I’ve Been Writing About Black Friday for 12 Years. Here’s My Advice

N

NeonDash

As a veteran of Black Friday shopping for over 20 years, I've learned that it's not just about camping out overnight or braving the crowds to snag a deal. It's about being strategic and informed. Here are my top tips for making the most of this annual retail spectacle.

Firstly, forget the early bird catches the worm mantra. While some doorbuster deals can be exclusive to in-store shoppers who arrive first, many online retailers now offer similar discounts at the stroke of midnight on Thanksgiving Day or even before that. I recommend staying up late on Wednesday, November 26th, to check for online sales starting around midnight Eastern time.

If you're planning to shop online, take a moment to do your price research. Tools like Camelcamelcamel, Keepa, and Honey can help you track product prices over time and make informed decisions about which deals are worth snagging. I also recommend making a shopping list ahead of time to avoid impulse buys that'll blow your budget.

Nowadays, nearly every retailer offers some sort of Black Friday deal, so it's essential to know what you're looking for and where to find it. Check the websites of your favorite stores, as many will highlight their best deals prominently on their homepage. Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and The Home Depot are just a few examples of major retailers that usually have impressive sales.

But be cautious – not all Black Friday deals are created equal. Some discounts may be repetitive from year to year or offer minimal savings. For instance, I've seen smart speakers like the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini sell for around $20 on Black Friday, only to pop back up at the same price throughout the year.

To maximize your savings, make sure you're actively paying attention to the store's website during the sales event. Clearing your web browser cache before shopping can also help you snag deals faster. And if a deal sells out quickly, there's often another retailer that will have the same or similar product at a discounted price.

Finally, don't forget about Cyber Monday and other holiday shopping events like Small Business Saturday, Green Monday, Free Shipping Day, and Presidents' Day sales. These post-Black Friday deals can offer significant savings on popular items, especially when combined with free shipping.

By following these strategies and staying informed, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the chaos of Black Friday and snag some impressive deals. Happy shopping!
 
Ugh, I'm so annoyed by people who still fall for that whole "doorbuster deal" hype 🙄. Like, yeah we get it, show up early and you might get a discount... but let's be real, most online retailers are offering those same deals to anyone who wants them at midnight on Thanksgiving Day. Just stay home, drink some coffee, and shop online like a normal person ☕️. And can people please stop using those super old-fashioned price tracking tools? Honey is so last year 💸. A simple Google search should do the trick...
 
omg i totally agree 🤩 like why do ppl still fall for that "early bird catches the worm" thing tho? it's def not true anymore lol 😂 online sales are where it's at now, and doing ur research beforehand is key 🔍💸 i love how u mentioned camelcamelcamel and honey, those tools r lifesavers when it comes to finding good deals 🙌
 
I'm so over the whole Black Friday hype 🤣. I mean, what's the point of braving the crowds just to save a few bucks on stuff I probably don't even need? 🙅‍♂️ Just do your research online and snag those deals from the comfort of your own home - trust me, it's way more convenient 💻. And let's be real, most of those Black Friday deals are just gonna pop up again later in the year or not live up to the hype anyway 😒. Stick to Cyber Monday or Small Business Saturday for some legit savings, and you'll be golden 👍.
 
I'm so over Black Friday now 🙄. My kids are always asking why we need to stay up late on Thanksgiving night, and honestly, I don't know anymore 😂. They're just excited for the sales, and I'm more worried about their energy levels dropping in the morning. We used to love shopping together as a family, but now it's all about me navigating online deals while they're asleep or distracted by screens 📊. I wish retailers would offer some sort of " kids' deal" option, like discounts on toys and games 🎁. And can we please just skip the doorbusting chaos altogether? My poor husband is always getting anxious before Black Friday 😬. Give me a quiet shopping experience at 9 am any day! 👍
 
I totally agree that Black Friday is not just about waiting in line for hours or getting caught up in the hype 🛍️💸. With so many retailers offering online sales now, it's way easier to do your research and snag a good deal from the comfort of your own home 😴.

But honestly, I get frustrated when I see people buying stuff they don't need just because it's on sale 🤦‍♀️. It's all about being smart with your money and finding the best deals that fit your needs. I like to think of myself as a bit of a "Black Friday ninja" - always staying one step ahead of the game and finding those secret discounts 🕵️‍♀️.

I also think it's cool that more and more retailers are now offering smaller, more frequent sales throughout the holiday season 🎁. It can be really tempting to just go out and shop on a whim, but I say stick with your list and avoid impulse buys 💸. Trust me, you won't regret it!
 
Ugh, Black Friday is such a hassle 🤯, but if you wanna get good deals, you gotta do your research first 💻. Don't even bother camping out overnight, just stay up late on Wednesday to check for online sales 👀. And please, don't be a fool and buy something just 'cause it's on sale - make sure it's really worth it 🔍. I swear by those price tracking tools like Camelcamelcamel, they're lifesavers 🙌. And btw, not all deals are created equal, so don't get excited if you see a "deals" page with 100 similar products... most of them will be old inventory or overpriced 😒. Just remember to stay sharp and clear your browser cache before shopping, that's key 🔴
 
I totally get why people love Black Friday now that online shopping is so convenient 🛍️. I mean, who needs to camp out for 24 hours just to save a few bucks? But for real, doing your research and price tracking tools like Camelcamelcamel is key 🔍. It's crazy how many stores offer deals these days, but it's still super easy to find the best ones if you know where to look 🤔. Don't even get me started on Cyber Monday - I swear, some of those sales are just as good (if not better) than Black Friday 💸.
 
I'm so over how much pressure there is around Black Friday 🙄. Like, can't we just enjoy the holiday season without having to fight for discounts on stuff we don't even need? It's all about creating this false narrative that we're "saving" money by buying more stuff than we actually do... Meanwhile, our planet is literally burning and it's all about the Benjamins 💸.
 
🤑 I gotcha, it's not just about camping out or hitting the stores first. Online sales are where it's at now 📊. And don't even get me started on those tools like Camelcamelcamel and Honey - they're lifesavers when it comes to price research 🙌.

But let's be real, most Black Friday deals aren't all created equal 💸. Those $20 smart speakers from last year? Yeah, not worth the hype 😒. And clear your browser cache before shopping? Yeah, no kidding 🙄.

And don't even get me started on Cyber Monday and other holiday sales... I mean, who hasn't snagged a deal or two from those events 🎁? But if you're gonna be smart about it, research beforehand and make sure the deal is actually worth your money 💡. Happy shopping, indeed! 👍
 
idk about all this black friday hype lol. people are just gonna buy stuff they don't need and then regret it later 🤑. but at the same time, if u do ur research and find a good deal on somethin u really want, that's cool too 😊. just be prepared for crowds and long lines, and dont say im not warnin u when u get stuck in traffic tryin to get home with all ur new goodies 🚗😅
 
man i'm so over black friday already 🤯‍♀️🛍️ it's like every retailer is having a sale just to outdo each other. but honestly, if you wanna get good deals u gotta be strategic 🤑🕰️ like stay up late on wednesday to snag online sales and do ur research with tools like camelcamelcamel 👀💻 i also think its crazy how many retailers are offering similar discounts now so u gotta know what u want and where 2 find it 🤔📈 but the thing is, not all deals r created equal so u gotta keep an eye out for those that r really saving u money 💸👍
 
🤔 so its black friday again. i mean what even is that anymore? just a bunch of overpriced stuff we dont need and people camping out for hours. my question is, what does the average person really save on those doorbuster deals? $20 off a smart speaker sounds like a joke 🙄

and have you seen the prices they offer online vs in-store? sometimes its better to just buy from online retailers that dont offer any discounts at all 🤑

also, what about the environment and all the waste we generate during this shopping event? is it really worth it? 🌎
 
man i remember back in 2005 when black friday was literally just a few hours long, people would hit up best buy or walmart and get what they needed done by 6pm lol nowadays it's like a whole week of deals 🤯 and you're right about being strategic and informed, i always check those price tracking tools on camelcamelcamel before making any purchases. but i gotta say, some of these online retailers are just copying each other, like who sells the same stuff at the same price? and don't even get me started on cyber monday 🙄
 
🛍️ so like I was thinking Black Friday is really just an excuse for people to freak out over stuff they don't even need anymore lol 🤑 it's all about being strategic and informed which is pretty cool if you ask me. the thing that bothers me is how some deals are literally the same year after year and we're still expected to get hyped about them 🙄 but hey if you wanna save some cash and have fun doing it then go for it! just don't forget to check those prices beforehand so you can make an informed decision 💡 also, I love that people are now more aware of the online sales options on Thanksgiving Day 🕰️
 
🤑🔍 I've been seeing a lot of people getting scammed by those "limited edition" deals that are really just a rehash of last year's prices... it's like they think we're all sheep who'll fall for the same old tricks. 🙄
 
🚨 "The best way to predict your future is to create it." - Abraham Lincoln 😊

I'm kinda surprised people still fall for the whole camping out overnight thing. Online shoppers have so many better tools at their disposal, like those price-tracking websites and browser-clearing tricks. It's all about being smart and strategic now! 💡
 
Ugh, I'm so over Black Friday 🙄. It's all about the hype, not actual savings. Most year-round prices don't change that much anyway. And don't even get me started on the websites always crashing because of too many people trying to shop at the same time 🤯.

Can we just make online shopping a daily thing now? Like, why do we need an entire weekend dedicated to it? And what's with all these additional "events" like Cyber Monday? It feels like retailers are just trying to milk us for more money 💸.

Also, have you seen the lines of people waiting outside stores on Black Friday? That's not shopping, that's a crazy-making spectacle 🚫. I'll stick to my couch and online browsing, thanks 🛋️.
 
so like black friday is just another excuse for people to overspend lol but if u r gonna shop then make sure u do ur research and get those sweet online deals 🛍️💰 i mean camelcamelcamel is ur best friend when it comes to price tracking honey is also super useful don't fall for repetitive discounts tho like smart speakers sellin at the same price every year 😒
 
omg u gotta do ur research before black friday!! i was scammed last yr by a store that had a "deal" but it was just the same price as usual lol dont even get me started on those echo dots 🙄 how much i paid for mine and its still collecting dust at home 😂 anyway, make sure u clear ur browser cache 4 salez 2 grab em faster & check other retailers 4 similar products cuz u never know when u might find a better deal 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top