Where to Find the Best Black Friday Deals Now

With less than one week until Black Friday, you’re undoubtedly planning your shopping already. 

Black Friday typically is the unofficial start to the holiday season, and with that comes a plan of attack that begins this year on November 23.

Black Friday traditionally is the most lucrative shopping day of the year for retailers, particularly with the inception of the online piece of shopping buyers have discovered as it relates to Black Friday.

Sure, some want those door busters in their hand, and part of the fun and excitement of Black Friday is the chase, so to speak, but consumers also are spending quite a bit online on Black Friday as well, suggesting that the deals are still present even if the buying occurs on the living room sofa.

Overall, the holidays are rife with spending, as you’d expect, with nearly a six percent increase in total sales from 2016 to 2017, with a sales total between November and December of nearly 700 billion dollars, and Black Friday specifically last year had 8 billion in online sales, and 2.87 billion on Black Friday spending in stores, up nearly 18 percent from last year.^[1]

That same study showed 13 million online Black Friday transactions, again supporting the influx of online buys, but perhaps the most telling statistic was Black Friday shopping started before 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, approximately 11 percent of all the shoppers are ready to get started; another 25 percent was at 10 a.m. on Black Friday.

The idea that Black Friday shopping is a one-day event is true, principally, but the reality is the thoughts of Black Friday and shopping plans start well ahead of time, which is why most retailers are quick to start producing ads ahead of schedule, far in advance so consumers know what they’re offering and how to attack the day.

Roughly 42 percent of all Black Friday shoppers believe this is the best time to buy gifts for the holidays, the most opportune time whether that’s predicated on price or that it’s simply a shopping tradition (39 percent).^[2]

When you did a little deeper in to Black Friday, you see most items are computers and TVs, clothing and toys, mostly, with Amazon and Walmart typically paving the way as far as the most popular of stores, even though Amazon isn’t a brick and mortar place, also showcasing just how much online shopping has changed the scope of Black Friday.

This year, Black Friday is poised to have approximately 74 percent of Americans shopping for deals, with $483 per person (including Cyber Monday), with totals hitting the 90 billion dollar mark; the big sales, door busters and other larger-ticket items account for 85 percent of the sales you’ll see on Black Friday as well.^[3]

Black Friday sees about 18 percent of the population starting their Christmas and holiday shopping on that day, which compared to 25 percent who start in December (likely those last-minute shoppers, along with 21 percent who hit the stores out in front of Black Friday.^[4]

The early November number is intriguing in that it reaffirms how consumers are consistently trying to get started on their holiday shopping as much as they wait until the last minute. Stores and retailers alike have minimized Black Friday to some extent with so many pre-Black Friday sales that occur in the first part of November.

That said, Black Friday still carries quite a bit of value to it, and shoppers are clamoring for the ads and deals ahead of time, even before that Friday hits. The proof is in the early November shopping percentage and how retailers are trying to promote Black Friday sales even before the day arrives, almost as a teaser to “leak” ads earlier.

Here are the best Black Friday deals (by retailer) both in store and online ahead of schedule so you’re prepared to save, shop and succeed in your holiday wish list.

Target: TVs, appliances are tops at the bull’s eye brand on Black Friday

Target is in the same tier and conversation as Walmart when it comes to Black Friday and success, mostly due to Target and its affinity for being a one-stop shopping spot, whether that’s in store or online. Target has tremendous technology driven and appliance aided deals this Black Friday, highlighted by the 55 inch TCL TV, a 4K TV that is only $349, which includes Roku; also, the Fitbit Charge 3 is down $30 to $119.95, and the 5-qt KitchenAid Professional mixer is discounted nearly $100 off, sitting at $219.99.^[5]

Target saw tremendous growth last year, 44 percent in online sales improvement in 2017, versus the rest of retailers as a whole, quadrupling its orders.^[6]

As for video games, consoles and bundles, another hot Black Friday item(s), Target is offering PlayStation 4 1TB plus the Spider-Man Bundle at $199 ($100 off, and the Xbox One X at $100 off at $399.99.^[7]

Walmart: Video games, electronics highlight list of Black Friday products

Walmart, behind only Amazon, rules Black Friday year after year, and 2018 looks to be more of the same from the world’s largest retail outlet.

Walmart is really upping the ante on the electronics side of the business with the latest iPad marked down to $250, about $80 off the original price and the same Spider Man Bundle at Target previously mentioned for $200, going price for price with Target, but also offering a $398 65 inch flat screen TV with Roku and the TCL model, coming in $50 more than Target but a 10 inch larger screen.^[8]

Amazon and Black Friday tied for first place last year in the Black Friday supremacy race.

Walmart sold to 97 million consumers, roughy 53 percent of all shoppers via the web sales and also the store sales, tying Amazon and beating out other Black Friday heavy hitters like Kohl’s, Target and Best Buy.^[9]

Although Target performed better from 2016 to 2017, Walmart still was the retailer to beat, as far as brick and mortar sales coupled with online ones, too.

That said, Walmart is consistently polled by consumers to have the best deals, which leads to the sales numbers being so impressive.

Kohl’s: Gamers riddled with delight over Black Friday promotions

Kohl’s is on the rise again, as you read earlier being bested by Target and Best Buy but still doing well for itself last year during Black Friday sales.

Walmart and Kohl’s seemingly are going head to head in the gaming department with Kohl’s looking like the clear-cut winner on that front.

A few examples has Kohl’s, offering the Sony PS4 Slim 1TB Spider-Man Bundle for $199, a savings of $100, and although Walmart is offering a similar deal, Kohl’s is sweetening the post with Kohl’s cash, an extra $60 for the Playstation 4 buy; the same deal with the Xbox One S 1TB, a $199 buy at Kohl’s (same Walmart price) but also $60 again in Kohl’s cash.^[10]

Kohl’s also is featuring more than its fare share of door busters, too, with the $69 Amazon Echo capped with $15 Kohl’s cash, and the third generation “Dot” for only $24.^[11]

Best Buy: TVs mark the sweet spot for this electronics retailer on Black Friday

Best Buy is all about their TV door buster deals this Black Friday, as if that should be a surprise to anyone.

Three TVs their touting for Black Friday 2018 is the $129 43 inch Toshiba at a $200 off price point, and another $200 off a 65 inch Samsung (price at $599), and a 70 inch LG at $699, down $300.^[12]

We’ll get to Apple in a minute, but Best Buy sells Apple products, and another Black Friday doozy is the $100 off the Apple HomePod at $250.^[13]

Best Buy also is doing wonders for the iPad, courtesy of the iPad mini 4, the 7.9 inch version at 128 GB is only $249, down $150; and if Apple isn’t your fancy, they’re also delivering big on the Amazon Fire HD 8, down to $49.99 versus $80 originally priced retail.^[14]

Amazon is the top Black Friday retailer (don’t worry, they’re next up), so Best Buy is going for the bigger guns this holiday season.

Amazon: The top 2017 Black Friday retailer across the board scores big again

If you want to talk about touting Black Friday ahead of schedule, chances are Amazon will make the list as a serious talking point.

The online giant is all about making Black Friday available well ahead of schedule, and 2018 is no different.

Let’s remember that Amazon took in 5 billion dollars in online sales or 27 percent of all the total online sales on Black Friday, and Best Buy was a distant second place at 8 percent of the marketplace online on the holiday sales day in 2017.^[15]

In 2018, Amazon is all about the Echo Sub and two Echo Plus.

The Echo Sub and two Echos, the second generation versions are marked down $80 to $250, while the Echo Sub and the two Echo Plus, also second generation versions are $100 off down to $330.^[16]

If you’re looking at the Echo, but want something more affordable from a gift-giving perspective, try the $80 off Echo Dot three pack speakers at $70 or the if the kids are on your wish list the Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet is $70, down from the typical price of $100.

Take a quick second and type the words “Black Friday” into your computer today, November 17, 2018, and you’ll see just how hyped the event is. We detailed sales that are happening on Black Friday, the actual day, but that search online will show you that online retailers are offering Black Friday-like specials now through the entire Black Friday weekend and into Cyber Monday.

That is why this time of the year is so important to consumers and retailers alike. The latter see a spike in sales to finish their revenue year off strong, while consumers take this opportunity to buy for their spouse, their partner, family, friends and even themselves.

The last item, buying for yourself, accounts is totaled by 60 percent of shoppers out there preparing for Black Friday will do so with gift giving in mind as far as buying a present for the party of one: themselves.^[17]

Black Friday shopping is legendary, and knowing what to buy, where to go and the best deals possible is paramount in putting together a holiday that is managed properly on your purchases being smart and knowing that preparation was also part of your plan.