The Jordan Harbinger Show 1245: Black Friday | Skeptical Sunday
118 snips
Nov 23, 2025 
Jessica Wynn, a writer and researcher focused on consumer behavior, dives deep into the deceptive world of Black Friday. She reveals how retailers craft fake discounts and produce inferior products specifically for the sales frenzy. The chaos of Black Friday is engineered to exploit shoppers' psychology, driving irrational purchases. Jessica also shares tips on how to safely navigate the risks of scams and phishing tactics during the shopping rush, empowering listeners to outsmart the system and make informed buying choices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Black Friday Is Now A Sales Season
- Black Friday has morphed from one chaotic day into a prolonged sales season blending in-store and online deals.
- Retailers stretch hype across platforms to keep shoppers chasing discounts for weeks.
Scarcity Triggers Dopamine-Fueled Urgency
- Scarcity cues and limited-time messaging exploit our brain's reward and survival circuits.
- These triggers create dopamine-fueled urgency that overwhelms rational decision-making.
Doorbusters Are Loss Leaders
- Doorbuster items act as bait to get shoppers into stores where they'll buy higher-margin accessories.
- The crossed-out original price and crowded environment amplify perceived urgency and impulse purchases.