With the hope of finding the finest deal on a new TV, smart speaker, laptop, or other high-tech device, some of us look forward to sofa black friday deals shopping season every year. And with good reason—we often see some of the year’s largest savings on practically everything during this time.
The beginning of the Christmas season has moved earlier and earlier in recent years. Similar to 2023, it began this year with a massive sale at Target in early October, followed by site-wide discounts at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Since then, the discounts have been coming in, which is fortunate since this year, more people are shopping and spending money than ever before. According to the National Retail Federation, shoppers will spend $25 more per person than they did the previous year and $16 more than they did in 2019, setting a new record for spending in November and December. People anticipate spending almost two-thirds of their budget on presents, with the remaining portion going into seasonal goods.
According to an Adobe holiday shopping trend analysis, since inflation is still a factor in our daily lives, most customers will continue to focus on costs this year. 48 percent of respondents stated they would take more time to compare pricing, which is a tactic we wholeheartedly endorse. In order to save money, the same proportion stated that they would search for less expensive options. However, you must exercise caution when doing so, as pricing shouldn’t be the sole consideration when selecting a product.
Whether you browse sales now or wait for Black Friday and Thanksgiving, you’ll discover that many of the offers that appear to be amazing discounts aren’t necessarily as good as they seem, and if you’re not vigilant, you might be duped.
Don’t worry—For years, Consumer Reports has been keeping tabs on Black Friday sales, so we know all the gimmicks. Find the greatest deals and minimize irritation and overpaying with our top 10 Black Friday shopping advice.
The last three suggestions on the list below are especially relevant to TVs, which are usually in high demand during this season.
1. Get started early.
You don’t need to wait for Black Friday weekend to discover deals because sales have already started. In practically every category, retailers are providing discounts, and many have Christmas return and refund policies that include partial reimbursements for products that go on sale later in the season. For example, everything purchased at Target stores or online between November 7, 2024, and December 24, 2024, is eligible for price-match adjustments. Get in touch with customer support if you see that the price has decreased, and they will reimburse the difference. All you need to do is be proactive and keep your receipts.
2. Shop online instead of during in-store sales.
Even though there will be a lot of offers both online and in-store, buying from your computer or phone may provide you more alternatives and greater luck. Retailers have been offering more of the same incentives both in-store and online in recent years. Comparing pricing and shopping at several stores to find the greatest deals may be made easier when you purchase online.
Additionally, many businesses are staying closed on Thanksgiving, which encourages customers to purchase online for discounts on the actual holiday.
3. Use apps and websites to compare pricing.
You must monitor costs in the run-up to Black Friday in order to determine how excellent the offers are in the end. Cyber Monday is no different. However, you may compare costs without going from store to store. All of the goods in our ratings have their current costs listed at different stores on the Consumer Reports website. Additionally, you may experiment with apps like Shopzilla, PriceGrabber, and Google Shopping. You may compare prices, obtain discounts, and find coupons in-store by scanning barcodes or QR codes using smartphone applications like BuyVia, Shopkick, ShopSavvy, and Shopular.
Dozens of websites currently publish Black Friday advertisements that have been leaked and approved. We frequently check GottaDeal, TheBlackFriday.com, DealNews, and BestBlackFriday.com. You can often filter deal notifications by product category if you sign up for them.
Retailers with their own shopping applications include Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. For instance, Amazon’s mobile app enables you to scan goods and compare prices in practically any store using the camera on your smartphone. (To safeguard your security and privacy, remove the applications you don’t use once you’ve crossed everything off your Christmas list.)
However, in the days leading up to Black Friday, straight comparison shopping can be quite difficult. Models that aren’t accessible at other retailers or aren’t available earlier in the year are frequently featured in the greatest offers offered by each retailer. Here are two brief pointers:
• Browser addons are useful. To personalize your surfing experience, you may install these little pieces of software into web browsers like Chrome and Firefox. When you purchase online, for instance, CamelCamelCamel, Keepa, and Honey are programs that will provide pricing histories, price alerts, and available coupons.
• If an item has a price you like, put it in your shopping basket so you can quickly locate it again and be ready to place your order. This is an example of being a web-savvy shopper. Next, examine if the pricing is truly unique by visiting the websites of other sellers. You must submit your order and obtain a confirmation that it has been received; simply adding an item to your basket does not reserve it.
4. Make use of loyalty schemes.
Members of store loyalty programs frequently have early access to discounts, deals, and promotions in addition to the opportunity to earn rewards for their purchases. Therefore, subscribe to Black Friday shopping notifications. In certain situations, you may even determine whether the items you’re interested in are available for purchase online and can be picked up in-store, which can save you money on shipping.
5. Make friends.
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok are excellent places to learn about special offers and promotions. Influencers may provide you with insider information or unique promo codes, and brands may advertise exclusive deals on these platforms. Additionally, TikTok’s commerce portal is growing in popularity as a location to buy presents.
6. Make a budget and follow it.
Yes, it does sound easy. However, Black Friday sales—particularly the doorbuster deals that are offered in limited quantities—are partly intended to get you to visit a store or shop online so that the business may upsell you items you hadn’t planned to purchase. It’s quite simple to get swept up in the enthusiasm and go over budget. Determine how much you want to spend on your Black Friday shopping binge in advance, and try your hardest to avoid impulsive purchases, particularly if you’re unsure of the quality of the bargain.
One advantage of using credit cards this year is that many of them double the manufacturer’s guarantee. However, retail credit cards that offer interest-free promotions should be avoided. Even if you have paid off a significant portion of the debt, you can still be forced to pay interest on the entire purchase if you are not disciplined enough to pay off the remaining amount before the promotional period expires.
7. Review all shop policies beforehand.
Understanding a store’s return and price-matching procedures is usually beneficial. Price-match policies are in place at practically all of the big merchants, and they have been growing yearly. Additionally, the majority of stores extend their return policies, usually into January, so you and the receivers of your gifts have plenty of time to swap or return unwanted items.
Read the tiny print, too, since some retailers stop their price-match commitments on specific goods throughout the Black Friday weekend. Additionally, be sure the business won’t impose a restocking fee on any items you return by reviewing the return and exchange policies for Black Friday specials.
Advice for TV Purchasers
Given how many people look for sales on televisions around this time of year, they need extra attention. These three Black Friday purchasing suggestions can help you improve your collection this year.
8. Hold off on buying until Black Friday.
We anticipate that Black Friday will offer the largest television bargains this year, as it has in previous years. Your best strategy is to know what you want and how much you want to spend so that you’re prepared to buy on Black Friday. In certain circumstances, those prices could remain the same until Cyber Monday, but once Black Friday is finished, we do see prices rise.
9. Examine a “derivative” television model.
You’ll start seeing cheap TVs designed just for Black Friday this month. Some can only be purchased from one shop. Since these sets are generated from popular models, they are referred to as “derivatives.” They simply differ in model numbers and may have fewer HDMI ports or a more basic remote control, among other things.
We bring several derivative models into the lab, but we don’t evaluate them all. Even though they cost $100 to $150 less, we frequently uncover several TVs that are derivatives of well-known brands that do just as well in CR’s testing.
However, not all TVs released during this season are actual derivatives. As a result, it might be challenging to compare costs and evaluate the quality of recently released sets. When highly advertised sets hit the market, Consumer Reports will cover them and assist you in finding the best offers.
10. Watch out for the cheapest set.
Doorbuster offers at extremely low prices entice customers with the promise of savings, but the packages, which are sometimes from lesser-known companies, are not necessarily worth the cost.
According to Stephen Baker, vice president for industry analysis at the market research firm NPD Group, “it is always worth reminding people that Black Friday products are often older technology or specifically engineered to sell at a special Black Friday price, and may not be exactly what a consumer would choose.”
Remember that you will be using your new television for many years to come. You could wish you had spent the extra $50 to $100 on something better if you’re dissatisfied with the features or image quality.
Additionally, such loss-leader TVs are often at their lowest possible price. No matter the season, you should never be afraid to ask for a better price because a merchant may have greater wiggle space on a flagship or step-up model.