How to Find Black Friday Deals
By lindseyb, November 18, 2011, News, Tips & Information, Personal Finance, Shopping Tips
Black Friday should be typecast as the most manic shopping day of the year. Falling on the Friday following Thanksgiving, it is the unofficial start of holiday sales. Turkey-stuffed shoppers hit the pavement in the wee hours of the morning, battling each other for first dibs on some of the best bargains to be found, bar none.
The key to a successful shopping experience on Black Friday is preplanning. It is imperative to know what you want, where to go to get it and when you should go. There are actual methods to the madness, and experienced Black Friday shoppers may share their secrets; but don’t ask to cut in line in front of them. So what is the best way to map out your Black Friday extravaganza? Here are some shopping tips to help you prepare for Black Friday 2011.
Read those ads – retailers heavily advertise Black Friday offerings and they start the process early. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, don’t be too quick to categorize the circulars in your mailbox as junk mail. Take a gander to see what types of phenomenal sale items they have to offer. Retailers want to get shoppers inside the store where they will be tempted by visual triggers. To achieve this, they will offer loss leaders – items priced so low they will actually lose money on the sale. The strategy is that the loss will be overcome by additional sales shoppers will make once entrenched.
Scan the websites of your favorite retailers. Many will be hyping Black Friday offerings weeks before the actual date. Some of the retail giants, like Walmart and Amazon, invite you to register to be privy to special emails announcing Black Friday promos. Use the search box on the website and type in the phrase Black Friday to reap all available information. You are going to find some teaser sales prior to Black Friday, but chances are discounts will dive even deeper on the actual date. So unless you are considering a hot item that could be out of inventory by Black Friday, hang on to your hat before making a hasty purchase.
Follow the forums. Some online sites, like gottadeal.com and fatwallet.com, are dedicated to shoppers looking for deals all year long. The forums on these sites contain vigorous discussions on upcoming Black Friday deals with advice on how to get the biggest bang for your buck. BlackFriday.info offers tips and advice on how to prepare for biggest shopping day of the year. The site also provides information on store opening times and who offers holiday layaway plans.
Once you determine the items you want, you need to plan a strategy for accomplishing your goals. Unfortunately, you can’t be in two places at once, so get creative. List the opening times for each retailer you need to visit to grab a sale. Map out the route and set a predetermined amount of time to be spent at each location. Enlist the help of friends or family members who are willing to stand in line and capture your wanted items when the store opens. You will also need to determine if your best opportunities are visiting brick and mortar stores or staying home and tapping the keyboard making online purchases.
Navigating your way through Black Friday is all about setting priorities, goals and shopping strategies. With a plan in place, you will achieve greater success than simply trying to fly by the seat of your pants, even if those are pants you bought on sale. The savings you can garner on Black Friday are well worth the time and forethought you put into it, and if you find yourself fascinated by the frenzy, you will enjoy the experience even more.
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