Are Black Friday deals really all they’re cracked up to be? Or is it all just marketing? We investigate if Christmas deals are better than Black Friday sales.
To be honest, a lot of that depends on exactly what you’re buying. Some items are super smart to buy on Black Friday, while you could likely find competitive or even better sales on other items at different times of year.
Let’s take a look at what makes a Black Friday deal great and when you should wait to buy.
Text BLACKFRIDAY to 57299 and receive real-time text alerts when Black Friday deals go live.
Are Christmas deals better than Black Friday?
That all depends on what you’re buying! One good product category to look at is toys.
The toys that are in high demand are likely to go up in price as Christmas approaches. There’s a high demand and a set in stone deadline of Dec. 25 for those who celebrate the holiday. That means parents are likely to pay more out of desperation the closer the holiday gets.
But there are plenty of toys that aren’t on the bestseller list. Retailers know this inventory will eat up room on their shelves if it’s not sold by Christmas, so they’re likely to mark it down.
If it’s a popular toy, try to get it on Black Friday. If it’s not, you might be able to score a lower price in the days leading up to Christmas.
TIP: Buying a new car? That’s one purchase you’ll definitely want to save for December when prices are at their lowest.
Are after-Christmas sales better than Black Friday?
Again, it all depends on what you’re buying.
Stocking up on Christmas decor? Definitely wait until Boxing Day to shop. Sheets and linens? You’re alright waiting for the January White Sale when prices are even lower than Black Friday.
Sales on things like TVs, laptops, and other electronics tend to be pretty competitive on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but you can score potentially better deals if you wait until late January and early February.
TIP: Check out all the best sales that come after Black Friday.
But there are some deals you can’t ignore on Black Friday. For example, Target is known for giving out extremely high-value gift cards on Black Friday with the purchase of a cell phone (which is also probably heavily discounted for the shopping holiday).
Some of the best deals on appliances can be found on Black Friday. The next time you can find comparable deals tends to be during Memorial Day sales six months later. So if you miss Black Friday, you could be waiting for quite some time before you see the same savings.
Related: Black Friday Freebies
Which sales are better — before or after Christmas?
Sales after Christmas tend to be steeper than the ones in December leading up to the holiday. But the inventory is going to be a lot slimmer. The most popular items will be gone, so if there’s a specific brand name or model you want, waiting like this isn’t a great strategy — even if it’s the cheaper way to go.
But if you’re just stocking up on Christmas decor for next year? Or don’t care if Santa is the one gifting the Egyptian cotton bed sheets?
Waiting for post-holiday sales can be a smart way to save some cash.
TIP: Again, this all depends on which product you’re buying. If you’re buying a car, for example, you wouldn’t want to wait until January when dealership quotas have reset for the year.
Is it better to buy on Black Friday or before?
It depends on the store and what you’re buying. Some stores — like Bed Bath & Beyond — have sales that get notoriously better the closer you get to Black Friday. Shopping early would be leaving money on the table.
But as the years have gone on, Black Friday sales and Early Black Friday sales have crept up earlier and earlier. Some even go live in October!
With the shopping season stretched out, some retailers offer a more steady discount. For example, a lot of online-only mattress manufacturers offer the same mattress sale at different intervals throughout October and November. Black Friday deals aren’t anything extra. They’re just the same deal that’s been running intermittently for a month — depending on the company, of course.
Which Black Friday deals are worth it?
There are a ton of Black Friday deals that are actually worth it. While you can find some electronics slightly cheaper in late January and early February, the Black Friday sale prices are nothing to scoff at. The same goes for hyper-popular kids’ toys and gaming consoles.
Plus, some stores just really do deserve the Black Friday hype. They give you huge savings during the holiday weekend without spilling the best sales out over an entire month. Here are some of the best Black Friday purists:
- Drugstore Black Friday sales — like those found at Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid.
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving. This year Black Friday falls on Nov. 25, 2022.
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