Much to our disbelief, time is quickly moving forward in 2021. As surprising as it may seem, as of today, there are only 100 days left until Black Friday! But don’t worry, we’re here to help. As you start to prepare for your best holiday ever, make sure to add Brad. We’ll guide you through a new Black Friday shopping experience. And as other sources have reported, with the prediction of another Amazon sale in October (with prices similar to June’s Prime Day), we’re expecting to see sales even earlier than ever.
Amazon Sale Predicted for October
Amazon held their Prime Day in June this year, but sources are predicting that the retailer will have a major sale similar to Prime Day in October. October is normally when we start to hear the first rumors of Black Friday sales, and sometimes we even see early Black Friday ads released. A sale from Amazon in October would essentially be competing for the same Black Friday dollars as other big-name retailers, including Walmart and Target. We expect to see some of these other retailers start their Black Friday sales earlier than ever before to compete as well.
Last year, when Prime Day took place in October, we saw hundreds of thousands of items included in the event with products from every conceivable category. This year, we are likely to see the best prices of the year for Amazon-brand tech products like Fire TV sticks and Echo speakers. Because of the timing in October, we anticipate seeing a bigger focus on giftable items, which typically aren’t featured heavily on Prime Day.
Black Friday Ads
In 2020, there were some changes to the timing and format of Black Friday ads compared to 2019 and the years prior. For the first time, we saw ads from major retailers being released as early as mid-October, whereas in 2019, we didn’t see much until Kohl’s was the first to release their Black Friday ad on November 1. Last year, we also saw a departure from one massive catalog to multiple smaller ads for sales that spanned a few weeks. For example, Walmart announced not one, but three Black Friday events collectively called “Black Friday Deals for Days”, which were individual sales spread out over the course of November. This year, we expect that these same retailers, in addition to Target, Best Buy, and Macy’s, will release their ads even earlier to compete with the enormous sales event that Amazon is predicted to have.
We’ll share all of the ad releases and store updates as soon as we hear, so keep an eye on our Black Friday page. We’ll upload ads as they come out, post our analysis of the big retailers’ ads on our blog, and help you figure out which deals are worth your time and money (and which ones aren’t).
Thanksgiving and Black Friday Store Hours
Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Kohl’s have already announced that they will be closed for Thanksgiving this year. We have not yet heard what their store hours will be on November 26 for Black Friday, but as soon as they are released, we will be letting you know. While we do predict to see more people shopping in stores this autumn, expect many big sales and doorbusters to be online again this year (and you can bet we’ll find and share the best deals!).
For a full list of stores closed on Thanksgiving, you can view our blog post. We will keep you updated on news about Black Friday store hours as we learn more.
Black Friday Deal Predictions
We’ve mentioned before, we see a lot of similar Black Friday deals every year. This year is expected to be no different. You’ll continue to find deals on Kitchen Aid Mixers, women’s boots, winter jackets, small kitchen appliances, and all your other annual favorites.
Per our Black Friday deals expert and Managing Editor Casey, we expect to also see Instant Pots around $60, Dyson vacuums under $200, and big savings on apparel from North Face, Under Armour, and Columbia.
Black Friday Shopping Tips
Add Brad.
We have a real team of experts working diligently to find you the best deals every day, and we work twice as hard to sort through the clutter during Black Friday. You can trust that our deals are well researched and vetted. Add Brad’s Deals to your holiday shopping strategy for news and predictions, gift ideas, early Black Friday Values, and finding what’s on your list for less.
You can download our shopping app so you know you’re getting the lowest price possible, stay on top of deals as they are released, and let us do the work for you. Brad’s Deals will be covering Amazon major sales event, all of the best competing sales, and of course, top Black Friday deals from Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and more.
Shop early.
One of the best pieces of advice we can give you this year is to plan ahead and get started early. No one can tell when supply chain interruptions might happen, so you’re going to want to place orders early to allow plenty of time for shipping, especially when it comes to Christmas gifts. We will do our best to let you know of shipping cutoffs. And if you’re going after a specific color or size, be aware that sellouts can happen quickly, especially for the most popular options. This year, the wisest thing you can do is shop earlier rather than later.
Know your shopping options.
Online shopping is still expected to be the most popular way to shop this season, even as more and more people are heading back into stores. Another option to consider that we think will be very popular this year is to pick up your order in store or at the curbside. Almost all major retailers are now offering free curbside pickup at your local store, which is a great option if you need to get gifts quickly or are just looking to avoid long shipping times.
Sign up for newsletters.
Hopefully, you’ve already signed up for the Brad’s Deals newsletter so you can receive the best Black Friday deals and news every day. You may also want to consider signing up for emails from your favorite Black Friday retailers. They’ll no doubt share their best deals with their email subscribers, and you’ll get a heads up on their plan for Black Friday hours and doorbusters.
Download mobile apps.
Comparison shopping is going to be a big deal this year. Too often we see people trust that Amazon will have the lowest price, but that is not always the case. Download store apps to take advantage of easy price comparisons, quick checkouts, and mobile coupons.
Shop safely.
Black Friday is the ideal time for scammers with non-legitimate websites and inauthentic products to try to take advantage of you. Be vigilant and don’t buy anything from a website that does not look trustworthy or safe. Know that Brad’s Deals is the Safest Place to Shop on Earth and we only feature trustworthy deals and retailers after doing the research upfront for you. Some red flags to be aware of:
- No contact or customer service information
- No social media pages
- Blurry homepage photos and typos in website text
- PayPal only payment options
If you aren’t sure about a website or a deal, please reach out to us and ask! Even if you didn’t find them through our website, we’re more than happy to check out a website for you and let you know if it’s legitimate or if you should avoid it.
Have Fun.
Lastly, as we’ve all learned, the most important thing you can do is take time to enjoy the magic of the season. From planning your holiday to finding the best gifts for your loved ones, make sure you have fun and take time to reflect on what’s important to you. Just know, our members are like our family, and we’re here to help you prepare for the season easily, safely, and on your budget.
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