Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren’t what they used to be. These days the deals begin before Black Friday and continue beyond Cyber Monday, which now is being called Cyber Week.
With so many of us shopping online these days, it’s easier than ever to compare prices, to find out whether a deal or discount is really what it claims to be.
Not deals are every deal is a good deal, even on the biggest sales holiday of the year. So before you start shopping, check out these DealNews suggestions for what not to buy on Black Friday 2020.
What NOT to Buy on Black Friday
Winter Clothing
Historically, there are lots of clothing sales around Black Friday.
But winter apparel may be a not-as-great buy on Black Friday, since retailers don’t start serious clearance sales of winter gear until later in the season.
While there may be some great holiday deals on gift-friendly items like sweaters, scarves and boots, the real deals are in January and February, when stores start making room for spring clothing.
Video Game Consoles
This year will be a weird one for consoles, since the latest generation of the Xbox and PlayStation were released earlier in November, and therefore are commanding top dollar for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, including for any bundles.
The savings are for the previous generation of these consoles.
to save money, if you’re looking forward to any of the new video games coming out within the next couple of years, you’ll want the newer consoles.
The exceptions are the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite. These newer consoles are likely to remain Nintendo’s top-of-the-line options for the next few years.
Jewelry
Jewelry rarely sees top-notch sales, in part because it’s such an in-demand item for the holidays.
Holiday Decorations
Forget it. These go on sale the day after Christmas.
Fitness Equipment
You’ll find fitness deals in November, but expect to see many more sales on exercise equipment in January, when retailers try to cash in on New Year’s resolutions.
Off-Brand and Black Friday Models
Buyer beware. TVs and electronics often are advertised as “doorbusters”, but the too-good-to-be-true Black Friday prices may not be worth even the steeply discounted price, if it is an off-brand with no track record of quality or customer service.
These items aren’t always bad deals, but check out what you’re buying before you get caught up in the Black Friday hype. A low price doesn’t always mean a good deal.
Travel Deals
The travel industry has been put under a huge strain this year, grinding to a halt in some locations.
Airlines and hotels are literally giving away flights and rooms, and cruise ships are booking discounted trips as far ahead as 2022.
Toys Are a Maybe
Black Friday is a good time to grab toys to meet your holiday gift quota, but December usually has better toy deals.
Basically, if you see a really good deal in November, grab it. But if you don’t do your toy shopping in November, don’t worry, because December’s deals are even better.
The rule with those is grab them when you can., you’ll want to get them as soon as possible. If there’s a must-have toy for the kid in your life, you should probably grab it when you can, even if it’s not on sale.
What are your shopping plans this year for Black Friday and Cyber Monday – online and in person?
Let us know in the comments below!
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