Also, if some gadget or appliance has an ultracheap price, consider why. You may want to shell out the extra bucks and get something that will last until next Black Friday, Palso says. The $19.99 Black and Decker toaster oven that s half off at Target s sale, for example, may last longer than its no name $9 rival. And that GPS may be on the way out.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: GPS, Video
5. Know store price matching and return policies. Some retailers relax their return policies during the holiday season, according to ConsumerAffairs, but don t count on it, and always learn the rules before buying. Some companies have different return policies for in store, online, or mail order purchases.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video
According to ConsumerAffairs.com, Consumer Reports found an electric percolator on sale at Kohl s stores and Kohls.com for $61.99, a discount from the regular $69.99. But those prices are higher than the $59.99 manufacturer s suggested retail price. Using a Web search, CR found better deals. The best price was $30.03 plus $8.21 shipping at Sale Stores.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video
4. Look for coupons. Once you know what items you intend to purchase and the stores offering these products for a great price, see who will sweeten the deal.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video
A recent article at ConsumerReports.org named PriceGrabber the top comparison site and suggested that all searches begin there. The article also recommended searching with at least one additional site, mentioning Google, NexTag and Bing as best bets. (Bing is owned by Microsoft, which publishes MSN Money.)
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video
3. Compare prices. Some deal sites have put together buying guides for some of the most popular big ticket items on Black Friday, such as laptops or video cameras. Use a shopping search engine to see what these products are going for now.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Camera, laptop, Video
A lot of these smaller guys . . . operate only online, and they have some of the best deals, says Laura Conrad, the president of PriceGrabber.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video
2. Scan for those items. Check the Black Friday ads that have been leaked to sites such as BlackFriday@GottaDeal.com, BFAds.net or BlackFriday2010 for the items you selected. Each of these sites allows you to make a comprehensive list of the items you d like to buy (or are considering). From that list you ll be able to narrow down a list of places to hit on Black Friday.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video
A refund alert. At least one site, PricePlease, monitors the lowest price guarantees of 160 retailers. If the price drops on something you just bought, PricePlease tells you how to get back the difference.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video
1. Make up your Christmas list. This sounds embarrassingly simple, but it s critical. If you don t make a list of the toys and gifts that you think your family and friends would like, you ll end up buying more than you had counted on to hedge your bets.
Categories: Black Friday 2011 Tags: Video