53.14] You're having a good time, and then you go to war practically. You know what I mean?
[01:57.39] Aimee: Yeah, with strangers
[01:58.64] Todd: Yeah.
[01:59.39] Aimee: Or your neighbor even. It doesn't matter who it is, just fighting over a cheap TV.
[02:04.14] Todd: I mean, I'm proud to say I've never been to a Black Friday.
[02:06.64] Aimee: Me neither. Me neither.
[02:08.64] Todd: So I guess that's hypocritical for me to say that because you know, since I've never been to a Black Friday.
[02:16.39] I've only seen it, but I just don't like going to shopping malls and to, like, department stores very much - big box stores.
[02:23.14] I'm just not a shopper.
[02:24.39] Aimee: So you prefer online shopping?
[02:25.89] Todd: I just prefer not shopping at all. Like I don't care like what I dress or how I dress.
[02:32.14] So, like, I buy my clothes at a supermarket.
[02:36.64] You know. I know, I'm not the most fashionable person, but as for Black Friday, you know, I think a lot of times, parents what to get stuff for their kids, you know, they want to get that special gift. Maybe I think that's what attracts a lot of the crowds.
[02:50.14] Aimee: Yeah, it is, you know, once Thanksgiving is over then it's the build-up to Christmas, so of course there's the stress of preparing everything in time for that.
[03:00.64] It's hard to resist really good bargains, I guess if you're trying to be careful with your money.
[03:05.89] You're trying to be sensible or there's those gifts that, you know your child really wants, so I can understand people feel a lot of pressure to do that.
[03:15.64] Todd: I mean, some of the stores, look like they've been through a hurricane after the crowds go through it.
[03:23.14] It's crazy.
[03:24.64] Aimee: It does sound awful. Doesn't sound like my idea of a good time.
[03:29.89] Todd: No. Now there is one option though if you don't want to face the crowds and all the hysteria, you can do what's called Cyber Monday.
[03:37.64] Aimee: OK.
[03:38.14] Todd: Do you have Cyber Monday?
[03:39.14] Aimee: No, I'm not familiar with it.
[03:41.89] Todd: So Cyber Monday - I think it's the Monday after Black Friday - and you just get all the deals online over a 24 hour period.
[03:50.89] Aimee: OK, is like this remainder, leftover stock? Or is this like a new ...?
[03:54.89] Todd: No, this is just the online stuff, so I think it's just, you know, the Amazons and all the online stores, that they want to have their deals that people can buy.
[04:06.14] Aimee: They wanted a piece of the action, basically.
[04:08.64] Todd: Yeah, yeah. Exactly so they can make it super, super ...
[04:11.39] Aimee: It's too much!
[04:12.89] Todd: Yeah.
[04:14.39] Aimee: It is all too much.
[04:15.64] Todd: I know, we should have like a, you know, I don't know, a cut back on spending. But if you cut back on spending, then you're hurting the economy, right, so ...
[04:23.64] Aimee: I know. It's true.
[04:24.39] Todd: Yeah!
