The Round Table takes a group of IBT writers and throws them together to cover current events.

This week: Sally Turner, Jessica Menton, and Vincent Balestriere discuss the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There were deals to be had, but also deaths at the hands of frenzied shoppers determined to grab the objects they desired.

One death is attributed to the madness, along with fifteen injuries. Mild numbers, it’s said.

While these days are some of the craziest shopping days of the year, it’s important to note that consumers are shying away from physical stores in general. Though the brick and mortar establishments continue to thrive during these yearly sales, online retailers provide an easier, non-waiting-in-a-tent-overnight, non-potentially-violent way to acquire items.

This year’s sales generated less revenue than last year’s, despite a record number of shoppers. Businesses were able to get plenty of customers into their stores, but they weren’t able to get them to spend as much money as they’d hoped. Something to keep in mind: though retailers offered a multitude of deals and combination bundles (especially for tech-related items), many items are available year-round for similar prices.

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