I think this one of those ‘I accidentally lit the fuse’ moments 
Good to know I wasn’t the only one simultaneously confused and irritated!
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Didn’t work out too well for JCPenny. Consumers have spoken… sales and coupons.
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Corporate Virtue Signaling at its worst
It’s completely hypocritical for a company that produces consumer goods to say that they’re morally outraged by Black Friday and come up with some anti-capitalist rhetoric. It’s even more insidious that they’re doing this email campaign as some type of underwater marketing move.
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Can’t say I have any dislike for the phrase virtue signalling, it describes so much of 2020 well.
On Hunts morality assertion, maybe coming from the large corporates vs small businesses angle? Can’t see that being a moral issue, but could be where they’re coming from. [edit: from mortality fat finger as spotted by G Anderson, haha]
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Mortality alright 
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Their wheels perform terribly in aerodynamics tests anyway! Would rather get some 2nd hand Enve or Zipps
Tbf I’ve been perfectly happy with their 4 Season Aero alloys as ‘year-round’ wheels. Light enough, robust enough, cheap enough. They (Hunt) wouldn’t be my choice for aero wheels, though.
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I’ve read a lot of reports about them coming in well over advertised weight also
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In defence of their products, I would say that my HUNT 50s have been faultless. They’ve survived two British winters, two racing seasons and a double flat where I managed to put both wheels into a hole. Wrecked both Conti 5000TL tires but the wheels were fine.
Might not be the lightest or the best in aero testing but hey, I’m only one person.
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I’ve never used the product - I’m sure they are perfectly good wheels that come in a better price point than most established brands. They certainly don’t hold back Andrew Feather! I just think that communication comes across a little ‘high and mighty’ given they’re not at the razor’s edge of innovation or widely considered ‘the ultimate’ in specific facet.
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Few people really need another wheelset. I’d like one for my new mountain bike, but can’t get past the fact that I have so much gear already.
Their wheels are definitely priced competitively. Their margin may be so thin any further discount would make the transaction unprofitable. A wheel builder I know can’t come close to Hunt prices.
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@hun
Hunt wheels sell in fairly high volume across the world so will be able to purchase at reduced cost resulting in a lower price. I know of another up and coming wheel builders that supply excellent carbon wheels at even lower prices than Hunt and they have been able to offer a Black Friday deal.
Kinda surprised at their need to send the email (I got it too). But…Hunt wheels are already cheap as hell compared to all competing brands. Their value is insane.
Black Friday at other brands is simply bringing prices down to Hunt’s everyday price.
Rapha on the other hand seems to be doing fine despite getting away from ever offering sales/discounts
Hunt … meh
JCPenney may be different scenario… they’re customers reacted negatively to change in pricing models from a discount/coupon culture to an everyday low price. There are very successful everyday low price retailers, such as Wally World
Perhaps, but walmart does a brisk business in manufacturer coupons at a scale most other retail can’t conceive. And I’m sure they shift around their loss leaders regularly similar to other grocers. So the average engaged consumer still gets to feel like they’re winning.
Another example: bed bath and beyond. That evergreen 20% off coupon shouldn’t need to exist. It tells the naive consumer that you’re getting screwed unless you jump through the coupon-hoop. Obviously they’ve found it worthwhile. Hobby-lobby, same thing.
Anyway, my point is not that a business can’t survive without sales and coupons, but it’s strongly expected. Going against that requires commitment.
Think there might be cultural differences at play here too. Hunt are a UK company, and Black Friday is still a relatively new thing here, with quite a bit of bad publicity (people getting into fights in shops over discounted stuff).
Also just opened a members email from British Cycling with a poll question, “How much are you planning on spending on cycling on Black Friday?” 78% had answered “nothing”.
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Personally I think the email was unneeded, but in the grand scheme of things really not a big deal. Besides…their normal prices are still better than all the better known brands sale prices.