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DO
Do Strategize
 A well-thought-out shopping strategy is essential for
tackling Black Friday deals. Review store circulars ahead of
time and pick destinations based on discounts. Consider
shopping at a mall instead of stand-alone stores for easy
access to a wider selection of retailers and less driving.
Find out how much of a certain item will be sold at each
store, as many advertised door-busters are limited in
quantity. Dress in layers to avoid overheating amid crowds
or freezing while waiting in lines outside. And pack small
snacks to keep energized for a long day of bargain hunting.
Do Make a Detailed List
Every Black Friday shopping plan should include a list. That
list may be burned into your brain, but it also helps to put
it down on paper. Better yet, record it on your smartphone
and track spending with the Holiday Gift list app. Having
details like an item's model number will help you get in and
get out with less hassle.
Do Track the Deals
Remember when you were a kid and you couldn't resist peeking
at the presents early? If you were persistent enough in your
pursuit, mom and dad might just hand it over before the big
day. Many merchants offering deals are beginning to cave in
a similar fashion. Both Amazon and Target already have pages
on their websites dedicated to Black Friday specials.
Studying their offers well in advance will only make your
plan more effective and keep you in the loop about
last-minute changes.
Do Shop Online
Unless your idea of a good time is waiting in long lines to
battle deal-crazed shoppers at 4 a.m., you're probably not
shopping on Black Friday for the atmosphere. Luckily, many
merchants are now offering their special sales online. As an
extra incentive to skip the stores, such services as price
matching and free shipping are often provided.
Do Look for Coupons
Clearly, Black Friday deals are so good there's no possible
way you could save more -- right? Wrong. There are a
surprising number of merchants who offer coupons for
additional discounts. Consult this list of merchants
offering coupon codes for free shipping on Black Friday.
Do Socialize
You'll have a lot of time on your hands while waiting in
line, so be sure to periodically check the Facebook and
Twitter pages of your favorite stores for instant updates on
deals and hourly promotions. Before you head into a new
store, research their status and tweets to fully prepare
yourself. Knowing what deals are available before you cross
the threshhold will give you an advantage over other
shoppers.
DON'T
Don't Drown in Numbers
Tags with multiple markdowns, added coupon savings and
clearance items with an additional percentage off can
confuse even the most brilliant mathematician after hours of
deal hunting. Ask a sales associate to clarify any
discriminating discounts and don't assume the final price
until you crunch the numbers. Download the Sale Saver app
which features a price calculator that factors in all
discounts, including store-wide or product sales, along with
coupon savings and any other promotional offers. The app
saves items in the mobile cart and calculates the total
savings, while factoring in tax to show just how much each
Black Friday deal costs.
Don't Spend Unnecessarily
There are plenty of great deals to be found on Black Friday,
but there are also lots of duds. Remember, just because the
price has been slashed doesn't mean you're getting a steal.
Many stores drop prices on unpopular items to clear out
inventory. Reading reviews beforehand will make sure you
don't get stuck with an inferior product. Though there are
lots of tempting deals, make sure you're not spending just
to spend.
Don't Give Up
If you missed the door-busting deals you had your eye on,
don't fret; there are still plenty of opportunities (in some
cases, better opportunities) to find huge discounts after
the shopping extravaganza ends. In 2010, Black Friday only
had $648 million in sales, placing it third among shopping
holidays. Both Cyber Monday and Free Shipping Day easily
surpassed those sales numbers by a few hundred-million
dollars. This shows an increasing trend in shoppers avoiding
the post-Thanksgiving hysteria.
Don't Get Trampled
"Shop at your own risk" should be the official motto of
Black Friday. Ever since a Wal-Mart employee was trampled in
2008, there's an added aura of risk. To counteract this kind
of overwhelming rush, many merchants have announced plans to
open their doors early. Both Target and Macy's will open at
midnight, while Toys 'R Us plans to open at 10 p.m. on
Thanksgiving. Target also has a plan to cut down on the
chaos by allowing only 30 shoppers to enter the store at a
time.
Don't Go It Alone
It was the band Three Dog Night who sang, "One is the
loneliest number." Though they probably didn't have Black
Friday in mind, braving the crowds alone isn't much fun. If
you're waiting in long lines, it's nice to have a place
holder when you need to hit the bathroom; or a dedicated
snack runner when the late night/early morning munchies
strike. Plus, once you get into the store, you can each
focus on grabbing specific items and double your chances of
snagging limited quantity deals.
Don't Forget the Small Stores
If you took one pass by the parking lot and decided Black
Friday isn't for you, there are still plenty of local stores
with special offers and smaller crowds. Since these
merchants can't afford to offer the same blowout prices as
major chains, they'll often sponsor Black Friday drawings
for gift certificates and other prizes. Shopping at these
stores is a great way to support the local economy and find
thoughtful presents without an "i" prefix.
About the Author
Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for
Kinoli
Inc.
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