13 New Ways to Find the Best Black Friday 2019 Deals
Updated: Nov. 22, 2019
Gone are the days when you needed to leave your Thanksgiving table to score big on Black Friday. Here's how to find the best deals this year.
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Black Friday 2019: Bigger, better and very different
Black Friday 2019 has ushered in a new shopping era. You can now find deals on social media platforms and brick-and-mortar stores alike. Tech companies are offering up to 40 percent cashback on your purchases. And retailers are using various communication channels like email, text and apps to get you to spend your hard-earned cash with them. It can be dizzying trying to sort it all out. So you don’t get lost in the noise, we’ve compiled this handy cheat sheet of all the new ways you can save big bucks on the biggest shopping day of the year. And to save even more, avoid making these common Black Friday mistakes.
Start early
That’s right—you no longer have to wait until the shopping frenzy of Black Friday to save a bundle. Major retailers are starting their Black Friday 2019 online sales earlier, and you can shop an assortment of products on pre-sale. For example, Target is currently hosting a Black Friday preview sale, where you can get $200 off the newest iPhone or find heavily discounted electronics—including the Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, which will be on sale for just $179.99 (regularly $299.99). Here are some Black Friday tips for savvy shoppers.
Get exclusive discounts on Instagram
DM News reports that 37 percent of Gen Z shoppers expect to do their holiday shopping via Instagram—and your favorite companies are taking note. Many will be offering deals for Black Friday 2019 that you might not see elsewhere, so make sure to follow their pages and turn on your notifications. You can now shop directly from the platform, so you don’t even need to visit new pages to check out. This new feature makes it a seamless experience. These stores won’t be open for Black Friday shopping on Thursday.
Use a tech-savvy shopping companion
Companies like Rakuten are changing the shopping game by leaps and bounds. Rakuten gives users up to 40 percent cash back at more than 2,500 online retailers. The way it works on the back end is that stores pay the platform a commission to send customers their way. Rakuten then turns around and shares that commission with you as cashback. Just install Rakuten’s browser extension to instantly rake in savings on items you’ve been coveting from every shopping category. For example, if you visit SodaStream.com during its Black Friday 2019 sale, your Rakuten Chrome extension will give you a whopping 30 percent off the brand’s Fizzi MOB Bundle. You can take it home for only $79.99 and save on fizzy drinks all year long.
Compare online while you shop in-store
“These days, Black Friday shoppers use a hybrid of in-store, online and mobile avenues to get the best deals,” says consumer analyst Michael Bonebright with DealNews.com. But the big trend, he explains, is that they’re using these methods simultaneously. For example, consumers will go to stores on Black Friday 2019 to shop—but they will compare prices online with their mobile devices as they consider their purchases. A store may match the lower online price if you bring it to a manager’s attention, or you can simply choose to buy your item elsewhere. By the way, this is how to coupon, according to people who save thousands every year.
Use your smartphone for more than texts
“Adobe reported that 33.5 percent of e-commerce transactions on Black Friday came from smartphones last year,” says Bonebright. Now, retailers are using that medium to contact you with their best offerings and are even preparing specific deals for the mobile versions of their website. They will also send you text alerts and notifications. Plus, you can use your phone to store digital coupons that you can cash in person. Make sure your phone is fully charged and loaded with all of your favorite shopping apps for Black Friday 2019 to ensure you snag the best deals. These are the best Black Friday deals at Walmart this year.
Outfox the doorbusters
Bonebright also asserts that consumers are approaching doorbusters in a different way. You don’t need to get trampled by a crowd at dawn to get the best deals. “[Consumers] buy a doorbuster online to pick up in-store,” he explains. “This leads to a much more organized shopping experience. Most of the time, you go to the store or website, fill your cart and check out without much trouble.” The purpose of doorbusters is for retailers is to get you in their store early, and this is why some doorbuster deals will require you to pick up your purchases at the store, even if you’ve purchased them online. Check out these Black Friday deals that are perfect for home cooks.
Use Google’s revamped shopping tool
“Shopping with Instagram and Pinterest is certainly easy, but it can be hard to find a store you’ve actually heard of,” says Bonebright. If you love discovering new things from familiar retailers, he recommends checking out the newly revamped Google Shopping tool. It lets you discover, compare and purchase products from a seemingly endless array of stores so you can find the best deal either online or at a store nearby. “On Black Friday 2019, that kind of meta shopping will be a huge time-saver,” he adds. Here are some of the best cookware deals at Macy’s for Black Friday.
Download your favorite store’s app
Several stores have embraced a hybrid shopping experience through their native apps. “They tend to focus on bringing customers into stores,” Bonebright says. For example, Target’s app (formerly known as Cartwheel) lets you pre-load exclusive coupons so you can save more at checkout in-store. Walmart’s app lets you filter down to deals that are cheaper if you order in-store pickup. Just choose “Free pickup + discount” to enjoy the savings. Prep these snacks before you head out on your Black Friday shopping trip.
Keep your eye on the ball
Another smart savings technique? Earmark the products that you want to purchase, even if the discounts haven’t been announced. That way, you can check on them when Black Friday 2019 commences to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Amazon also has Lightning Deals that you can keep your eyes on easily with its “Watch This Deal” button. “Amazon’s app is essential for Black Friday shoppers hoping to snag its short-lived deals,” says Bonebright. “To snag a particular Lightning Deal, open Amazon’s app, click ‘Watch This Deal,’ and you’ll be notified when the offer’s about to go live.” Here are Amazon’s Pre-Black Friday deals.
Clog your inbox
One way to guarantee you don’t miss your favorite brands’ Black Friday 2019 deals is to sign up for their newsletters. Companies know they are vying for your attention during the busiest shopping day of the year, so they try to contact you personally with their offerings via your inbox. Although you may want to unsubscribe later, clogging your inbox in anticipation of Black Friday 2019 will prove lucrative. By the way, this is the best time of year to buy a new appliance.
Load your cart ahead of time
Black Friday 2019 will be the most time-consuming yet. It’s not enough that you have to bounce from web page to web page—you now also have to be alert on Instagram, Pinterest and a company’s native app. To save time on that hectic day, pre-load your cart a few days before. Once the shopping extravaganza begins, revisit your cart to see if any prices reflect new discounts. Purchase the products that do, and dump the ones that don’t. Get your hands on Taste of Homes cookware for 30% off this Black Friday.
Call ahead
Although there are plenty of high-tech ways to save money, some of the best strategies are old school. If you find an ad for an amazing deal, call ahead and ask for details. If you know only one item will be offered at the amazing price, it’s probably not worth it for you to leave your family celebrations. On the other hand, if employees assure you that there is enough inventory to go around, you can plan your day around that trip to the store.
Compare brand and retailer pages
If you’ve been gunning for a specific item and want to make sure you are receiving the absolute lowest price, don’t just compare apples to apples. Instead of just checking the price at your favorite big-box retailers and on Amazon, do your due diligence and also check out the brand’s individual website and social media pages. Sometimes they can offer sweeter deals, as buying direct means they are cutting out the middleman.
For example, luxury makeup brand Kevyn Aucoin will give you 25 percent off on Black Friday when you visit their website. If you spend $50 or more, they’ll also throw in a free expert color lipstick, valued at $35. Leave no stone unturned and see how you can turn a profit in no time! Next, read about the top 10 best Cyber Monday deals for kitchen gear.
