If there's one thing you hear over and over as Black Friday and its sibling sale days get closer, it's that there are no "real deals" to be found anymore. While it's certainly true that the days of huddling outside of a big electronics retailer after stuffing yourself with, well, stuffing have fallen by the wayside, that doesn't mean you can't save quite a bit on Black Friday. The real problem is volume, but we're here to help you deal with all the noise.
I've been closely involved with this particular shopping event for over a decade, and while the rules have changed there are still plenty of ways to save. Here's what we've learned along the way, and the tools you can use to make sure you're saving as much as possible this year.
When does Black Friday start?
If you're reading this, Black Friday has already started in some sense. Some of the same discounts you'll find across Amazon, Walmart and others are the same discounts you'll find at the end of November. That doesn't mean these deals aren't worth exploring, and it certainly doesn't mean there won't be a much larger selection of things to save on as we get closer to Black Friday. Here's what we know about the big sales that have been announced so far:
In line with its previous Black Friday events, Amazon is planning to start its great big sale on Thursday, Nov. 20. That means many of the best sales available through Amazon will be available a full week before Thanksgiving. This does not mean every single Black Friday deal will be available, typically many of the best sales wait until the actual event starts. For now, you can get an early look at some of the sales Amazon will have starting next week.
Not only will you find discounts on everything from TVs and gaming accessories to kitchen appliances and outdoor gear at Walmart, but you'll be able to start shopping much earlier than Black Friday. Walmart is hosting a pair of big sales in November, starting on Nov. 14 and Nov. 28 called "Whoknewville". These sales are expected to be both online and in stores, but Walmart is also planning a separate Cyber Monday sale that will only be online.
There are some Black Friday deals already available at Best Buy, if you're a fan of shopping early. Oct. 31 kicked off the start of Best Buy's month-long Black Friday event, filled with what the retailer calls doorbusters launching every Friday until Nov. 20. After that last doorbuster day, a lot of the sales from previous sales days will come back and remain on sale with new Black Friday offers until Nov. 29. Best Buy will then transition to Cyber Monday sales until Dec. 1.
For more Black Friday retailer announcements, check out the full list from our colleagues at BlackFriday.com.
How do I save the most during Black Friday?
For as long as sales have existed, companies have been caught increasing the price on products a couple of weeks before the sale and then returning them to their regular prices in order to advertise discounts. We've all seen or heard about it happening, but there are some tricks you can use to make sure you're not being taken advantage of when trying to save some cash.
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