That hectic time of year is just around the corner. We are all familiar with it; we stuff ourselves with turkey, dressing, puddings and pie only to sneak out after a mere three hours of sleep, for the biggest shopping day of the year. Black Friday, November 24, is just a few short weeks away. We already have the inside scoop on what may be the biggest deals of the year, and where you may be able to find them. Behold, our Black Friday predictions:
Advertisement:
When it comes to Black Friday deals, speed is often the key to getting what you want. Being one of the first in line and one of the first to get directly to the product you need, can mean the difference between getting the product on your wish list and staring at an empty shelf in disappointment. Before diving into what deals are in store for this year, take a look at some of the tips below for meeting your expectations with Black Friday shopping.
- Preparation is key. Make lists for each store you visit, and take note of the hours the stores open so you can plan a strategic shopping route. Big items like electronics tend to sell out more quickly than other items. Consider purchasing big ticket items first.
- Times have changed, and you can now use technology to your advantage. Certain stores, such as Lowes, have apps for your phone that will show you the exact aisle your desired product can be found. Researching where to find the items before the doors are even open can give you a big advantage over those who may be stuck wandering from department to department. Note: You may not have a cell phone signal inside the stores, particularly for data usage, so it’s best to research this ahead of time, just in case.
- If you are able to find an ad or even a picture of the item you want, it will help you in your search once inside the store.
- Don’t forget coupons! Just because these items are on sale doesn’t mean you might not be able to stack your deals with coupons or unused coupons.
- Check online deals. In the modern age of technology, Cyber Monday often gives us a second chance for the items we missed on Black Friday in stores. However, more and more stores are now offering their Black Friday deals online, as early as midnight. Be sure to check online stores for your items first, so you can make the best of your valuable shopping time. Note: If you are unable to find an item in stores, it may very well still be available online, and you may be able to use your cell phone to snag the purchase from the parking lot!
- Amazon and Walmart typically match each other’s deals online. Also, surprisingly, eBay has started to join in on Black Friday discounts that are quite competitive. As a newcomer to the Black Friday market, we expect eBay to have many of the same deals as Amazon and brick and mortar stores. These three options should be explored before you brace the cold in the middle of the night!
Deals of the Year: 2017
Now that you know how to make the most of your holiday shopping time, here are a few things that are rumored to be hot items this Black Friday. Keep in mind that, like last year, some stores are rumored to be opening on Thanksgiving night. With only three shopping weekends between Black Friday and Christmas, there also are likely to be lingering deals during those weeks as well.
Tablets
This is likely to be this year’s hottest item from a variety of companies. Apple is rumored to be providing up to $100 off of its IPad Air, and heavier discounts may be available for older generations still in production. Apple’s tablets remain at the highest pricing end of the tablet’s market, however, so look for other retailers to take advantage of this. We expect to see the other higher end tablets from companies like Samsung, Toshiba and Asus at a considerably lower price than Apple’s, and lower end tablets are rumored to be as cheap as $39. Amazon will be worth keeping an extra eye on, as they have recently expanded their product line to include an assortment of eReaders, tablets, streaming boxes and even phones. With its growing product line, we expect price cuts to be made on older generations of their electronics to make room for its new, more innovative inventory. Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Kindles and Nooks are all expected to hit the $99 price point by Black Friday. IPad minis and Microsoft Surface 2’s are expected to be around $199 with gift card offers to bring the price down for both.
Best places to land these deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart
Televisions
Black Friday could never be the success it is without providing its massive, traditional price cuts on televisions. 3D HDTVs will likely be found at great prices, as their popularity is still somewhat uncertain. With recent innovations such as curved screens and Ultra HD, we expect to see some retailers promoting these with lower prices. Expect these to go quickly. 4K models, also expected to go quickly, are projected to cost around $299 for smaller sizes.
A standard 40” HDTV is likely to retail for around $169 this year on Black Friday, while the 32” running as low as $80. Though they may not come with all of the options more expensive models have, these “base model” televisions are likely still well worth the bargain. In fact, you may be able to pair the deal with a surround sound system at a discounted price.
Best places to land these deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart
Computers
Computers are another traditionally hot Black Friday item. Even though tablet sales have squeezed this market a bit, there are still plenty of shoppers who will always need a laptop, and retailers are expected to market to this group heavily. Though desktops may be sold for as little as $200, these are becoming rarer and rarer, and the market for these computers is shrinking quickly. Laptops, however, should be available starting at around $150 this year.
A word of caution about laptops, however, is that it’s best to research these before actually shopping for one. Black Fridays are the most hectic days of the year, and it’s quite possible you may not get your questions answered by a sales associate in the midst of the shopping madness. Though a $150 laptop may suit your needs, there are many things to consider about a lower end laptop, such as what can and cannot be improved upon after purchase, and if it will actually meet your needs. Higher end laptops with Blu-ray capabilities and significantly larger RAM memory are expected to be priced as low as $300 this year.
The lower end laptops often have slower processors that can be more frustrating than they are productive. In fact, Netbooks and Chromebooks have every day prices of around $200, so we predict there will be better deals found with these small, handy tools than with cheaper laptops. Since the Netbooks and Chromebooks are quite small, they are easy and quick to power on in seconds, and can go almost anywhere a tablet can go. They tend to be more responsive than the lower end laptops, and the battery life can exceed eight hours. Though some of them do not have Windows, programs can still be installed on the hard drive, and they can do almost anything a laptop can do.
Best places to land these deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Staples, Target, Walmart
Smartphones and MP3 Players
The big question from everyone is whether or not there will be a discount on the newly released iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 plus. No huge deals are expected from Apple regarding the newly released models, although individual carriers such as Verizon and Sprint may offer their own incentives with a contract. Older models still in production, or refurbished models, will likely be sold at major discounts, however. Projections say that the iPhone 7s may be paired with a gift card that not only makes the phone free with a contract, but actually gives you funds to purchase the accessories you need.
Android phones, however, are likely to be sold at heavy discounts. The Samsung Galaxy S5’s are projected to be $99 or less with a contract, and some projections say the phone will even be free with some carriers.
Somewhat new to the smartphone market, Amazon’s Fire Phone is expected to be the best deal of all. Not only is the price already only $0.99 with a two year activation, but it also comes with one year of Amazon Prime. If you aren’t familiar with Prime, it’s a service provided by Amazon that includes free shipping for eligible purchases, free select music downloads and a streaming service comparable to Netflix. With the price already being at rock bottom, we expect Amazon to pair gift cards with this deal on Black Friday.
MP3 players are always among the hottest items, though Apple likely won’t discount any iPods. Retailers will likely be bundling deals for those purchasing them, however, with deals like free iTunes gift cards or accessories with a purchase. Expect to see very reasonably priced MP3 players at the lower end.
Best places to land these deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, local cell phone providers’ (website and in store)
Video Games and Systems
Video games and consoles never fail to be hot items on Black Friday. Xbox and Playstation are expected to promote their latest models at a discount of $50 to $100, but much larger discounts are predicted to be seen in bundles. Xbox One (without the Kinect) is expected to be priced around $349 with a bundle, while the previous Xbox 360 will fall to around $149 for a bundle, likely the same price point as the Playstation 3.
Nintendo’s Wii U hasn’t met expectations for sales so far this year, so we predict this system and its games will likely be sold at heavier discounts than others.
Best places to land these deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Game Stop, Target, Walmart
DVD Players, Blu-ray and Streaming Devices
Blu-ray movies, especially boxed sets of television series and movie collections, are expected to be found at discounted prices this year. Blu-ray players are also expected to sell for as low as $30. At prices this low, expect these items to go as quickly as the $20 DVD players did years ago.
With the recent rise of Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services, streaming devices are the next “big” way to watch today’s content. The Amazon Fire TV and the Apple TV are projected to be priced at around $80, but Roku is expected to be priced as low as $24.99.
Google Chromecast, however, is expected to be the best deal of all for HDMI streaming. It streams most of the same services as the other devices with a regular price of around $35. Predictions say these are expected to drop below $30 on Black Friday. With its compact size, we think it’s well worth its standard price tag, and would be a steal at a deeper discount.
Best places to land these deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
Toys
Year after year, toys remain some of the most sought-after items during Black Friday sales. Disney’s “Frozen” has been a major hit all year with toys, movies, games, etc. so expect these items to go unbelievably quickly. Though there aren’t many predictions regarding pricing, Disney is expected to release new merchandise based on the movie. Remember the movie “Jingle All the Way?” Its plot is essentially predicted for any toy that is “Frozen.” Be prepared. Check online first. Shop early. In fact, try to be one of the first in line!
Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys will likely be in high demand as well. The best bet for these items is to try to obtain them early or risk paying a high price later, if you are able to find them.
Best places to land these deals: Amazon, Toys R Us, Target, Walmart
Other Trending Items for 2017
Keurigs: Expect earlier models of this famed coffee maker to be paired with gift cards, lowering the price as low as $45. Look for these in unexpected places like Staples, Best Buy and even Kohl’s.
Major Appliances: Washer and dryer bundles started at $499 last year, and they are projected to be similarly priced for 2017. Look for these in major appliance stores such as Sears.
Personal Apparel: Cashmere has been a hit for several years now, and we always see deep discounts for these comfy winter favorites. Expect to see prices around $30 for the fine fabric, which will likely be best priced at places like Kohl’s, Macy’s or Sear’s.
Advertisement:
Overall, Black Friday shopping trends show that this year, the sales will likely be extended as they have been the past couple of years. One can expect for some stores to begin as early as the Monday before Thanksgiving, with others having sales on Wednesday. Several retailers saw success with sales on Thanksgiving Day, so we expect to see this repeat in 2017. Since Thanksgiving falls slightly later this year, it wouldn’t be unusual to see sales extended even farther than last year. Remember, with more and more retailers offering online sales, you may not even have to leave the home to get the deals you are seeking, as long as you research your options using the suggestions above. Thanks for reading our Black Friday projections.