Technical glitches are also common. Online stores might have issues with their payment gateways or their inventory systems not updating correctly. So customers end up paying more than they should or not getting the items they ordered at all. This has led to a lot of frustration among Black Friday shoppers.
The most common one is probably overcrowding. Stores get filled with so many people that it becomes a chaotic mess. People can't move around easily, and it often leads to arguments and even fights over items.
I know of a situation where a group of shoppers lined up outside a store hours before it opened on Black Friday. But when the doors finally opened, the security measures failed. Thieves took advantage of the chaos and stole from people's bags and pockets while everyone was focused on getting inside the store. It was a nightmare for those who had their belongings stolen and a really bad start to their Black Friday shopping.
A common one is stampedes. Shoppers get so excited about a limited - time deal that they push and shove, and sometimes people fall and get trampled. For example, I heard of a store where they were giving away a very popular gadget at a huge discount. As the doors opened, people rushed in like a wild herd and a few were seriously hurt.
The most memorable one for me was when a big-box store had a 'doorbuster' deal on a new game console. People started camping out days in advance. When the doors finally opened, it was chaos. People were climbing over each other, and some merchandise got damaged in the process. It was a total mess.
The intense competition among shoppers can turn into aggression. Everyone wants the best deal, and sometimes they are willing to be rude or even violent to get it. In some stories, you'll hear about people stealing items from others' carts or cutting in line. This creates a really negative and nightmarish atmosphere during Black Friday.
One horror story is the stampedes that sometimes occur. People are so eager to get into stores for the best deals that they push and shove. I heard of a case where an elderly person got knocked down and injured in the chaos outside a big - box store.
A store in 2016 had a 'buy one get one free' deal on designer shoes. Women were scrambling to get their hands on their favorite pairs. It was chaos but also exciting as everyone was so eager to get a great deal.
I think the most memorable would be the stampedes in some stores. With so many people eager to get their hands on the discounted items, it was like a mad rush. People were falling over each other, and it was really dangerous.
One horror story could be the overcrowded stores. People were pushing and shoving to get to the best deals. There were long lines everywhere, and some stores ran out of popular items quickly, leaving customers frustrated.
There are also stories of overcrowded stores where it's almost impossible to move around. Shoppers end up getting pushed, shoved, and sometimes even trampled. For example, in some big department stores, people rush towards the discounted electronics section and it becomes a chaotic mess. It can be a very dangerous situation, not to mention the stress it causes.
One horror story could be about the overcrowded stores. People pushing and shoving to get to the best deals. Some customers might have even gotten trampled in the chaos. It's a nightmare scenario especially for those who just wanted to have a normal shopping experience.