I’m thinking about buying a new _____ during the Black Friday sales. Should I?
You make your list. You check (the ads) twice. You develop your shopping plan, with the hope of getting that thing you didn’t know you needed. (I mean, a gift for your loved one for Christmas.)
But is Black Friday really the best day to buy that pricey tech toy? It depends…
Black Friday can lead to Impulse Buys
That $200 laptop sounds like a great deal, but did you research the specs? It’s likely an older model or may be made with cheaper components. Make sure you do some research on any models listed for sale and read other people’s reviews. It may be worth waiting and saving up for a $400 machine if it’ll last you 4 times as long.
Steep Deals are Meant to Bring you In
Just because a store has an amazing deal, it doesn’t mean you will get it. Frequently stores have a limited quantity of items and sell out quickly, so you may find yourself buying something you don’t want – or many things that you don’t want. (Just because you’re already at the store.)
There are Other Days to Shop
Cyber Monday, the weeks leading up to Christmas, before a new Apple anything is released… there are always sales to be found. Cyber Monday is one of my favs, because I can order everything online. (And skip the scary shoppers – because hey, even superheroes need new gear now and again.)
If you’re thinking about going shopping this Black Friday, do some research beforehand. If your loved one wants a specific machine or device, start searching for that specific machine or device (and don’t settle for something cheaper.) If you find a good deal, see if you can find it online for cheaper. (Some stores do price matching.) If you miss an AMAZING deal, remember that it may have been in limited supply or “too good to be true”, and keep looking even after Black Friday ends. Stores want you to shop for Christmas (and birthdays and well… every day) so they will have other sales.