“Feeding frenzy” originally referred to sharks consuming food, but now describes frantic efforts to acquire products, stocks, or collectibles. Examples include Black Friday sales, auctions, and stock market rumors. The frenzy is characterized by rarity, limited supply, rapid action, and chaotic behavior.
Feeding frenzy as a term first applied to the mad, excited way in which sharks consume food. The presence of food in the water can lead hundreds of sharks to snatch and grab chunks of food as quickly as possible. The initial use of the term food frenzy has transitioned into its use in many types of businesses and often refers to a frantic effort to acquire a product or something such as stocks or bonds.
In retail, huge sales after Thanksgiving in the United States can cause something of a food frenzy. For example, a few years ago, Wal-Mart offered DVD players for US$29.99 (USD). The price was limited to the stock on hand, and therefore when the doors opened, people rushed into the shop.
In Rohnert Park, California, others attempting to access stock DVD players trampled a woman in her 60s. Although the woman was only bumped and bruised, she was the victim of a food frenzy associated with low prices.
Occasionally, hard-to-find collectibles can cause a food frenzy as collectors vie for the opportunity to own something rare. This can occur at an auction-style event, where bidding is fierce and fast and goes much higher than a piece’s actual value, or a site like eBay that sells some hard-to-find collections can cause a frenzy of activity.
Legitimate stock tips, such as rumors that a company is about to go bankrupt or will be bought by a larger company, can create a feeding frenzy in the stock market. In this case, many people may want to buy or sell large amounts of stock and want it done “right now”.
The term food frenzy could also be applied to people attempting to buy tickets to a popular Broadway show or musical act. For example, typically when Barbara Streisand announces a concert, people quickly flock to their phones to get tickets as soon as they go on sale. Shows usually sell out within an hour or so, and more shows can be added to allow more people to see a show.
In general, the feeding frenzy has several identifiable characteristics:
Something rare is being offered.
The rare thing offered is only offered for a short time or in limited quantities.
The answer is very rapid action by large numbers of people.
The response causes chaos and unusually aggressive behavior.
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