Millions of holiday shoppers and deal enthusiasts are waiting for the biggest shopping event of the year: Black Friday. As has been the case for the last few years, Black Friday deals are expected to start trickling in a little ahead of the official November 25 sale date. Like last year, product stocks are likely to be limited this year, too. And that’s why deal seekers need to stay vigilant about Black Friday offers and act fast when they drop.
Want to beat the holiday rush and make this year’s Black Friday shopping easy and stress-free? These tips will help you stay on top of alerts and snag the best deals.
Prepare your list
While the official sale date may be a few weeks away, the key to hassle-free Black Friday shopping is preparation. So, make a note of everything you need and put together a shopping list. The sooner you have your list ready, the better, given that you can start keeping a lookout for sales. Last year’s early Black Friday deals were extremely impressive, so have your list ready and begin deal-hunting around mid-October. Ultimately, if you come across good deals in the weeks leading up to the official Black Friday sale, don’t be afraid to grab them.
Know which brands to shop for
While it’s still pretty early to know which brands and products will be on sale, we can make a few educated guesses. Last year, the hottest sale items included the Apple Watch, AirPods, laptops, toys, and consoles. Amazon discounted its own devices, like the Fire TV Stick, Echo Dot, etc. Given that there have been several new product launches over the last few years, you can expect to see significant discounts on older models. Some of the newer Apple gadgets may be discounted, but don’t expect the deals to be noteworthy.
Sign up for email alerts
If there are online retailers that you often shop from, make sure to sign up for their newsletters ahead of Black Friday. This way, you’ll be able to receive email alerts regarding discounts and exclusive offers. Once you do this, check your inbox at least once daily to keep track of Black Friday sales and giveaways. You could also follow your favorite brands on social media to keep track of their Black Friday promotions.
Use a price tracker
Retailers offer varied discounts every day, and keeping track of prices can be stressful. Fortunately, you can use an online price tracker to track price changes on any product or website. Price trackers will send you alerts when the price of an item you want drops. The alert will usually include a screenshot of the product and the change in price. The email alert may also include a link to navigate to the product page and complete your purchase before the deal comes to the attention of other shoppers. This way, you can stay on top of all the Black Friday deals without having to incessantly check cost updates yourself.
Start early
The best Black Friday deals start dropping well before the official sale date. Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and Target are just some of the major retailers that launch their sales early. In fact, Target has confirmed that its sales for Black Friday will begin in early October, while Best Buy has announced that its deals will start by mid-October. Amazon will be holding a Prime Early Access Sale in October, which is essentially a preview of the company’s Black Friday 2022 sale. So, do your research and find out if your favorite retailers will be holding a pre-Black Friday sale.
