The holiday shopping is on, and as of November 1st the ads and store decorations have come out in full force. Hopefully you've been thinking about what gifts you're going to buy, keeping in mind your budget.
James Willcox from Consumer Reports wrote this article with his tips for getting the best deals on Black Friday. Following these tips will help you save during the shopping frenzy and keep within your budget plan.
1. Check out the ads before Black Friday arrives. Many retailers give shoppers a hint of what is to come on Black Friday. You can check websites like bfads.net, blackfriday.info and theBlackFriday.com to narrow your search for the best deals.
2. Shop locally. Research has shown that for electronics and products in demand, the various big chain stores will be very close in their price offerings, so you can stay close to home and not miss out on savings.
3. Check the QR codes. You've probably seen some "Quick Response" codes in magazines and catalogs. These are barcodes that can be read by smart phones with QR code reader apps. These codes give information about products, coupons, special deals and much more. Many merchants are going to be using these codes to attract shoppers who are buying through their mobile phones.
4. Sign up for email alerts. Many retailers are using these alerts to encourage customer loyalty and offer exclusive sales and bonuses. You can also find out if the item you want is in stores and can be shipped or picked up.
5.Check the store's return policy before you buy. Sometimes the normal return policy changes for items purchased on Black Friday. The store may have a shortened return period or many only give store credit for returned items.
6. Understand the warranty. You may think you know a manufacturer's standard warranty policy, but it could change for Black Friday promotional products that aren't made exactly the same.
7. Price match guarantees. Often, on Black Friday, merchants suspend their price match policies; however that doesn't mean you shouldn't ask.
8. Consider bundled product specials. In order to tempt you and get you to spend more, manufacturers and retailers will put a few of their products together for a "special holiday combo deal." The first thing to do if you are evaluating one of these bundles is to research the prices of the individual items online. In many cases the special combo package won't actually save you very much money. The other thing to consider is whether you really want all of the products in the deal.
9. Rethink Door Busters. Retailers use door buster super deals, particularly in electronics, to get you to come running into their store to snap up the incredible bargains. However, they often create derivative items especially for this event that aren't of the same caliber as products in the manufacturer's standard line. This is particularly true for TVs. Usually there aren't a ton of these "door-buster" models available since the retail price markup is small, so depending on how you're planning to use the TV, it might make more sense to pick up a standard model where there could be more room to negotiate on the price and you could get a good value on a better quality TV.
10. Know what you want and can afford. Once you're in the store, salespeople might try to steer you away from your targeted product into a more expensive one. The way to keep this from derailing your shopping trip is to do research prior to going into the store and to understand your budget constraints. If the special sale items aren't available, then rethink your options and check other retailers or online stores.
11. Don't get sucked into buying extras. Even if you've purchased the product you want, there may be accessories that you need, like cables. Salespeople often try to get you to buy the premium brand accessories which are marked up considerably. If you know what you will need ahead of time and do online research, you can find less expensive ones.
Black Friday can be a good shopping experience if you're prepared. So make a list, get educated and have a happy holiday shopping experience!
Adapted from: http://technorati.com/business/finance/article/consumer-reports-offers-12-tips-for/
No comments:
Post a Comment