Black Friday Shopping Guide 2021

It’s that time of year again, reader. The biggest savings holiday of the year is fast approaching, and every year is a little different. Here’s our tips for navigating Black Friday in 2021. 

Look at Deals Now

There are two ways to approach this step. First of all, there are hundreds of items on pre-sale now in preparation for Black Friday. Start looking at these items across all retailers. They may not be doorbusters, but some of these deals are a good bang for your buck. Don’t forget to shop for holiday gifts around this time, too. 

Secondly, start looking at what deals are being promised in ads for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you see doorbusters that catch your eye, plan strategically on how to bag these items on the day of Black Friday. 

Curbside Pickup

Curbside pickup during Black Friday was an option in 2020 due to the pandemic, and it’s being brought back this year again. 

Take advantage of this option when you can. This will help you avoid long lines in the cold, maintain social distancing, and make Black Friday shopping easier on you. 

Be Aware of Predatory Deals

Many retailers have begun raising the prices of their hottest items towards the holiday season so that their Black Friday deals seem more enticing. Beware of deals that seem extreme or too good to be true, because they probably are. 

With deals like these, the prices the products are lowered to for savings events like Black Friday are often the same or similar prices they are sold for during slower parts of the year.

We talked about this a few weeks ago in another article, and by now, these prices have already seen changes. If you took note and know an item isn’t as marked down as they want you to believe, don’t buy it. We want to collectively encourage retailers to take the honest route by showing them we’re savvy consumers. Wait until you have a good coupon when the prices on these items have leveled again, and you’ll likely save just as much as you would have buying it at this “inflated-then-marked-down” price. 

Online Purchases

If you’re worried about the supply chain crisis or don’t wish to do your November shopping in person, don’t underestimate online deals. Between Amazon's flash sales and Walmart’s “deals for days” gimmicks, there are numerous ways to score the hottest deals from the comfort of your home.

Prepare yourself to do online shopping to reap the most out of Black Friday. Retailers know online sales are more popular than ever, so more stock and deals are being featured online only. Don’t underestimate online shopping this Black Friday and ready yourself to shop on the web along with shopping in person in order to strategically save the most cash. 

Know Store Policies 

It’s very important to know a retailer’s terms and conditions on the sales you’re aiming for. Make sure you’re following retailer guidelines and rules for deals. Also, look for buying limits, return policies, and price-match guarantees in advance. 

Be mindful and conscientious of both store employees and other shoppers to make Black Friday as seamless as possible. Make sure you also follow store guidelines for COVID-19 while shopping in person. If they say masks must be worn indoors, especially on a busy holiday, do so.