The Jordan Harbinger Show

Episode 1245: Black Friday | Skeptical Sunday

Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Jordan Harbinger
Co-host/Guest: Jessica Wynne

Episode Overview

Theme:
This episode of Skeptical Sunday dives deep into the phenomenon of Black Friday—the annual shopping frenzy that kicks off the holiday season in the U.S. Host Jordan Harbinger and co-host Jessica Wynne unpack the origins, evolution, psychological drivers, tricks, risks, and global spread of Black Friday. They debunk myths around “deals,” reveal sneaky retail tactics, discuss consumer psychology, and offer practical advice to avoid scams and regretful purchases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Black Friday: What It Is and What It Isn’t

• Not an official holiday:
  Black Friday isn't a federal holiday. The government doesn't recognize it, but culture and commerce do. It's a 'retail holiday' and the stock market even closes early.
  (03:16 – 03:33)

• No longer just a day:
  The distinction between in-store Black Friday and online Cyber Monday is gone. Now, it's a week (or more) of sales, both online and in-store.
  “It’s both… Black Friday and Cyber Monday have kind of fused into one long shopping week… Retailers offer both in-store and online deals and keep them going through what is now called Cyber Monday.”
  — Jessica Wynne (03:46)

• Loss aversion drives buyer frenzy:
  Missing a perceived deal feels worse than just buying nothing.
  (04:51 – 05:21)

2. History of Black Friday

• Origin of the term:
  Began as a reference to a gold market crash in 1869—a financial scam, not a sale (05:37 – 06:05).
  Misconception about “being in the black” (profit) arose later.
  “The term was used again in the 1950s in Philadelphia, where police used it to describe the chaos the day after Thanksgiving… It was gridlock, fights, theft, total mayhem.”
  — Jessica Wynne (06:22–06:44)

• Retailers embraced the chaos:
  By the 1980s, retailers co-opted the term, spinning it as the day businesses moved from red (loss) to black (profit). (07:24)

3. Consumer Psychology & Manipulation

• Scarcity and urgency are engineered:
  Sale signs (“only 3 left!”), loud music, and crowd energy target primal reward circuits—scarcity triggers dopamine.
  “When something seems limited, like only three left, it triggers the same reward circuits as survival instincts.”
  — Jessica Wynne (07:53 – 08:11)

• Gendered marketing and shopping behaviors:
  Men are more influenced by their self-control; women by public self-consciousness—how others perceive them.
  “For men, it’s about self-control. The more self-control, the less the crowds and cues work. For women, self-control doesn’t matter as much; it’s about public self-consciousness.”
  — Jessica Wynne (10:12–11:45)

• Retail environments deliberately stoke emotional responses:
  Music playlists, ad copy, and store layout all drive impulsiveness and FOMO.

• Consumer misbehavior:
  Examples of violence, theft, and general chaos—from trampling deaths to pepper-spraying crowds for deals.
  (14:46 – 24:44)

Notable quote:
"Consumer misbehavior is the broad term for all the chaos on Black Friday and the unethical and disruptive ways people act while shopping… moral freestyle." — Jessica Wynne (14:46)

4. The Toll on Retail Workers

• Harsh conditions:
  “For most retail workers, Black Friday is not a holiday. It’s a stress test. More than 4 million Americans work in retail…fewer than 5% are unionized.”
  — Jessica Wynne (30:48–31:36)

• Blackout day policy & workplace stress:
  Employees can’t request the day off. The combination of overwork, stress, rude customers, and no holiday pay makes it the worst day of the year.
  (32:09–33:23)

5. Online Shopping: Same Tricks, New Risks

• Online shopping accelerates scams and abuse:
  Fake websites, phishing emails, phony order confirmations designed to steal data.
  “Scammers build sites that look identical to big brands… Unless you're really reading your URL, you can't tell that you’re on a different website.”
  — Jessica Wynne (34:24–34:43)

• Modern scam sophistication:
  Scams go beyond “obvious” IRS or gift card tricks—they use urgency, trust, and professional design to dupe.

6. Tiered Manufacturing & the "Illusion of Deals"

• Not all products are created equal:
  “Tiered manufacturing” means brands make slightly cheaper versions for special sales or retailers—it looks the same but is lower quality inside. Appliances, electronics, even screen protectors and toys are common offenders.
  (41:19–44:16), Example: John Deere, Moen, Mattel, Apple accessories

  Notable moment:
  Jordan describes buying two “identical” screen protectors (one from Apple Store, one from Amazon) and noticing huge quality differences, even within the same brand.
  (47:41–48:26)

• Sales often are illusions:
  Retailers may quietly raise prices before a sale, then drop them to look like a massive bargain. Tracking tools like camelcamelcamel.com expose the real price history on Amazon.
  “A lot of Black Friday sales are exactly that—illusions. Some stores quietly raise prices weeks before the event, then discount them back to regular price so it looks like a massive bargain.”
  — Jessica Wynne (49:50–50:27)

7. Black Friday Goes Global

• International shopping frenzy:
  Black Friday has expanded to Europe, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and the Middle East (“White Friday” or “Blessed Friday”).
  (54:20–55:13)

• Satirical responses:
  Companies like Cards Against Humanity raise prices as a stunt—people still buy, and the extra profit is donated to charity.
  “In 2016, they came up with the Holiday Hole. They literally dug a hole in the ground and told people, we’ll keep digging as long as you keep sending money. And they raised over $100,000 on Black Friday to dig nothing.”
  — Jessica Wynne (53:12–53:31)

• Buy Nothing Day:
  An anti-consumption protest encouraging reflection and reduced spending.
  (55:22–56:17)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Jordan’s summary of Black Friday:
  “That wonderful time of year when Americans express gratitude on Thursday and commit petty violence over flat screen TVs on Friday.”
  (01:56)

• On the psychology of the sale:
  “Those sale ads land where dopamine meets desperation.” — Jessica Wynne (07:53–08:11)

• On doorbuster chaos:
  “Throw in sleep deprivation, group frenzy, and the illusion of a once in a lifetime deal, and rationality goes out the window… Most people are hungover and running on adrenaline and pumpkin pie.” — Jessica Wynne (08:33)

• Black Friday horror story:
  “In 2011…a 61-year-old man collapsed at a Target as the doors opened. People literally stepped over him…eventually an off-duty nurse and paramedic tried to help, but it was too late. He died in the frenzy of a sale.”
  — Jessica Wynne (15:28)

• How retail responds:
  “They make it feel like it’s every shopper for himself. This is war. And those doorbusters…they’re just bait to get you inside.”
  — Jessica Wynne (16:45–17:14)

• On scam websites:
  “Scammers build sites that look identical to big brands. A really famous example is Microsoft.com, but they’ll change the ‘M’ to an ‘r’ and an ‘n’...”
  — Jessica Wynne (34:36)

• On ‘Buy Nothing Day’:
  “Buy Nothing Day…started back in the 90s as anti-Black Friday protest. Instead of shopping, people are encouraged to reflect on their habits, fix things they already own, donate or just chill and not participate.”
  — Jessica Wynne (55:39)

Practical Advice & Actionable Takeaways

• For shoppers:

  • Stick to reputable retailers and check for HTTPS/lock icon on websites.
  • Use credit cards for better fraud protection.
  • Don’t click on suspicious links; verify order/tracking emails by going to the retailer’s website directly.
  • Use price-tracking tools (like camelcamelcamel) to see genuine discounts.
  • If a product’s model number varies slightly between stores, it’s likely not the same (cheaper) version—compare specs.
  • Make lists in advance—buy what you actually need, not just what’s on sale.
  • Remember, the hype is for the sellers’ benefit, not yours.

• For those seeking alternatives:

  • Embrace “Buy Nothing Day”—reflect, repair, donate, and skip the chaos.
  • Consider joining “Buy Nothing” groups or swap communities to reduce unnecessary consumption.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to Black Friday Skeptical Sunday: 01:56
• Black Friday’s History & Chaos: 05:37–07:24
• The Psychology of the Sale: 07:53–09:32
• Gender Differences and Shopping Triggers: 09:32–12:23
• Extreme Black Friday Stories: 15:28–24:44
• Toll on Retail Workers: 31:36–33:23
• Online Shopping & Scams: 34:24–39:54
• The Illusion of Deals & Tiered Manufacturing: 41:19–50:27
• Global Spread & Satirical Protests: 53:12–55:13
• Buy Nothing Day & Alternatives: 55:22–56:51
• Practical Shopping Advice: 57:23–58:24

Closing Thoughts

Jessica Wynne:
"If the holidays feel like something you have to survive, you should evaluate what and how you’re celebrating. I mean, the truth is these sales are designed to serve corporations, not to spread savings. Joy." (58:28)

Jordan Harbinger:
"So be paranoid, be boring, and you might actually survive the holidays." (58:24)

In sum:
This episode reveals Black Friday as a brilliantly orchestrated, psychologically manipulative campaign for mass consumption—with more theater than substance, more risk than reward, and only fleeting bargains for most. Harbinger and Wynne encourage listeners to shop smarter, question the hype, and remember the hidden costs—on wallets, workers, and well-being—lurking just out of frame in those doorbuster deals.