Everyone loves bagging a bargain, especially on the biggest shopping day of the year (Black Friday). However, the Black Friday sales of today look a lot different from the ones we saw even five years ago. Much like last year, many stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day to give their workers some much-needed time with their loved ones. That means online Black Friday sales will be the star of the show on Turkey Day. We also predict that Black Friday online sales will be front and center on the day of Black Friday all the way through Cyber Week. Thankfully, Black Friday has always been an online shopping event.This guide will help you get the best Black Friday online deals and still enjoy the fun of holiday shopping.
1. Sign up for these retailers' email lists
One of the best ways to prepare for the biggest shopping day of the year is to sign up for the best retailer mailing lists before Black Friday. Signing up early is key because the Black Friday online sales start earlier each year. These lists will deliver the best deals straight to your inbox.
Here's a list of the best retailer email lists and how to sign up for them:
Bath & Body Works emails deliver special offers and fun surprises.
Bed Bath & Beyond emails provide information about the latest deals and products. You can sign up near the bottom of the retailer's home page. As a new subscriber, you'll get 20% off a single item.
Best Buy emails can help you stay updated on all the latest sales and deals. The Best Buy homepage contains a link near the bottom of the page where you can sign up.
Costco emails can give you the latest news about special offers and promotions.
Kohl's emails will send you updates about its sales, clearance events, promo codes and free shipping offers. You'll even get 15% off your next purchase just for signing up.
Macy's emails provide information about all the latest sales and savings. You'll also get 25% off for signing up. Just scroll to the bottom of the Macy's homepage to find the link.
Target emails give you access to exclusive offers and weekly ad reminders.
Walmart's emails provide information about the best bargains and discounts. You can sign up by creating a Walmart account.
Many retailers also promote text alert programs. So if you prefer to receive text message sale alerts instead of email, check if that is an option. It is also common for discount codes to be offered after you sign up for text message alerts, so it never hurts to check.
2. Start shopping early and act fast
When it comes to getting the best deals on Black Friday, you have to do more than just sign up for the best retailer email lists. You also need to start your shopping early. Each year, retailers have been starting their sales earlier. In previous years, some stores started offering pre-Black Friday sales online starting in early November. This means you might want to get into the holiday shopping mindset around Halloween.
We expect retailers to start their Black Friday sales earlier than ever before in 2022 and offer several sales throughout the holiday shopping season. For example, we saw retailers like Target drop four Black Friday ad scans for different sales last year. We wouldn't be surprised to see something similar this year, so be prepared to shop multiple Black Friday sales from your favorite retailers. Also, to make sure you get the best holiday and Black Friday online deals, you'll want to act fast. The best deals tend to be available only in limited quantities and for a limited time. Additionally, the top items don't last long. So, the early shopper
gets the best deals.
3.Shop the retailers known for the best online Black Friday deals
When you're making a Black Friday online shopping plan, you'll want to include these stores on your list:
Amazon: Amazon is famous for its Black Friday online deals. In previous years, starting on Nov. 1, this online-only retailer has offered daily discounts and lightning deals to help you save big for the holidays. Amazon has deals on a vast array of products, but you'll always find great savings on its Echo and Fire TV product lines, and this online retailer tends to have some stellar gift card deals too.
Best Buy: Best Buy is a fan-favorite on the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year. With hot deals on top electronics and free shipping for the holidays, it's no wonder people love this retailer.
eBay: eBay offers amazing online Black Friday deals on brand-new and refurbished products from top brands that range from Fitbit and Nike to Dyson and Mattel.
Kohl's: Kohl's brings its best game with its online Black Friday sales. In the past, we've seen a greatly reduced free shipping minimum, thousands of deep discounts, $15 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent and online-only items that you couldn't find anywhere else. Kohl's also has a reputation for kicking off its Black Friday deals early. You can often find great deals on fitness trackers and small kitchen appliances, among the apparel and home goods at Kohl's.
Macy's: Macy's is the original player in the Black Friday game, and its Black Friday online deals prove it's still a contender. With free shipping promotions and amazing deals on products all throughout the store, it's the perfect place for your holiday shopping. If you're in the market for deals on name brand and designer clothing, accessories, home goods and beauty products, Macy's is one of the best major retailers to check out on Black Friday.
Target: Target isn’t stingy with the savings. This retailer offers online-only deals in the days and hours leading up to Black Friday. You can also find free shipping offers and discount codes to make certain items even cheaper. Target tends to have a great selection of toys, small kitchen appliances and vacuums during Black Friday.
Walmart: Walmart Black Friday online deals have been incredible over the last few years, and we predict this year will be even better. The retailer offers deep discounts on toys and tech gadgets, and also tends to be one of the few retailers that sells coveted gaming consoles.
4. Look for free shipping and promo codes during the holiday shopping season
When you're shopping online, free shipping is your best friend. Thankfully, many major retailers drop their free shipping minimums for the holidays. Some (like Best Buy) have dropped their free shipping minimums to $0 in previous years. Others have offered free shipping promo codes. Just know that cutoffs to get free shipping with delivery by Christmas may be earlier this year due to shipping delays.
Although promo codes and coupons aren't common on Black Friday, some retailers do offer them for use on non-sale items. For example, Kohls has offered online promo codes (and the ability to earn $15 in Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend) to help you save even more on the big day. Other retailers also offer money-saving promo codes. So, keep your eyes peeled this year.
5.And don't be afraid to try promo code hacks
Another somewhat-sneaky way to get a promo code on Black Friday is to fill up your online cart and then strategically "abandon" it. Sometimes, you'll receive an email within one to 24 hours from the retailer offering a percent off discount to help you finish checking out.
There are two caveats to this approach. If you really want to get a popular sale item, you won't want to wait to check out. That's because these types of products are prone to selling out fast. Keep in mind that Black Friday sales have end times. As a result, if it's getting close to the end of the sale and you haven't received a promo code, you'll want to check out before the sale is over.
6. Do your online research to get the best price
One of the benefits of shopping online is that you can easily compare prices at different retailers. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can see whether stores like Best Buy, Target or Walmart have the best deal on the hot item you're after this year. When savings are at stake, it pays to do a little homework.
You can also turn to the experts to help you find the best bargains. Just keep checking BlackFriday.com to see the latest ads and deals during the holidays. Check out the ad scans as they come out. Helping you save big is why we're here!Know what to do if an item sells out Popular items can sell out quickly on the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year, which means you need to act fast to get all the items you want. Thankfully, there are some Black Friday shopping tips to help you get the bargains on your list:
For starters, you should clear your web browser cache in preparation for the big day. This will allow you to see changes to a retailer's website so that you're seeing them like someone who is viewing the site for the first time. Then, you'll want to be on the store's website around the time that the deal will go live. Go directly to the page for the item you want
and refresh it until it becomes available for the advertised price. If you trust the retailer, you should also create an account and save your credit card info before the sale even gets started. This will help speed up the checkout process, so you can be quick to pull the trigger on a deal.
What if you follow these tips and you still miss out on a sale item? Don't despair! Big retailers that range from Amazon to Walmart may offer the same deal again later (or one that's very similar). You can also check other retailers for the coveted item, as they may be
offering a discount on it.
7. Like and follow your favorite stores and brands on social media
If you want to be in the know about the latest Black Friday deals and steals, we recommend following the stores you love on social media. Doing so gives you sneak peeks of the savings and can even help you learn about exclusive promo codes and sales.
While we're on the topic of connecting with our favorite major retailers, we also suggest downloading retailer apps. You can often get special savings and information that you won't find anywhere else. For example, in previous years, Target offered additional deals on
its app and personalized coupon codes. Clearly, it's well worth it to add another app or two to your smartphone – even if it's just for the Thanksgiving weekend.
8. Keep checking back for the best Black Friday online deals
Keep checking back because the BlackFriday.com team will keep adding new information about the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and deals throughout the season.