The holiday season is always an exciting time of year, and with Black Friday just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to get your shopping shoes on.
But before you start clicking ‘add to cart’, let’s walk you through some Black Friday shopping tips that’ll help you plan your purchases without getting carried away by the excitement this shopping season generates.
Let’s jump right in:
#1. Set a budget
One of the most important things a smart shopper should consider is setting a budget.
Setting a Black Friday budget can help with:
- It’ll help you stick within your desired range
- Budgets can help you avoid impulse-buying
- Budgets prevent you from overpaying for products (or services) you don’t need
#2. Make a checklist of what you’re looking for before Black Friday
Next, make a list of products you’re looking to get and stick to it.
Having an organized list won’t only prevent you from forgetting anything, but it’ll also help in terms of price comparison.
Similarly, make use of wish lists and make sure your friends and family know what you want this holiday season — chances are they’ll buy you something off your list.
#3. Always check the terms and conditions
It’s also important to know that what you see and hear during the Black Friday promo isn’t always what you get.
Read all the fine print first and don’t be shy about digging into those hidden charges or disclaimers.
Ask yourself:
- Are you required to pay for shipping?
- Are there additional fees for returns?
- Is the price you see the price you pay?
Make sure you know as much as possible before making your purchase.
#4. Pay attention to shipping times and costs
Again, when shopping online, be sure you know when you’ll receive your order, how much it will cost and if there are any hidden charges.
You can never be too sure with online retailers, so ask questions until you clearly understand the process.
If your purchase is being shipped from a different country, ensure you have a clear idea of how long it will take to arrive.
#5. Research retailers and compare prices to brick and mortar stores
If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Some retailers will use Black Friday as a ploy to get customers in to buy premium products at near or full retail prices.
Before buying, always research the retailer and compare the prices between their website and brick and mortar stores nearby.
Recommended Reading: 33 social media tips for the holiday season
#6. Use price comparison websites
Price comparison websites are a great way to quickly compare the prices of multiple stores. These sites will inform you if the price you see is better than another store’s price.
They’re great if you’re on the fence about which store to purchase from.
The following is a good place to start:
#7. Scrutinize the products you plan to buy, reviews can mislead
Many shoppers go online to read reviews of products before they buy anything. This is a good idea unless the reviews are misleading.
Scrutinize the product (or service) you plan to buy and read all the reviews.
Anyone can edit reviews on product pages and 3rd party websites, so check for consistency with other sources.
Some credible product review sites include:
- Amazon Customer Reviews
- Angie’s list
- Trustpilot
- Influenster
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- G2 Crowd
- Capterra
- Facebook Ratings and Reviews
#8. Check your regular sites first before visiting unfamiliar sites
You’ve probably heard horror stories of people ordering online and then not receiving their orders or receiving an inferior product to the one that was pictured.
Do your research, read reviews, check consumer reports and ask for recommendations from other shoppers.
#9. Familiarize yourself with online shopping terms
It’s easy to get lost if you’ve never shopped online before. Before visiting unfamiliar sites, make sure you’re familiar with all the terms they use.
For example:
- BOGO — means buy one, get one free
- Partial shipment — this is when your orders are shipped separately.
- Back order — when a product you ordered is out of stock
There are tons of online shopping acronyms, so it’s important to know them all (or at least some) before exploring new sites.
This will not only help you have a better experience, but also ensure that you’re getting the best deal possible.
#10. Sign up for newsletters and updates
Subscribe to your favourite store’s newsletter, so they can let you know about any sales they may have, or possible discounts and coupons.
There is nothing worse than finding something fantastic online, only to learn, too late, it’s sold out.
Once you’ve signed up, you can save time by checking the website only when a deal that matches your taste pops up.
#11. Follow the brand’s social media accounts for offers
Follow the social media accounts of the stores you want to shop at for any updates on deals they may offer.
This can be anything from “door crasher” deals, which are deals available only to the first people who come to a store, to a coupon code available to a select few people.
Knowing about these deals ahead of time can help you bring home a steal instead of paying full price or even higher.
#12. Use coupon codes for added discounts
Most online retailers have a variety of coupon codes you can use to get juicy offers during Black Friday.
For example, some retailers offer coupon codes only to their newsletter subscribers, while others may choose to offer discounts to their followers on social media.
Also, some Black Friday deals are available in-store only, or exclusively through the mobile app.
So, it’s important to double-check when you plan to shop.