Before the turkey has been in the fridge long enough to be called a leftover, many families will hit their favorite retailer ready to strike a deal on Black Friday.
For the experienced Black Friday shopper, this official start to the holiday shopping season is a welcome challenge full of its own tradition. In fact, the National Retail Federation reported in its 2015 Thanksgiving weekend survey that tradition was the second-most-popular reason consumers braved the Black Friday crowds to shop in a brick-and-mortar store.
But there is one motivator that surpassed tradition to bring out shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving: The deals were too good to pass up.
About half of Black Friday shoppers showed up for the deals, and April Gilman — a Philadelphia, Pa. resident with a penchant for deals — has been one of them for the last 15 to 20 years.
The fact that there are shoppers looking for deals on Black Friday is hardly a surprise; however, the survey showed that the way they are finding these deals is changing. Whether consumers are shopping in-store or online, technology is influencing the process. If you’re looking for tips to master Black Friday Shopping, you can learn from the tech-savvy habits of these experienced deal-finders.
Based on the habits of those surveyed, here are some suggestions for using your smartphone or tablet to improve your in-person shopping experience.
While sale circulars were the most popular research tool, almost a third of those surveyed last year planned their trip by doing an online search. Retailers keep a close eye on their competition during Thanksgiving weekend, so you never know when a last-minute deal will be introduced.
The highest level of smartphone activity on Black Friday — even higher than online purchasing — was researching products and comparing prices. When you’re in a crowd of competitive shoppers, it’s not very convenient to stop and read every detail on the box. But it might be worth an extra minute to do a quick search from the store to make sure you’re truly getting the lowest price.
Coupon redemption was also a common use of smartphones in 2015. Several digital coupon apps with built-in GPS technology are available for iPhones and Android devices. If you’re near a store with a coupon or special sale, most of these apps will send you a push notification. Some even let you set the app to check your favorite stores.
Sometimes retailers limit their inventory of deeply discounted products and a great deal will go fast. Many store websites allow you to enter your zip code to check in-store availability of an item before you go. This way, you don’t waste time looking for a product that was advertised nationally but wasn’t stocked at your local store.
These practical tips, combined with the advantages of technology, can help you master Black Friday shopping like a pro.