The Black Friday Experiment Part 3: Arm Yourselves with Knowledge and Websites

This is part three of “The Black Friday Experiment 2013” series. If you missed the previous articles,  check them out here .

Last week, my blog article was about how most of the big retailers will be open for Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving Day. I think that Thanksgiving should be kept completely separate from Black Friday. This year the flood gates have opened, and most stores have followed along. This past week, I also posted  an article on CNN’s iReport  about how I think Thanksgiving shouldn’t be a shopping day. If you feel this way too, check it out and spread the word. Maybe we can make a difference.

Okay, back to Black Friday. I just realized it will be here in less than two weeks. As you know, this will be my first time in over 20 years that I have been out shopping on that day. I haven’t been a fan of Black Friday after dealing with all of my bad experiences in the past. So…why am I doing this again? Well, maybe I’m just a crazy fool.  But, that’s not much different than any other day, so all is good.  

I’m not sure what my experience will be like. I admit it. Going into this, I didn’t have the highest expectations that I would love it. But so far, I have to say researching for Black Friday has been a huge amount of fun. I’m really excited about approaching it from a writer’s vantage point and getting the story. All of the work I have been doing has already paid off because I was able to take advantage of some incredible online deals already.  For the first time ever, I’m probably at least halfway done with Christmas shopping this early in the game.

I have been collecting ads and researching everything I can find.  Knowledge is power, and time is money, at least it is for me. I have been asking my Black Friday savvy friends what I should be doing at this point, and they have some really good tips and pointers.  Here are some of the things that I’m doing. The highlighted areas are the links to the sites.

• One of the most important things you can do right now, if you haven’t already,  is to sign up for the Black Friday websites, Facebook pages and apps for guidance and up-to-the-second latest news. Take advantage of their expertise. These sites are updated continually with the latest info. There are many great sites out there to choose from, and you can search to find some that work for you.  Here are some of my favorites:

• Black Friday Ads website, as well as their Facebook page. Their info is very timely, even posting unexpected flash sales as they happen. 

• Blackfriday.com also has a Facebook page and email list that has great lists of stores and deals and store info.

• I found Long Island Coupon Queen while searching this year, and this site is a wealth of info all year long. They have a great Black Friday section, and you can even have a Black Friday shopping list you can print out .

• Apps for your phone or tablet: Black Friday Ads 2013 is a favorite, and BlackFriday.com offers apps for both Android and IOS and is very popular. There are many apps out there. If you like a specific website, check their page for a link to their app.

• Make a spreadsheet or chart with all the information for each store, include sale dates, opening and sale times and all price-matching information and rules.  Some stores are offering staggered door busters at different times on Thursday and Friday. Prioritize the chart by the stores you will visit first.

• Look for those emails from the retailers. You know, all those spammy emails you signed up for and ignore all year? Well, this is when you will actually want to start paying attention.  

• Though most ads for the big retailers can be found online, it is very important that you also keep an eye out in your mailbox and in the newspapers. I recently received exclusive deals from Toys R Us and Walmart in the mail, and the Costco monthly mailer itself always has great deals too. Also, check out the retail ads that aren’t only for Black Friday, there are a lot of great sales now.

• Don’t forget about online shopping on Black Friday, and even the week leading up to it. Some people are saying that Cyber Monday might become a thing of the past eventually because retailers have to offer Black Friday online specials or they will miss this opportunity. Many of the online retailers are having sales that start several days before Thanksgiving and continue through Cyber Monday.

Now back to the stores that are open on Thanksgiving. I really can’t let this go, can I? Okay, I know, I already said it all. So, instead, let’s talk about the stores that WON’T be open on Thanksgiving.  I think they deserve an Honorable Mention. If you know of any others, please add them in the comments and I will add them and any more next time as more info becomes available.  Some names I haven’t posted yet because I haven’t been able to confirm their hours. There is at least one news article out there that is wrong, I want to be sure. So far, these stores are closed on Thanksgiving:  Costco, Nordstrom, and Sam’s Club.

I will be back next week with more strategies, sale info, budget stuff and plotting a game plan.

Have fun!