Black Thursday is the new Black Friday for some retailers
As retailers gear up for one of the largest shopping weekends of the year, stores who traditionally opened early on Black Friday will be starting their specials even earlier this year: on Thanksgiving.
The store openings and specials have been starting earlier and earlier each year. Now Wal-Mart has revealed their Black Friday specials, some of which will begin at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. Target bumped its opening up this year too, opting to open at midnight. Best Buy, Macys and Kohls (see Kohls printable coupons) are also opening early this year, and I’m wondering when its all going to end.
Price matching a great alternative to standing in the cold Thanksgiving night
At some point, the deals being offered just aren’t good enough to warrant ditching the family on Thanksgiving – or the day after. With the economy the way it is, I found last year that I was able to snag better deals after the big crowds by waiting a little longer and taking advantage of retailers’ price-matching offers.
That’s what I’ll be doing again this year. After years of waiting out in the cold to get the best deal on toys and clothes for my kids, I discovered that (a) my kids could care less about clothes, and (b) price-matching is very effective.
Price matching works like this – especially when it comes to toys:
Retailer A has an ad in their Black Friday circular for a $49 video game for $9.99. If you go to Retailer A, you can wait in line to get in and likely find that its already gone when you get to its display. Retailer B, however, carries that same video game but it is not on sale in their ad. Retailer B has plenty in stock, because that’s not what’s on sale at Retailer B’s store – but Retailer B price matches. All you have to do is grab the product at Retailer B’s store, and bring the ad from Retailer A. They will price match at check out.
Since what one retailer has on sale often another does not, price matching rocks for Christmas shopping. You get what you want after the initial crowd dissipates, for the right price, and without hassle.
Last year retailers like Target, Wal-Mart and Kohls were price-matching advertised offers from other retailers. If you do your research ahead of time and find out who’s doing it this year, you can easily plan which stores to hit up.
Hint: Check back here a few days before Thanksgiving. I’ll be posting a list of stores who are price-matching this season!
