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Black Friday Is Coming. Here’s What Not to Buy Until Then

Black Friday
What to skip now and grab on Black Friday

With online competition fierce and stores struggling, retailers are set to come out swinging this Black Friday. Here’s what to hold off buying until then — and what to do if you can’t wait.

1 Why Black Friday Could Be Big This Year

In a year when online competition is fierce and brick-and-mortar shops are struggling, major retailers are likely to come out swinging this Black Friday.

Ron Kuntze, a professor of marketing at the University of New Haven in Connecticut, thinks Black Friday 2018 will be big for consumers — big, that is, when it comes to savings and customer service.

To maximize your odds of finding low prices, some deals are worth waiting for until Nov. 23. Based on past sales, here’s what to hold off buying until Black Friday — and what to do if you can’t wait that long.

2 Don’t Buy Electronics Yet

We can’t know for sure what deals are coming this year, but in general it’s in your best interest to wait until Black Friday to shop for electronics (or Thanksgiving Day, when many sales actually start).

1. TVs

Black Friday has long been one of the best times to buy a TV. Last year, a 39-inch smart TV was $125 at Walmart. Amazon sold a 49-inch 4K TV for $159.99. Kuntze says low-priced TVs sell out fast on Black Friday, but some stores continue to honor the sale price online or offer a similar deal on a similar TV. Just keep in mind that TVs with the biggest discounts will likely be models that haven’t sold as well as expected.

2. Smartphones

Smartphone promotions abound on Black Friday. Kuntze says retailers know you’re likely to buy a lot of extras when you purchase certain electronics, such as phones. So they’re hoping you’ll pick up accessories like cases and chargers, too.

3. Video game consoles

You can usually find video games and video game consoles on the first few pages of Black Friday ads, especially from stores like Target and Best Buy. Retailers have been known to offer all-in-one bundle deals that contain a console, controller and sometimes a game.

3 But You Don’t Have to Stop Shopping

Black Friday is nearly two months away; plenty of other sales will happen between now and then.

If you can’t wait until late November to buy something, or simply don’t want to shop on Black Friday, don’t feel pressured to do so. In fact, Kevin McIntyre, a professor of economics at McDaniel College in Maryland, thinks you shouldn’t wait until Black Friday to buy anything.

“Black Friday is ferociously competitive still, but I’m not convinced that there are any savings to be enjoyed on Black Friday that are unique to late November,” McIntyre says.

He says there are deals to be had throughout the year, so if you see a good sale in the next couple of months, go for it.

If you want to avoid the pressure of finding the best deal altogether, just look for a deal that’s “good enough,” says George John, a professor of marketing at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

Determine what a product is worth to you, and if you see it reach that price, buy it.

4 More From NerdWallet

Courtney Jespersen is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: courtney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @CourtneyNerd.

The article Black Friday Is Coming. Here’s What Not to Buy Until Then originally appeared on NerdWallet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I wait until Black Friday to buy electronics?

In general, yes. The article says it’s in your best interest to wait until Black Friday to shop for electronics, or Thanksgiving Day, when many sales actually start. TVs, smartphones and video game consoles are highlighted as items worth holding off on, since major retailers are expected to come out swinging with strong deals during the Black Friday period.

Why are TVs a good Black Friday buy?

Black Friday has long been one of the best times to buy a TV. Past examples include a 39-inch smart TV for $125 at Walmart and a 49-inch 4K TV for $159.99 at Amazon. Low-priced TVs sell out fast, but some stores honor the sale price online or offer a similar deal. Keep in mind the biggest discounts are often on models that haven’t sold well.

What extras might retailers push when I buy electronics?

Retailers know you’re likely to buy a lot of extras when you purchase certain electronics, such as phones. According to marketing professor Ron Kuntze, they’re hoping you’ll pick up accessories like cases and chargers too. For video game consoles, stores like Target and Best Buy often offer all-in-one bundle deals that include a console, controller and sometimes a game.

Do I have to wait until Black Friday to find good deals?

No. Black Friday is nearly two months away and plenty of other sales happen in between. Economics professor Kevin McIntyre isn’t convinced there are savings on Black Friday unique to late November, and says there are deals to be had throughout the year. If you see a good sale in the next couple of months, go for it.

How can I avoid the pressure of finding the best deal?

Marketing professor George John suggests looking for a deal that’s “good enough” rather than chasing the absolute lowest price. Determine what a product is worth to you, and if you see it reach that price, buy it. This approach removes the stress of trying to time the perfect Black Friday purchase while still letting you save.

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With online competition fierce and stores struggling, retailers are set to come out swinging this Black Friday.

In a year when online competition is fierce and brick-and-mortar shops are struggling, major retailers are likely to come out swinging this Black Friday.

Ron Kuntze.

To maximize your odds of finding low prices, some deals are worth waiting for until Nov.

We can’t know for sure what deals are coming this year.

Black Friday has long been one of the best times to buy a TV .

Smartphone promotions abound on Black Friday.

You can usually find video games and video game consoles on the first few pages of Black Friday ads, especially from stores like Target and Best Buy.

Black Friday is nearly two months away; plenty of other sales will happen between now and then.

If you can’t wait until late November to buy something, or simply don’t want to shop on Black Friday, don’t feel pressured to do so.

He says there are deals to be had throughout the year, so if you see a good sale in the next couple of months, go for it.

If you want to avoid the pressure of finding the best deal altogether.

Determine what a product is worth to you, and if you see it reach that price, buy it.

Courtney Jespersen is a writer at NerdWallet.

The article Black Friday Is Coming.

In general, yes.

Black Friday has long been one of the best times to buy a TV.

Retailers know you’re likely to buy a lot of extras when you purchase certain electronics, such as phones.

just hired Billshark to lower their bill.