Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
Each year, it's tempting to wait until Black Friday sales to do your Christmas shopping. But you might actually be payingmoredoing it that way. Consider these facts”¦
-Retailers do not put things on major discount because they want to spread Christmas joy. They do it for the same reason they do it all year long”¦ to get you to buy other things while already in the store. On Black Friday, stores display items like they are steals, taking advantage of emotion and impulse, while offering only a handful of true “loss leaders”.
-Ever go Black Friday shopping and have stores already out of what you want? Retailers plan on that. They know if they can get you in the store, they've got at least some of your money. It's human nature, that after you've put in the effort to show up, you're likely to buysomething, just so your time and effort isn't completely wasted. Buy ahead online or in-store, to avoid blowing any savings you were out to get in the first place.
-Apples to apples doesn't always apply to Black Friday merchandise. Shoppers who do their research will tell yougoods offered can be of lower quality. This general rule especially applies to electronics and clothing, and explains how they can afford to sell such large quantities at such low prices. Buying ahead, rather than on Black Friday, helps ensure you get quality, extending the value of your shopping dollars.
-Black Friday sales usually exclude using any kind of coupon. Compare this to combining coupons or coupon codes, with online or in-store sales, where you can score savings of 50% or more. Find coupons that can also be combined with clearance deals, and boost your savings even higher.
-Anything less than 50% off is probably not any better of a deal than other times of the year. Take, for example, sales that are only “30% off”. Those happen all the time. A handy calculator, and knowing the regular retail, will reveal if an advertised sale price is better than it is during any normal sale.
-Beware of sales based on the “manufacturer's suggested retail price”. Sales can appear unbelievable ““ until you realize the original retail price was inflated. The revealed true savings ends up being more like 20%, not the advertised 60%. Buying ahead, when you have time to research prices, and hunt for a compatible coupon, avoids falsified savings.
-Retailers push online sales just as much as, and sometimes more than, in-store sales. Finding promotions, like free shipping or special pricing, that can also be combined with other coupons, has become fairly common. Having items shipped to your home, adds savings on top of savings ““ in time and gas money. And finding coupon codes that work with special pricing, like a buy one, get one free offer, is becoming easier.
To get coupons and coupon codes to use:
Check out websites likeRetailmenot.comandCouponcabin.com. Also check the website for the store you plan to shop, even if not shopping online. Join a store's email list; agree to get their text messages; become a loyalty card member. All these things can get you coupons and coupon codes ““ sometimes even while you're still standing in the store. Check in-store signs and door banners for chances to text or download a coupon you can show right on your mobile device at the register.
