eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Every year Black Friday is a major event for consumers around the United States. They get up early, check their gift lists and determine a shopping strategy before setting off to spend a significant share of their annual earnings. It’s a ritual of sorts that has been going on for years.
But unlike previous years, consumers today have far more tools and strategies at their disposal to make Black Friday shopping as easy and successful as possible, especially when it comes to buying technology goodies.
To help shoppers, here are some tips that consumers should keep in mind beforeheading to the store to buy technology and home entertainmentproducts. Sure, there will be good deals all over town, but having the right strategies in place to find the best options is something that consumers just can’t miss.
Read on to find out how to get the most out of Black Friday shopping sprees.
1. Download shopping apps
One of the best things about bringing the smartphone along on Black Friday isthe ability to download applications that will help find great deals. There are several applications that list all Black Friday deals in one place. Even better, some applications will allow users to scan a barcode and compare pricing around town. Mobile apps are a key component in shopping on Black Friday.
2. Check out deal sites
Before consumers head out to the store, it might be a good idea to check out the countless Black Friday deal sites on the Web. They offer a collection of all the deals retailers are offering, and in some cases let users shop by whatever product they’re looking for. Black Friday deal sites, like BlackFriday.info, among others, are a great resource to have handy.
3. Check Amazon before you go
The last thing consumers should do before heading out to the stores is forget to check Amazon.com. Over the last couple weeks, Amazon has been holding special deals on its products, and the company will be doing the same on Black Friday. So, while brick-and-mortar retailers might have some solid deals, Amazon might still win out.
4. Consider Cyber Monday
All this talk of Black Friday might make some folksforget about Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Black Friday when online sites offer all their deals. Over the last couple years, Cyber Monday sale offerings haven’t been all that impressive, but every now and then, retailers will offer something worth buying.
Shop Online for Apple Products
5. Shop online for Apple products
Apple will be holding a special Black Friday sale. However, for those planning to buy an iPad, Mac or iPod, it might be a better idea to shop online. Prior to Black Friday, Apple said that it was going to offer deals online, seeming to indicate it might not go so far in-store. Keep that in mind before buying a new iPad.
6. It’s a great day for Blu-ray buying
For those who want to buy some movies for loved ones, Black Friday is the perfect day to do it. Historically, companies have offered huge discounts on Blu-ray discs on Black Friday, and this year won’t be any different. Barnes & Noble, for example, is offering up to 50 percent off on Blu-ray films on Black Friday. Not bad.
7. Compare prices in-store
The best thing about bringing a smartphone or tablet along on Black Friday is consumers can compare prices in the store. Although just about every retailer is offering deals on certain products, not all the discounts are equal. Why not take advantage of the smartphone’s browser and find the best deal for a given device?
8. The earlier, the better
Those planning to head out on Black Friday should know that the sooner they get to the store, the better. In many cases, retailers offer better deals earlier in the day than they do at night to coax customers into their stores before they’ve spent all their cash elsewhere. With that in mind, getting to Best Buy sooner rather than later is a good idea.
9. Don’t look for mammoth discounts
In the past, retailers have been known to offer huge discounts on products.But don’t expect that this year. With the economy the way is it, retailers are undoubtedly willing to offer some deals, but the discounts won’t be massive. For example, Apple is only expected to offer $101 off on its Mac line. Considering many of its devices are available for $1,000 or more, that’s not much of a discount.
10. Never wait in line
Remember that tip about getting to the store sooner rather than later? Well, a key component in following that advice is to never wait in line just to get into a store. In most areas, there are a host of places to go to find a product. So, if consumers see a line heading into one shop, it might be best to go elsewhere. Remember: Moving quickly is central to getting great deals on Black Friday.