Black Friday has long been defined by massive crowds , rock-bottom prices and rabid consumers willing to bite, scratch and claw their way to the best deals of the season. But these days, retail's biggest holiday looks a bit different .

Stores are opening their doors later, foot traffic is flat, online shopping is up and, in a world where Black Friday begins in September, consumers are wary, unsure if the deals they're getting are even that good .

"The integrity of the event is pretty much gone," said Mark Cohen, former CEO of Sears Canada, who spent a decade as the director of retail studies at Columbia Business School. "Back in the day, a Black Friday price was the best you could ever find on something ... never to be seen again. In today's day and age, promotional pricing just ge

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