The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is the day shoppers look forward to because all of the sales available.

Many, if not all, stores open up bright and early at 5 or 6 a.m. for shoppers to take advantage of the sales.

Personally, I feel as if Black Friday has become more dangerous over the past years. Yes, I get it. Black Friday is one of the best days to go shopping because everything is on sale, but it’s not worth risking a life or spending time away from family. It’s better to shop online.

According to CNN Money,in 2014 more people were shopping online instead of going to the store. Americans spent 14 percent more online on Thanksgiving and online shopping on Black Friday was up 10 percent.

According to The National Retail Federation, in 2014, 87 million Americans shopped on Black Friday in store and an estimated 127 million participated in Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving in which more sales and discounts are available online. With online shopping, there are still great deals available.

There are also negatives that come from online shopping, such as waiting for your order to arrive, or something may be wrong with the product such as wrong size for an article of clothing or a broken piece.

But Black Friday has its fair share of dangers when it comes to shopping in stores, such as getting hurt. Many of the fights or accidents relate to electronic products.

Sources from Fox 13 in Salt Lake City reported in 2013 that a Wal-Mart employee in Clinton, Utah was trampled due to the electronic tablets on sale.

According to a story in The New York Times, in 2008, a Wal-Mart employee lost his life because of everyone rushing into the store for holiday bargains.  Among the death of the employee, four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were admitted to the hospital for minor injuries.

Jeremy Johnson, a freshman pre-business major and an employee at the Nike Factory Store in Great Lakes Crossing, never did Black Friday shopping because of the chaos that comes with it.

“I refuse to wake up at 3, 4 or 5 a.m. to go wait in line, so I just wait until Cyber Monday to take advantage of the deals,” Johnson said.

That’s another disadvantage of Black Friday shopping, waking up early to stand in a long line.

However, Black Friday shopping is another way to have fun with friends and family.  Shopping early in the morning with friends can leave people with good memories.

Most items are available online, but there are some door buster deals that are only available in stores, which is a way for stores to get more customers, so that’s another benefit and reason to go Black Friday shopping.

Something else that wins customers over is getting in-store coupons and discounts for being in line. According to MLive, last year at a J.C. Penney in Grand Rapids the first 1,200 people in line received coupon-filled cushion boxes. 

If a shopper wants to avoid the potential dangers of Black Friday shopping, he or she should think about online shopping because it’s safer and deals start days or even weeks before Black Friday.

But if a shopper wants to get a product right away or spend some time with friends and family, then in-store shopping on Black Friday is a great idea to consider.