Only 13 percent of consumers in Lower Austria participated in this year’s “Black Friday” sales,according to a recent survey conducted by NÖN. the findings suggest waning enthusiasm for the annual shopping event, despite continued promotional efforts by retailers.
The NÖN survey reveals a notable shift in consumer behavior, with the vast majority opting to forego the discounts offered on 2024/11/29. Experts warn that aggressive sales tactics employed during events like Black Friday can pressure shoppers into making hasty, ill-considered purchases. Johanna Pichler, an expert from the VKI (Association for Consumer information) and a lawyer at the EVZ (European Consumer Center Austria), cautioned against such practices.”Companies use various tricks to create psychological pressure to buy and entice people to make impulse decisions,” she stated. “Countdowns such as ‘only 5 pieces left’ or ‘only 3 minutes left’ are popular. We assume that these claims are largely incorrect and therefore prohibited.”
The survey data indicates a growing consumer awareness of these manipulative techniques and a preference for more deliberate purchasing decisions. While Black Friday remains a prominent fixture in the retail calendar, its appeal appears to be diminishing among Austrian shoppers.