Getting the Best Deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Getting the Best Deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are both great shopping holidays that will save you more. But, I’m sure many people think about which shopping holiday will really save them more. Black Friday has dominated and been a tradition for years, but as retailers have rolled out sales on Thanksgiving (and even earlier) more people have still gravitated to online shopping. Cyber Monday is great for the people who want to escape that early wake-up call and ling lines, and shop from the comfort of their home. The main difference in the two is that we see more sitewide discounts or category-wide discounts on Cyber Monday, whereas Black Friday will often have very specific products such as electronics and home goods at huge discounts. So the real question now, is if you should hit up the aisles on Black Friday or browse the web from home on Cyber Monday.

Black Friday

Black Friday is mostly about deals on big-ticket items rather than smaller items like clothing, consumables, and books. So, if you’re thinking of going out to invest in household appliances, grills, TVs, and other electronics – Black Friday is for you!

Below are some ways to make the most of Black Friday.

• Make a shopping list with all the items you’re after and track prices ahead of the sales so you’re less likely to overspend and waste money.
• Plan out which retailer to visit first.
• Opt for the second-best deal to stay a step ahead of the madness. Try to figure out which retailer has the most inventory available (and at a great deal) ahead of time so you don’t waste your time going to retailers that are sold out.
• It’s easy to get all caught up with all the hype and sales going on. Watch out for derivative products that are cheaper versions of the real thing.
• Sign up for email alerts from your favorite retailers and follow them on Facebook and Instagram for exclusive offers.
• Consider cash-back apps like eBates and Retailmenot which can help you maximize your savings while you spend.
• Divide and conquer or split bundle deals with friends.
• Try to be one of the first in line, if you’re shopping for limited-quantity products.

Black Friday Pros:

• Serious savings on items like computers and other electronics. You can also see big savings on home goods.
• You can try on clothes, and see products in person before purchasing them.
• Don’t have to worry about cancelled orders.
• You won’t have to worry about shipping fees.
• Exclusive deals in store.

Black Friday Cons:

• Having to wake up at 4 a.m.
• Battling crowds and long lines.

Cyber Monday

For Cyber Monday shoppers, there’s no need to wake up at the crack of dawn or even before that. There is less pressure to get an early start on Cyber Monday because retailers are often better stocked online, where they store items in large warehouses. Most Cyber Monday sales usually start on Sunday.

Below are some ways to make the most of Cyber Monday.

• Shop for smaller products and travel deals. There are usually airfare sales.
• Use websites that track prices on items you’re following and will send you alerts when prices go down.
• Browse the web to compare prices on on-sale items to makes sure you’re really getting a good deal.
• Use Cyber Monday to shop for things you would have needed to shop for anyways. You can get a discount on a wider array of items.
• Look into deal-specific sites that break down the best savings on products you actually want.
• Make sure you read return policies, just in case it doesn’t work out.
• Keep an eye out for shipping costs, items may not cost to ship at purchase, but how much does it cost to pay for shipping or return shipping, just in case it wasn’t an item you wanted after all.

Cyber Monday Pros:

• It’s convenient – no need to stand in long lines.
• More retailer-wide discounts, rather than product –specific ones that pop up on Black Friday.
• It allows you to visit multiple stores at once by switching between various tabs on your computer. This can help determine where you’ll get the best deal for a certain item.

Cyber Monday Cons:

• Most of the deals hit stores, or even online on Black Friday, so by the time Cyber Monday comes around the best savings will be sold out.
• You miss out on the opportunity to see a product before swiping your card.
• Many people may be shopping online on Cyber Monday, so there’s a possibility that products sell out before you check-out.