According to BlackFriday2010.com, roughly 195 million people hit the stores last year on Black Friday in search of deals (average total purchases of $343 per shopper). If you have plans to join the crowds, check out these Black Friday tips to help you get the most out of your Black Friday shopping experience.
Black Friday Survival Guide
Once inside the stores it can be overwhelming with hundreds of people all fighting for the same items so it is very important to have a game plan.
- Research the best Black Friday deals and make a holiday shopping list that prioritizes the stores and gifts that you are interested in purchasing.
- Once you have identified the stores and items on your list be sure to find out what time the store opens, their policy for handling doorbusters and the location of “hot items” within the store.
- Be prepared to get up early for a chance to purchase one of the deep discounted Black Friday doorbusters. Many retailers such as Best Buy begin handing out vouchers for doorbusters as early as 3am.
- Once inside the store it is best to divide and conquer if possible so make sure that you and your shopping “partner in crime” each have a cell phone so that you can stay in contact.
- It is very easy to get swept up in all of the commotion so if you find yourself deviating from your list, be sure to re-evaluate the items in your shopping cart before heading to the register. According to Newsweek, 13.6 million Americans are still struggling to pay off debt from last year’s holiday season.
- When checking out it is important to ask for a gift receipt. Including a gift receipt should help insure a hassle-free return experience for gift recipients.
- Do not worry if you leave the stores empty handed, Black Friday sales only represent roughly 23% of the total holiday shopping purchases. In these tough economic times, retailers will be forced to continue sales from now until the minutes leading up to closing time on Christmas Eve. For those that prefer to avoid the crowds, CyberMonday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) provides an excellent opportunity to find great deals online.
Here is hoping that you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season. Please share your holiday shopping tips in the comment section below.
Author: Brian Rice
