In a world where Black Friday used to feel like the Super Bowl for shopping fanatics, 2024’s deals have left many consumers asking: “Is that it?” Instead of rushing to stores, elbows ready for battle, bargain hunters are now turning to memes to vent their frustrations over this year’s lackluster offers. Gone are the days of witnessing shopping-induced gladiator matches over flat screens or tramplings over the latest tech.
From trampling for TVs to yawning over 10% off—Where did Black Friday go wrong?
Now, it seems like the discounts are as elusive as an actual deal at full price. As shoppers scroll through endless “10% off” signs, they’re turning to social media for comfort, transforming their gripes into snarky, hilarious memes.
Whether it’s mocking the minimal discounts or longing for the chaotic nostalgia of yesteryear’s shopping wars, these digital jabs are the new battleground for shoppers craving real bargains. And in true Gen Z fashion, they’re choosing humor to soften the blow of a disappointing day for fashion enthusiasts.
The buzz began to fade long before sunrise when shoppers realized that this year's Black Friday wasn't going to live up to the hype. According to NBC Boston’s report, many deals this year weren’t even that impressive—some items had the same discounts they’d had earlier in the year.
Naturally, consumers took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their outrage. One user, @nuffsaidny, sarcastically tweeted, “Black Friday really fell off. Haven’t heard of a trampling in a long time,” and the replies flooded in with people reminiscing about the days when this event was an all-out brawl for bargains.
One meme shows a crowd fighting over a TV, with the caption, “I haven’t seen a Black Friday fight in years. Whatever they selling is ON SALEEEE.” It’s clear: for many, Black Friday used to be an event worth waking up for (or staying up late for), filled with chaotic shopping aisles and ridiculous deals you could brag about for years. Now? It’s like retailers are giving you a reason to stay home.
Memes like “Black Friday used to have heart. I wanna see someone get clocked for a Wii” poke fun at just how low the excitement has gotten in 2024. The glory days of bruised ribs and TV-sized dreams seem long gone.
And while most people are grateful for the peaceful shopping experience (no more fighting over Tickle Me Elmos), the sense of danger that made Black Friday so thrilling seems to have faded with the times.
It's not just the lack of drama that's being mocked—shoppers are frustrated by the uninspired discounts, too. A GIF of a woman dramatically sighing captures this sentiment perfectly, as the accompanying text reads: “People used to fight and get shot during Black Friday because the sales were so good and now we get 10% off when u buy 1 item full price.”
Another meme shows a solemn figure gazing out into the city at night, captioned, “They don’t fight on Black Friday like they used to anymore.” If the discounts can’t draw a crowd, perhaps it’s time for retailers to rethink their marketing strategies. Memes have become the perfect outlet for this disappointment.
Looking back at the mayhem of the early 2000s, it's easy to understand why shoppers are nostalgic for the chaos. There’s something almost comforting about the shared sense of camaraderie that used to come from a sleepless night spent waiting in line, hoping to snag the best deals (and maybe witness a few confrontations along the way).
Now, with online shopping taking over and doorbuster deals being a thing of the past, this event has lost much of its excitement—and shoppers are using humor to cope with the loss.
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This year’s shopping day may not have brought the chaos or the deep discounts that shoppers hoped for, but the memes? They’re the real winners. If retailers won’t bring back the battles of yore, at least the internet will keep us entertained.
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