Shopping for Christmas can be fun, but are the Black Friday deals really worth the stress, frustration and madness? Stay home. Brew up a pot of coffee and get cozy. Shop all day from the comforts of home and the power of the web. Retailers are learning, many will hit the stores early Friday morning, but many more will decide to just shop online this year.
Black Friday Deals Online
Computer based retailers and traditional chain retailers have been listing Black Friday ads deals and incentives now for weeks. Many offer free shipping. A few offer 0% interest for 6-36 months, depending on the store's policies and incentive programs. Many of these stores are offering Black Friday deals online starting Thanksgiving Day.
Amazon: This is the #1 search site on the internet for media, books, electronics, games, DVDs and music CDs. They have expanded to sell just about everything from toys to household items, but it is still a forerunner for media and electronics. Many items are being offered at 40%-50% off, and several items qualify for free shipping with a qualifying $25 purchase. This is a good place to start shopping for Nitendo DS, Xbox and PS3 games. Also, hard to find toys like Lego sets can easily be purchased on Amazon and shipped straight to the recipient. Some items can be gift wrapped too.
Walmart.com: Planning to buy a flat screen TV or computer monitor? Check out the online deals beginning Thanksgiving Day at Walmart.com. Hot deals are available for the ipod nano, netbooks, Wii, and digital cameras. Most of the items can be shipped to a customer's local Walmart store for free. Home delivery can be as low as $.97.
Best Buy: Christmas is all about the hottest new electronics at Best Buy. Sales started the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Most items on sale are at the same price or lower than other retailers' Black Friday Sales. Look for deals on flat screen TVs, home theater systems, GPS units, camcorders and digital cameras. There are deals on palm phones, computers, netbooks and Playstation 3 this year, but those are in store only sales and not available online. For those consumers looking to buy the big ticket items, Best Buy offers one of the best financing programs. They are offering 0% financing to qualified buyers for 18-36 months depending upon the amount of purchase. Apply for credit at the time of purchase.
Online Shopping Options
Almost every store in America now has a website for online shopping. However, beware of shipping charges. Save gas money by staying home, but that savings may disappear after paying shipping charges from online retailers. Look for free shipping incentives. Retailers are desperate for sales. As the holidays get closer, more deals and bargains will be posted online. Sign up to follow weekly ads from favorite stores like Walmart, Target, Kmart, CVS and Walgreens.
Consider buying gently used items from eBay andCraigslist. Parents can find great deals on toys, games, CDs and DVDs. Don't wait too long though. Look for these items and buy early to ensure delivery by Christmas.
Save Time and Money
Spend more quality time with the family this year. Avoid the holiday crowds and Black Friday madness. Shop from home and get what they want without spending gas money. With free delivery options, online holiday shopping can be fun and easy. Pick, click and ship. Online shopping is quickly becoming the consumer's choice for fast and easy holiday shopping.
Amy Wingfield - Amy, a freelance writer since 1999, has combined her passion for writing and for Christian music.There's always a story behind the ...
