Social Media Backlash Over Target's Black Friday Freebies

In Westbury, New York, eager shoppers braved the cold, lining up outside Target as early as 3 a.m. on Black Friday, driven by the promise of complimentary goodie bags upon the store's 6 a.m. opening.

However, the contents of the gift bags led to a wave of disappointment on social media. Customers, expecting substantial gifts, found themselves receiving fun-size candies, sample drink mixes, small shampoo bottles, and a pack of Uno cards.

"You're making people stand out in the freezing weather only to hand out candy treats?" lamented one TikTok user, branding the move as "diabolical." Another declared, "Black Friday is beyond redemption—here's to hoping for a better experience next year."

Despite the online disapproval, Target reported that all giveaway bags were swiftly claimed at the opening, with some stores reporting lines of up to 500 patrons. In a more positive light, an exclusive offer saw ten lucky shoppers per store receiving gift bags with additional surprises worth between $99 and $350.

These special bags included appealing items such as Target gift cards, Laifen hair dryers, Ninja slushie makers, or Beats headphones. This effort marks part of Target's strategy to boost its in-store foot traffic and sales, alongside efforts like a holiday setup and partnering for exclusive releases including Taylor Swift’s latest album.

Shift in Shopper Strategies

Meanwhile, rival Lowe's garnered praise for its Black Friday offerings. The home improvement giant handed out five-gallon buckets filled with a selection of building tools to early customers. On top of this, a 'golden ticket' in some buckets included vouchers for free appliances valued up to $2,000.

"These goodies make Target's offerings seem like a child's birthday trinkets," observed a commenter on a video showcasing Lowe's gains. Another user reflected that Lowe's gifts rekindled a nostalgic joy reminiscent of childhood Christmas mornings.

Indeed, the first 50 prize-filled buckets at Lowe's reportedly brought a sense of festive wonder that many hadn't felt on Black Friday or during the holiday season in quite some time.