How can you be certain that you’re utilizing the top Black Friday offers now that they’re formally here? Based on my five years of covering the sales, I created this Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping guide to address all of your inquiries. In order to gather their opinions on what to buy, what to forego, and how to save money, I also spoke with specialists. I will regularly add new information to this guide.
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When do Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales start?
Cyber Monday is December 2, 2024, and Black Friday is November 29, 2024. Retailers are currently running both online and in-store sales.
When do Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales end?
Cyber Monday marks the end of the best bargains, according to Mackenzie Shand, a shopping guru at the cash-back and deal-finding website RetailMeNot. Although the reductions are usually less than those offered on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, shops continue to provide them because many individuals shop for holiday items through mid-December.
By Sunday, retailers are firmly in Cyber Monday mode and tend to stop using Black Friday jargon on Saturday. The products on sale and their discounts, however, are essentially the same notwithstanding the label change.
What are the best products to buy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday and Black Friday provide discounts on goods and services in every category. But according to Shand, the biggest deals are usually found on giftable items like toys, tech and gadgets, home goods, small kitchen appliances, and vacuums. Cyber Monday and Black Friday are particularly competitive times to buy tech. According to Vipin Porwal, CEO and consumer savings specialist at Smarty, a cashback browser plugin, keep an eye on TVs and related accessories, smartphones, smart home technology, laptops, tablets, and video games. Strong clothing sales are also available, particularly at establishments that provide site-wide discounts.
Shand advises looking for discounts on subscription services and travel websites when buying on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Since streaming services won’t sell out like physical goods do, you can wait to sign up on Cyber Monday in case the bargain improves, she says. We’ve seen steep reductions on streaming services in prior years.
What should you skip buying on Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
There are no products that experts advise completely avoiding during the holidays because brands and retailers wait until Black Friday and Cyber Monday to offer their greatest bargains of the year. Shand advises that if you’re not in a hurry, you may wait until President’s Day to get a new mattress and large kitchen and household appliances because the sales are usually just as good, if not better, at that time. As spring draws near, clearance deals may also offer lower pricing on winter clothing and shoes.
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Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: What s the difference?
According to Shand, Cyber Monday and Black Friday are not that different right now. Cyber Monday used to be for online shopping, and Black Friday was for in-store shopping. E-commerce, however, now controls both events. Some people call the five days between Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday the “Cyber Five” because there isn’t much of a distinction between them. Additionally, experts came up with the term “Black November” because the entire month of November is dedicated to discounts, with early bargains beginning weeks before the major festivities.
Are there better deals on Cyber Monday?
No, experts advise considering Cyber Monday to be your last opportunity to shop because there are typically no greater offers available. According to Shand, we often witness a continuation of Black Friday sales rather than more substantial reductions.
Having said that, you shouldn’t put off shopping, particularly when popular items tend to sell out. Deals on highly sought-after items should be seized as soon as they appear, particularly for tech and toys from well-known companies like Apple, Lego, and Nintendo.
Due of competition for your shopping cart, companies may add brand-new discounts to their Cyber Monday sales. Therefore, if you are currently shopping, think about returning this weekend and Monday to see if there is a fresh deal that catches your eye.
Should you shop in-stores or online during Black Friday?
Both online and in-store Black Friday shopping have advantages and disadvantages. In the end, everything comes down to personal preference, but here are some things to think about:
Can you return Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases?
You can return items you bought on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, unless the store specifies otherwise, says Porwal. Items you purchase on sale are typically covered by a retailer’s usual return policy, but always check the fine print in case there are any exclusions. Retailers clearly notify you if an item is a final sale and cannot be returned, according to Shand. Additionally, keep an eye out for extended return policies, which some merchants provide during the holidays, advises Porwal.
What is Travel Tuesday?
Sales on travel-related items, such as flights, hotels, and cruises, are the focus of Travel Tuesday. Sales on travel-related items, such as toiletry bags and suits, may also be available. Travel Tuesday falls on December 3, 2024, the day following Cyber Monday.
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Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping tips
When it comes to Cyber Monday and Black Friday shopping, preparation is essential. By doing this, you can stay focused on your goals and make sure you’re getting the finest bargains. Here are some professional pointers to help you succeed at the events.
Don t wait to buy what s on your wishlist
Online and in-store shopping traffic surges on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Once you find a great offer, put it in your cart and check out because products tend to sell out rapidly. Since you don’t know if it will be refilled, failing to do so could result in you missing the deal.
Sign up to receive notifications about sales and deals
Deals are frequently offered by retailers on Cyber Monday and Black Friday. According to Porwal, being informed about new developments can be achieved by subscribing to email lists, app push alerts, and SMS messages. This is also how you’ll have the best chance of buying a popular product because stores usually notify customers when it’s on sale so you may get it right away.
Make a shopping list
Large discounts are designed to encourage impulsive buying, and merchants wager that customers will be seduced by the offers and end up buying more than they had intended. Making a shopping list is crucial because, according to Shand, it helps you stay organized and concentrate on the things you need or have money for. Although it’s simpler to bookmark links or add products you’re interested in to your shopping cart, some individuals prefer the traditional pen-and-paper list.
Consider shopping with a credit card
You might be able to accrue points or receive special benefits if you use a credit card to make purchases on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Some cards give welcome bonuses or points, and others allow you to earn cash back at particular stores.
Compare prices and rewards across retailers sites
During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, retailers price-chase one another for your shopping cart, so an item sold at several stores will probably have the same (or almost same) price tag everywhere. According to Porwal, in these situations, choosing a shop depends on specifics like shipping costs, stacking coupons, extended warranty offerings, and where you can use or accrue the most loyalty points. Additionally, consider various shops’ cashback programs, which allow you to make money while you purchase, advises Shand.
I suggest using programs like Keepa, CamelCamelCamel, and Honey to make price comparisons simple. They provide you with price-drop alerts on particular products and assist you in keeping an eye on pricing both before and during the sale. Items can also be entered into these tools to check if their pricing were cheaper at another time of the year; if so, you might wish to hold off on purchasing them.
Keep extended returns and price matching in mind
Before checking out, review the retailer’s return policy if you’re buying anything that needs a size, such as clothing, shoes, or bedding. Knowing the length of the return window and whether the retailer has any exceptions to its policy is crucial because you don’t want to be stuck with something that isn’t suited for you.
Remember to include price matching as well. If you locate a product at another store for less during a certain time period, several stores will match that retailer’s price. Read the tiny print, though, as price matching programs could not apply to purchases made on Cyber Monday or Black Friday.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we collaborate with professionals that possess specific expertise and power derived from pertinent education and/or job experience. We also take precautions to guarantee that all professional counsel and suggestions are given impartially and without any hidden financial conflicts of interest.
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Mackenzie Shand
is a shopping expert atRetailMeNot
, a deal-finding and cash back site.
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Vipin Porwal
is the CEO and a consumer savings expert atSmarty
, a cashback browser extension.
Why trust NBC Select?
Since 2020, I have covered Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a reporter for NBC Select. I often cover key shopping holidays and authored the history of Cyber Monday and Black Friday for NBC Select. I conducted two expert interviews for this article in addition to researching consumer spending patterns and purchasing patterns.
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