[ad_1]
Used Black Friday to fall on one day of the year. Shoppers will camp outside the stores, looking forward to the opportunity to break down some doors and save a ton of money. Times have changed. The last few years have been anything but normal. Stores offer more deals than ever online, and we don’t have to remind you that thanks to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, you should avoid unnecessary trips to the store. The same pandemic has contributed to supply chain barriers, which means that shopping early for holiday gifts is key.
Black Friday has crept into a month of sales that go on and on. Everything can become astounding. How can you find out if a deal is worth your time and money? When do sales start and end? Do you really need this widget? We are here to help with a convenient FAQ.
Updated November 2021: We’ve updated this guide with new tips for this Black Friday.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year WIRED subscription for $ 5 ($ 25 discount). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you wish). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
What will Black Friday look like in a pandemic?
The shopping events of 2020 and 2021 are largely similar; availability is limited and orders are mostly made online. Many types of products are facing shortages this year, so we don’t expect prices for things like game consoles and laptops to fall sharply; finding them in stock rather than carved prices is a bit of a miracle. Early Black Friday deals have been decent so far, but inventory is the hard part. The WIRED Gear team will be looking for deals that are actually good, and you can follow the tips listed below to make a more informed decision.
Wait, when is Black Friday?
This year, Black Friday falls on November 26. It is almost the last one that Black Friday can fall in a calendar year, which means there is less time between Black Friday and Christmas than in some previous years. You will have less time for shopping.
When do Black Friday sales start?
Early deals usually start a week or two before the arrival of Black Friday. This year, thanks to all the delays in delivery, they are already starting.
Most official sales begin on Thanksgiving, although some specific deals and sales may begin on Friday, usually at midnight. Some stores describe the exact starting hours, while others simply give a scheduled day. I (Lurin) have been shopping on Black Friday for over 16 years and recommend staying up late the day before Thanksgiving to check for online sales starting around midnight Eastern time on Wednesday, November 24th. WIRED will also cover big sales later on Thanksgiving.
Can you get offers for Black Friday online?
You can – and you should. We cover exclusively online transactions here at WIRED, because most Black Friday transactions are available online. The best deals don’t last too long, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to the sales pages of your favorite store (and our coverage).
Creating a list of what you want to buy in advance can help you keep a clear head when it’s time to start shopping. And to reiterate, you don’t have to shop in stores right now unless it’s essential. You also don’t have to buy things just to buy them. Nowadays, everyone has a stricter budget; sales will happen again. Delivery times will eventually return to normal. Take a deep breath and don’t get mad at shopping.
Which retailers will have Black Friday offers?
Almost all of them. There are obvious stores, such as Walmart and Best Buy, but it is likely that every retailer will have some kind of sale, whether it offers clothes, shoes, books, health and beauty items, special fitness goods or something else. There may even be promotions in your favorite cafe or restaurant. When in doubt, visit the retailer’s website. Black Friday sales are usually strongly and proudly highlighted on the home page.
Here are some Black Friday sales pages from major retailers:
[ad_2]
Source link