Black Friday deals aren’t always the best. How to get rid of lower prices

By most accounts, Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday promise some of the lowest prices of the season.

And in 2023, more people than ever plan to take advantage of the five-day shopping spree that begins on Thanksgiving and continues through the following Monday, according to the Minority Alliance’s annual survey. -National sales.

This year, holiday spending during the week of Thanksgiving could be higher than normal as consumers try to maximize weekend sales, a separate survey found from Deloitte Black Friday-Cyber ​​Monday.

However, these aren’t necessarily the best deals of the year, according to Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews.com.

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According to WalletHub’s holiday shopping survey, 35% of items at major retailers won’t offer any savings compared to their pre-Black Friday prices.

A separate study of previous Black Friday sales found that 98% of the deals were the same price or cheaper at other times of the year. None of them were cheaper on Black Friday only.

Stores try to lure you in with discounts, but “I don’t know that Black Friday has the same level of value as it did years ago,” Ramhold said.

Black Friday is usually a great time to find rock-bottom prices on fall clothing — including flannels, denim, boots and accessories — and TVs, like the Samsung 75″ Smart TV -now on sale for under $600 at Best Buy.

This year, there are also some particularly good deals on smartphones, including Apple’s latest iPhone 15, Ramhold found.

With toys, however, it may pay to hold out until these items are reduced later in the season. “Unless it’s one of the hottest toys, which might sell out, you can wait until December,” Ramhold said.

Exercise equipment, cosmetics, jewelry and bedding tend to be marked down more in January, while furniture and mattress deals are often better over other holiday weekends throughout the year, such as Christmas Day. President’s Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, Ramhold said.

Some discounts may have already come and gone. Growth across a range of sectors, including clothing, appliances and computers, was significantly higher last month than in 2021 and 2022, according to data from Adobe Analytics.

A price tracking browser extension such as CamelCamelCamel or Keepa can help you track price changes and alert you when a price drops. Honey will alert you to lower prices elsewhere and scan for applicable coupon codes.

Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch recommends stacking discounts, for example, combining credit card rewards with store coupons and then using a cash-back site like CouponCabin.com or Rakuten to earn cash back on those purchases.

Finally, take pictures of your receipts using the Fetch app and earn points that can then be redeemed for gift cards at stores like Walmart, Target and Amazon.

For more information on Black Friday sales, check out NBC Select’s recent roundup Best early Black Friday deals.