Oklahoma City's sidewalks buzzed with activity as early as 4:30 a.m. on Black Friday, as shoppers gathered at locales such as Penn Square Mall to take advantage of the holiday deals. A couple, embracing the commercial spirit, humorously reminisced about the frenzied shopping experiences of years past to KOCO 5, with one saying, "Yeah, Black Friday isn't what it used to be. I miss when people would fight." The anticipation was tangible, with many holding out for specific purchases, such as a new television to enjoy the evening's Thunder game, according to KOCO 5's report.
Meanwhile, on 16th street, the cold weather seemed an afterthought as lines extended outside Black Friday Deals and Discounts. One eager shopper, Ashley Brown, stood waiting for her chance to score deals since the early hours, enduring the chill that left her feeling numb. Wrapped warmly in a sweater, Brown shared with The Oklahoman, "We've been getting mixed signals, some people have been saying it's not worth it, and others have been walking out with bags of stuff." In the face of uncertainty, her hopes were tied on acquiring a Nintendo Switch and shoes for her son.
Adding a layer of complexity to this year's bargain hunting, dynamic pricing strategies have come into play. Bargain hunting became increasingly multifaceted with fluctuating prices influenced by an amalgamation of factors including supply and demand, and competitor pricing. Lisa Bolton, a marketing professor at Pennsylvania State University, told KFOR that Black Friday is "the perfect storm for using dynamic pricing," suggesting that the already chaotic environment of deal-seeking is further complicated by these adaptive pricing tactics.
