With the holidays right around the corner, there’s no better time to snag some gifts than with Black Friday shopping. After all, it’s the biggest purchasing day of the year. And for good reason, right?

Black Friday shopping is well known for offering steeply discounted items. And people will stay up, stand in line and do just about anything to get their hands on some goodies.

But are the deals really as good as we think they are? Or is it more about the fear of missing out on a great deal that drives most bargain shoppers? Let’s take a look at what’s real and what’s a myth when it comes to Black Friday shopping.

Black Friday Myths Vs. Facts

According to a National Retail Federation survey, consumers will spend 4.1% more in 2018 than they did the year before. That means buyers aren’t going to skip Black Friday shopping any time soon.

But just because something is sold on this big shopping day doesn’t mean you’re always getting the best deal. Check out how we separated some of the facts from fiction.

Best Sales are Only on Black Friday

Myth

With online shopping booming, we can’t forget about Cyber Monday. The newly dubbed retail day offers tons of discounts for shoppers. And the best part? You don’t even have to step foot in a store or brave the crowds.

There’s No Point in Going to a Physical Retail Store

Myth

Because you can snag great deals online, you may think there’s no point in going to physical retail stores. Not so fast.

Retailers offer exceptional deals in limited quantities of the best prices anywhere. So before you decide to sleep in, you may want to reconsider standing in line to get the best deal possible on certain items.

Sale Prices on Black Friday Are the Best You Can Get

Both Fact and Myth

Black Friday didn’t come about without offering the best deals of the year. But that doesn’t mean all items that are sold are at their cheapest.

Some retailers will sell certain items at a loss, in hopes you buy other items that have a bigger profit margin. How do you know if you’re really getting a deal? Check out some of our best tips for finding bargains on Black Friday.

How To Make Sure You Snag a Really Great Black Friday Shopping Deal

Note Current Prices

Pay attention to prices well before you head out for Black Friday shopping. That way, you can compare how heavily discounted items are before you purchase and know that you’re actually saving money.

Shop With a Plan

Only buy items that you really want or actually need. This helps you from going through buyer’s remorse once you see how much you spent at the end of the day.

Check for Extended Sales

Retailers are coming up with more and more innovative ways to try and snag your dollars. Part of that is offering huge sales before Black Friday even rolls around. Pay attention to the steep discounts offered as early as the beginning of November.

Sales may not improve just because you wait longer to purchase. Lots of retailers offer discounts in the weeks before Black Friday. It’s never too early to start shopping if the price is right!

Check Retailer Websites

Not all retailers are jumping on the Black Friday shopping bandwagon. More and more people are makings demands for workers to have holidays off to enjoy with their families.

That means the item you’ve been eyeing won’t necessarily have a big sale. Check out the retailer’s websites and see what they have to say. Otherwise, you might be waiting for nothing.

In the end, Black Friday shopping is a tradition that many people still get excited about. With the best sales of the year, there’s still reason to get up early and brave the crowds. But if that sounds like too much and you’re willing to shell out a few more bucks, you may want to opt for Cyber Monday instead.

 

What do you think about Black Friday? Let us know in the comments!