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Black Friday Tips: Shop Smarter, Not Harder

Jacob Chung |
November 23, 2010 | 9:46 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

Black Friday shopping involves a bit of chaos. (Creative Commons image)
Black Friday shopping involves a bit of chaos. (Creative Commons image)

Early Friday after Thanksgiving, the sun’s not up yet and it’s freezing outside. You feel the chills run down your back as the brisk morning air breezes by. You’re straining your eyes to keep them open all the while battling an intense episode of food coma. And just then a thought dawns on you, “What the hell am I doing here?” 

Black Friday is near and an estimated 138 million people will be making the trek to local shopping centers for their shot at clenching a “doorbuster” deal. But, is Black Fridat really worth losing your sleep and sanity over or is there a better option? 

Dan de Grandpre, CEO of dealnews.com—a website dedicated to providing great deals all year around—says in a Black Friday shopping guide, “At most stores, being first in line to go in at 5 a.m. only guarantees that you’ll get shoved around as the 500 people behind you are also let in.” 

But, Black Friday still holds some merits. Grandpre adds, “The rule is that Black Friday is the best time of the year to buy no-name TVs, and the weeks following are the best time to buy high-end TVs.”

So, if you’re in the market for a “no-name” TV, it might be worth your while to wake up early (or stay awake in certain cases). Otherwise, sleep in; relax; and huddle in front of your computer. 

Here are a few tips for a more efficient and comfortable way of doing your holiday shopping. 

  1. Watch Your Spending: Before you start your shopping, it’s a good idea to setup a dedicated credit card or other funding source (e.g. PayPal) with a set limit. This will help manage your spending and provide an easy way to keep track of all your purchases without having to shuffle through multiple receipts.
  2. Look For Deals Online: Many companies—including those with a brick and mortar shop—offer same if not better deals online. Sites like dealnews.com, gotapex.com, and slickdeals.net offer a number of great deals from the web. (Other great deal sites: woot.com; yugster.com; and cnet.com/cheapskate)
  3. Do Your Homework: When you find a deal worth jumping on, double check and see if a better deal isn’t offered somewhere else. Consider visiting eBay.com or even refurbished sections on retail store websites to look for products that may have been opened but in new condition. Doing your homework can save you some extra cash. 
  4. Pace Yourself: Keep in mind that all your shopping doesn’t have to be completed in one sitting. More often than not, a sale you might’ve missed on Black Friday will return on other shopping days before Christmas, including Cyber Monday, the Monday that follows Black Friday; and the Saturday before December 25, busiest shopping day of the year.

Shopping during the holiday season can be a dangerous sport. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into when following the “doorbuster” sales. And remember, as Grandpre says, “It's a buyer's market, and prices aren't going up. If a deal doesn't make you swoon, wait for a better deal later.” 

Reach reporter Jacob Chung here.



 

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