Those who’ve been dealing with Black Friday for any number of years will tell you that it has changed so much since the days of camping out in the freezing cold just for the chance at a brand-new TV for Christmas. We’ve swapped racing through shops for racing through websites, and most will agree it’s a much easier, safer, and more convenient way to shop. Retailers have also wised up to the opportunity presented during this shopping period and have extended the shopping holiday to last the whole weekend. Here’s how you can take full advantage of these amazing sales without getting yourself into a pickle.
Adapt to the changes
With internet shopping becoming the norm and the pandemic which has made homebodies out of all of us, it’s only reasonable that shops would follow suit. Most stores offer online-only discounts and specials to encourage people to stay home and help Black Friday 2021 be a safer day for everyone. This also means you can take your time shopping from the comfort of your lounge, coffee (or wine, I’m not here to judge) in hand, and your favourite show on in the background. Become internet savvy and navigate the websites ahead of time so you have an idea of where to find the items you want. You can also add your favourite items to your Wishlist, and have them ready, just a click away from being sent to you.
Know where and when to buy
It seems obvious, but important to remember: just because something says it’s discounted, or seems like a good price, does not mean that it is. If you’ve done your research ahead of time and know the pricing of items, you’re after, you’ll be able to tell immediately if you’re being scammed. The other big problem with “cheaper prices” is that we feel like, if we don’t buy it now, we’re missing out on something amazing, when truthfully, it’s something we’d never even thought of and certainly won’t be using.
Instead of stacking up items to collect dust in your attic, make a list ahead of time with things you actually want, so you can easily look them up on the day, without wasting money on every single thing that comes across your path. If you’re unsure about an item, add it to your Wishlist or virtual cart, and let it sit there for a day or two. Come back to it, read the specs again, and hopefully by the time Black Friday rolls around, you’ll be sure you want it or sure you don’t.
Beware of big discounts
Sounds a little counterintuitive, right? Let me explain. When a discount is so extreme, so ridiculous, it should sound off alarm bells in your head. Why in the world would the retailer want to sell this product for such a low price? There are a couple of possibilities, and none are good. Essentially, either it’s poor quality, it’s damaged, or no one else wanted it. If the discount seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Timing is everything
Most items will probably be discounted even more in the following months, so if you’re willing to wait, do it. This circles back to making your list of needs and wants. Needs are things you can’t do without, either you need it right now, or you know you’ll need it by a certain time. If that’s the case, spending the money is a no-brainer. If something is on your want list, you don’t know when you’ll use it, or it’s not a necessity right now, think about saving that purchase for later, say, after the holidays.
Avoid the shops
As we’ve said before, online shopping is the name of the game these days, especially with the threat of the ever-present virus at our heels. Don’t take the unnecessary risk of going out in a crowd if you don’t need to. Shops are doing all they can to keep people safe and make the experience a protected one, but avoiding it entirely might be your best bet, and with retailers offering their best prices yet online, there’s no reason to take the risk.
The post How Black Friday Is Changing and Your Guide to Navigating It appeared first on Smashing Buzz.