Coronavirus pandemic may have altered some holiday shopping plans, but Black Friday remains an excellent opportunity to purchase many goods at competitive prices. Unfortunately, not all offers are equal and shoppers need to carefully compare deals before committing their dollars to buying something specific.
Wallet Hub conducted an evaluation of eight product categories to ascertain which were the top and bottom Black Friday offers of 2016. Below are our findings:
Electronics
Black Friday shopping may offer great savings on electronics devices, but not all discounts are created equal – some products may be better purchased at other times of year.
On Black Friday, consumers can find substantial discounts on small electronics like laptops, tablets and headphones from retailers who are closing out older models. As these retailers may also sell newer devices with faster processors, higher screen resolution and increased storage capacities (see article here), buyers should choose carefully in selecting an ideal device with current technology (e.g. faster processors, higher screen resolution and greater storage capacities).
Amazon Echo and Google Nest smart home devices may be discounted by up to 40% or more during Black Friday sales, due to both companies’ longstanding tradition of offering such discounts on Black Friday. It is also common to see them packaged together with smart plugs and speakers as BOGO offers.
Gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation will likely see significant price cuts after Christmas; however, these consoles could sell out quickly so shoppers should wait until post-Christmas sales to purchase them.
Toys can often be great bargains, but shoppers should keep in mind that deepest discounts typically occur around Dec. 25, when recent versions lose their novelty. Also, new iPhones often receive deeper discounts nine or 10 months post release.
Clothing & Jewelry
Black Friday deals tend to focus on clothing, shoes and accessories as retailers offer discounted prices to attract customers into stores. But for specific purchases such as furniture or artwork, waiting until January after-Christmas sales may offer greater savings as stores restock shelves with new stock while providing further discounts on older inventory.
As for electronics, they’re usually discounted during the holiday season but usually not at their most advantageous prices. If you’re after cutting-edge video game consoles or smart home devices, waiting until next year when new models become available is best advised.
Black Friday does bring major savings on certain gadgets. Look out for offers on robotic vacuum cleaners such as Roomba and Instant Pot as well as robotic vaccum cleaner attachments such as Roomba and Instant Pot vacuum attachments; as well as savings on headphones and earbuds. In addition, smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Nest typically experience discounts of 40% or more during this shopping holiday.
While the coronavirus pandemic may have altered shopping behaviors, many shoppers still head out with protective masks in place to take advantage of Black Friday discounts on clothing, electronics and educational devices for their kids. If upgrading mattresses or furniture is your goal though, post-holiday sales usually provide better savings opportunities in January than prior shopping holidays.
Furniture
As you navigate Black Friday discounts, not every deal may seem as appealing as advertised in newspapers and ad inserts. When it comes to making purchases during Black Friday shopping holidays, make sure they only buy essential items like winter gear such as jackets and gloves, toys for children, educational devices or TVs – as these will often be discounted even further before Christmas Day arrives. It may be wiser to wait two weeks prior to Christmas before buying this year’s hot toy as retailers will mark them down more heavily just prior to this shopping holiday.
Black Friday may offer the lowest prices for furniture and mattresses, but other times of the year can provide even lower costs. Late summer and early fall offer excellent opportunities to score deals when retailers clear out seasonal stock. Mattresses also tend to be less costly between Valentine’s Day and Easter when consumers have strong motivations for restful slumber.
Small kitchen appliances like air fryers and stand mixers often go on sale during Black Friday sales, though according to savings experts at Smarty it would often be best to wait until after Thanksgiving when there may be wider selection available at both online stores and physical locations.
Home Decor
After Thanksgiving is an ideal time to stock up on holiday decorations like trees, garlands and wreaths; however it would be wiser to wait until late November or December before making a large purchase for next year. Retail stores will typically offer significant discounts in midwinter when trying to clear out inventory before offering new merchandise next season.
Clothing or jewelry may not be your priority this Black Friday; though some categories do offer good discounts. Post-holiday clearance sales in January usually offer better bargains; however, retailers may mark down winter clothes at discounted prices earlier.
Porwal suggests waiting to purchase large kitchen appliances, cookware and dinnerware because you will likely find the best selection and prices at non-Amazon-owned tech shops on Black Friday.
Smart devices such as Amazon Echo and Google Home typically see discounts of 40% or more during Black Friday sales, though you may not be able to secure the latest version at that price as Apple and Google compete for market share. You might find better savings with older generation models or waiting until after Christmas when prices will likely have been further reduced.