Black Friday Sales Can Be Worth The Early Morning Rush
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When shoppers crowd stores for Black Friday, some of the best deals may only last while supplies are available. NY1's Money Matters reporter Tara Lynn Wagner filed the following report.The lines are long, the crowds are brutal, but experts say sometimes the potential Black Friday savings are worth the early morning wake-up call.
"It depends on what it is you're looking for. For me, saving $10 or $20 on a sweater isn't worth getting up at 3 a.m., but saving $300 on a plasma TV totally is worth that," says Dan de Grandpre, the editor-in-chief of DealNews.com.
DealNews.com is a website that reports on the latest deals out there, and de Grandpre says this time of year the site posts 200 bargains a day.
"There are plenty of bargains this holiday season," says economist Michael Niemira of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
"The industry, I think, has got it this year. They got the mix down and they are focused on giving the consumer value. Because they know if the consumer doesn't perceive that value, they aren't going to buy."
The economy this year has forced stores to keep their inventory low, meaning it will be harder to get your hands on that must have item. That's all the more reason to consider getting up at dawn, because the Black Friday deals are only available while supplies last.
However, there are ways to avoid the early morning hysteria. For instance, why drive to the mall at 3 a.m. when you can shop from home in your pajamas?
"A lot of stores carry their doorbusters on their website," says de Grandpre. "In fact, a lot of the deals start on Thanksgiving Day, so in theory, if you want to be thorough, you'd start shopping for doorbusters for Black Friday before you put the turkey in the oven."
If you just want to enjoy your long weekend and digest your leftovers in peace, de Grandpre says a little procrastination won't necessarily doom you to paying full price for the rest of the holiday season.
"Toy prices are typically at their cheapest not on Black Friday, but about two weeks after Black Friday as the last remaining toys start to plummet in price," says de Grandpre. "High-end TVs really start to drop in price again about a week to two weeks after Black Friday, so you have a lot of opportunity to save."
So shoppers can continue to talk turkey long after their Thanksgiving bird has turned to leftovers.