In the past years, Black Friday has slowly built its reputation as the event that brings together millions of shoppers from around the world. Retailers offer attractive discounts, and customers are on the hunt for the best bargains.
In case you were wondering about the origins of Black Friday, it started in the United States of America in the early 60s. “Black Friday” is a term that was initially connected to the heavy traffic of people and cars on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. Black Friday marks the start of the holiday shopping season and is well-known for providing significant discounts on a wide variety of products.
This year, the much-anticipated Black Friday event is not far away from the moment you are reading this article. Retail giants like eMAG and other significant merchants have surprises both in store and online for you as they have chosen to start Black Friday on November 10th 2023.
While Black Friday is a good opportunity for shoppers to finally buy a product they have been seeking for a while, for retailers it is the moment to boost their yearly revenue. In this article, we are going to discuss some tips and tricks that will help you get the best deals.
1. Know Your Financial Capability and Know What You Want to Buy
A vital first step in achieving a successful and cost-effective Black Friday shopping experience is setting a budget. Consider your finances and how much you can comfortably set aside for your Black Friday shopping. Make a list of everything that you are considering buying, and prioritize it. This list will act as your guide, keeping you on track and preventing impulsive purchases. Setting a budget not only helps you manage your money, but it also helps you get the most enjoyment out of your shopping season and great deals.
2. Sign Up for Retail Newsletters
Signing up for retail newsletters in preparation for Black Friday is a savvy. Retailers often offer exclusive discounts to subscribers. By subscribing to these newsletters, you can stay in the loop about upcoming sales and special promotions. Before Black Friday, start reading your newsletters carefully.
Entering your email address only takes a few seconds, and while there is no charge to receive a regular newsletter, it can save you a lot of money if you take advantage of promotions. Also, plenty of retailers offer a bonus upon signing up to a newsletter
3. Plan Your Itinerary (Both Online and in Real Life)
If you are shopping offline, try to go first to the closest and most convenient locations. Allow yourself more time than you anticipate for each stop. On Black Friday, busy shopping centers and malls became completely hectic.
If you are shopping online, it would be very useful if you had the list that we mentioned at point 1 of this article. If you have it, you can schedule your online shopping sessions and take advantage of time-sensitive deals. Make sure that you consider delivery times and delays, and return policies.
4. Make a Wish-List
It’s important to shop around before Black Friday to get the greatest discounts. Make a list of the things you actually want before settling for the cheapest offers, no matter what the actual product is. Make a note of any specific brands or features you’re interested in, so you can quickly search for the most appealing discounts for them.
Start adding things to an online wish list, so they are ready to be added to your cart as soon as they go on sale. Don’t waste time searching through Black Friday offers if you already know what you are looking for.
5. Do Your Research and Use a Price Tracker
Find the item you wish to purchase, and then begin comparing costs to see which is the most affordable. Set price alerts for exact-match and related products you intend to buy during the holiday shopping season in the weeks and months preceding Black Friday. Watch to see whether they change over time and what the actual prices of pre-holiday sales are.
Start keeping an eye on costs across many websites for the products you want to buy to ensure you’re getting a good bargain on Black Friday. Hopefully, you’ll be able to identify questionable price increases before the holidays and steer clear of gimmicks presented as savings.
6. Use a Price Comparison Tool
Use a price comparison tool to quickly compare costs at reputable sellers before making an online purchase. Also look into deal aggregators and shopping blogs. Before purchasing, always check with the store directly.
7. Follow Retailers on Social Media
This advice is beneficial all year long, but even more during the holidays, when retailers ramp up their promotional efforts and offer more last-minute offers.
Retailers frequently advertise deals, exclusive promotions, and early access to Black Friday sales for their followers only on their social media platforms. You gain a competitive advantage by being among the first to learn about offers from your favorite businesses when you stay connected with them.
Following retailers on social media is a smart approach to make sure you’re getting the most of the Black Friday shopping season.
8. Avoid Sketchy Websites
Don’t support businesses that ignore safety. When you visit a new e-commerce website, make sure it has an SSL encryption. Your online information is protected by SSL encryption, much like a shield. It ensures that any private information you give a website, such as your passwords or credit card details, is converted into a secret code that only the website and your computer can understand. This is crucial because it prevents hackers from getting in and stealing your personal information while it is transmitted over the internet.
Some browsers use algorithms to highlight suspicious activity and discourage users from going to risky areas of the Internet. If you anticipate visiting many unfamiliar websites this holiday season, look into browsers with these safeguards or no-cost plugins that do the same thing.
9. Try to Get as Much Cashback as Possible
Cashback apps offer a simple yet effective way to put some of your hard-earned money back into your pocket. By using these apps while shopping, you can earn a percentage of the money you spend as cashback rewards. Basically, it is like getting a small refund for your purchases, and over time these savings add up. This can apply to a wide range of products and services, from everyday groceries to online shopping, and more.
10. Shop for Christmas Gifts
Many smart consumers use Black Friday as a strategic and cost-effective occasion to buy Christmas presents. This shopping event, well-known for its significant discounts, offers a great chance to cross things off your holiday gift list without going over budget. With a well-thought-out shopping strategy, you may score wonderful discounts on various goods. You not only save money, but you also reduce some of the stress associated with holiday shopping by starting early with your gift-buying.
11. Bonus Tip – Relax!
No matter what happens on Black Friday, remember to relax and try to enjoy yourself. If you miss a deal, there will be several other occasions that you will be able to find another one for the same product.
Black Friday 2023 is expected to be a blast. With these consumer tips and techniques at your disposal, you’re ready to make the most of this shopping adventure. As the big day draws near, keep in mind to set a budget, follow your list, and look into discounts. Here’s to a joyous and cost-conscious holiday season and happy shopping!
Important: Get to action well before Black Friday. The earlier you start, the better prepared you’ll be on the big day.