Nearly every store on earth seems to be trying to promote a Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale or event. This means many items you don't traditionally think of as "holiday deals" are actually seeing deep discounts. Think: rugs, major appliances, and even furniture. But where do you look for these kinds of deals?
Here are three sites to help you find the best deals:
Slickdeals: This community of savers is posting great deals year round, but their tenacity around the holidays is something to behold. At the time of writing this, nearly all the major big box stores' Black Friday ads are available in PDF format on Slickdeals - giving you an inside look at the best deals on eReaders, TVs and bed sheets. Search the forums for specific items you are hoping to nab - because another Slickdealer may have already found a great price.
CyberMonday: This site also offers year-round deals, but its real value is in their Twitter feed and email alerts. On November 26th, they'll be sending tweets and emails by the minute as new deals pop up online. The website also tracks coupon codes, so don't click "Buy" on anything until you've checked for additional discounts here.
BFAds: If you're wondering if a store will price match or if a deal you saw in the paper will also be online - this site is helpful. They keep track of retailers making changes or accommodations and post daily updates. They also get some of the ads of smaller, less busy Black Friday spots, such as JoAnn Fabrics and Bass Pro Shops.
(Images: Flickr user Kristina D.C. Hoeppnerlicensed for use under Creative Commons and sites listed)
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ugh .. this is one of the things that I absolutely hate about this time of the year. It's simply embarrassing how people act on "Black Friday". I actually finished all of my Christmas shopping this morning- I typically buy books and similar things so my shopping is easy and I don't have to put up with all of the foolishness associated with shopping this time of the year :)
After trying to wake up early two years in a row for Black Friday, i must say that i will never do it again. You wont ever get the deal you wanted unless you camp out the store the night before. For me, its just not worth it. You guys dont have to to wait for black friday because most of the deals are usually online and sometimes weeks before blackfriday. I would have to agree slickdeals and techbargains are great deal sites
I REFUSE to encourage this madness! I hate the whole idea of encouraging people to behave badly. I put my money where my mouth is and shop as local as I can and when I cannot I shop online. I know I probably pay more, but right now I can afford to not yield to this craziness.
The above posts confirm that maybe we're coming to our senses. Who wants to trudge out to a Wal-Mart to be one of 400 people fighting for one of the 6 items the store actually has in stock? It's so vulgar.
I don't really understand how or why people (retailers) can't have these sales or customers go to these sales during normal business hours. What about the people who have to work at these places, having little or no time to enjoy there holiday only to be back to work at some really mean and messed up time in the A.M. I know you could not or would not want to deal with me if I had to be to work at 2 A.M. Do people not take time to enjoy (time, others) anymore? I find all just a little sad.
Please make Black Friday go away. Why does the media kowtow to retailers by promoting this idea? I would be more interested in a piece on how to AVOID Black Friday.
I believe that if enough of us showed true aversion to Black Friday, retailers might take notice. It seems like each year it starts earlier and earlier. In a few years, the Black Friday deals will start at 5:00 am Thanksgiving morning and insteading of spending the day being "thankful" with family and friends, folks will be trudging out to save $30 on a cheap blu-ray player that they dont even really need!
Amen to all of the comments. I have never participated in Black Friday. It just seems wrong to spend one day being thankful for everything we have and the next day fighting for more 'stuff'. The tradition in our immediate family now that we are all adults is to wrap pictures (catalogs, Internet) of things we want to buy each other. If the recipient truly wants the gift, we buy it for them as time and money permits. That way, they get the model they truly want, no exchanges necessary and no debt. Also, we are able to take advantage of the after-holiday sales. We still buy an occasional gift if we happen to see that perfect something, but no stress and we enjoy each other.
Count me among the disgusted. The greed is overwhelming. Just because the stores open on Thanksgiving day doesn't mean people have to go shopping. But they're sheep. And they will.
This year I give thanks that the world may be coming to it's senses after reading these posts. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Go for resale shops..help yourself and an organization. We have to stop this madness... Keep your precious time and energy for the family,friends,shut -ins. The employees will appreciate it.
I, too, have never participated in Black Friday. I used to work in retail and I was one of those poor souls at work at 5am that morning to set up for the sale. Ugh.
I have four kids to buy for and I just shop early to spread out the money spent. I find that much more palatable than battling crowds and craziness.
Support local shops and artists instead of checking out. Sustain something wonderful while fulfilling your lust for consumerism is what we say. Check out Etsy or a local Estate Sale this weekend instead of waiting in line for some corporations sake. Lots of sales happening on Etsy at the moment, explore more for 20%
carousel + folk black friday etsy