Thanksgiving celebrations wrap up every fall with the year's biggest shopping weekend. Following a year of inflation, high gas prices, and not-so-distant memories of pandemic restrictions, shoppers can look forward to discounts and the return of in-person sales. From Black Friday to Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday—plenty of deals will be available.
However, with supply chain issues still limiting store inventory, it's important to plan what you want to buy, plus where, and when, so you don't miss out on the best deals.
WHAT ITEMS WILL HAVE THE BEST DEALS?
While some stores may not have announced details on their after-Thanksgiving sales, industry experts have a fairly good idea of what types of products will have the best deals.
The blog on RetailMeNot.com predicts you'll be able to find "some of the lowest prices of the year on Black Friday" on computers, small appliances, headphones, and massage guns.
Wait for the big weekend to buy smart home gadgets, too. RetailMeNot.com reminds shoppers that "Amazon and Google have a multi-year tradition of dropping prices on their smart speakers by 40% or more on Black Friday."
WHAT STORES ARE OPEN AND CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING?
Less than a decade ago, stores were racing to be the first to open on Thanksgiving, and then remaining open all day. This trend continues to reverse, as more and more stores opt to give employees much-needed breaks and time with their families. With the current staffing shortages, it's expected that some stores will be closed on Black Friday.
Good Housekeeping reports a litany of stores that already announced Thanksgiving Day closures, from Best Buy and Bed, Bath & Beyond, to T.J. Maxx and Walmart. Check out Good Housekeeping's Store List, including which stores are expected to be open, such as Old Navy and Michael's.
ARE THERE ITEMS TO AVOID BUYING DURING BLACK FRIDAY?
While you might see a sale tag on something you really want, BlackFriday.com cautions against buying certain items on Black Friday.
Clothes are very tempting to buy, but industry experts warn that better clothing bargains appear when you shop out of season. For example, "winter apparel you see on sale during Black Friday will be available for even less sometime in February."
Big-ticket furniture items are also not the most discounted around Thanksgiving. "Late summer and late winter (think Presidents' Day and Labor Day) are when the best furniture deals tend to be available."
RetaiMeNot adds higher-end TVs to the "wait" list, indicating that better deals are often had before the Super Bowl rather than on Black Friday. If you do snag a Thanksgiving deal on a TV, look very closely at the brand and model, to ensure it's what you want. RetaiMeNot warns against the doorbuster TV deal, suggesting that you might actually "find a better TV with a more modest discount."
As more details are released closer to the big weekend, make sure you are signed up for emails from your favorite stores. Download your favorite stores' mobile apps for push alerts and for any in-app-only deals.
