The parking nightmares, the horrendous lines, and the already snatched-up sale items are just a few of the headaches associated with the annual madness that is Black Friday. Americans love to shop, and they love a good bargain. But consumer experts and seasoned shopping pros say Black Friday is not the best time to indulge a bargain-hunting habit. Here are some of the top reasons why shoppers might want to opt out of the chaos.
Fighting doorbuster crowds isn't worth it, and you can't shop around easily.
With more than two decades of experience in retail and marketing, Howard Schaffer, general manager of Offers.com knows a thing or two about shopping and saving money. His advice to consumers on Black Friday? Avoid bricks-and-mortar stores altogether. "With the convenience of online shopping, shoppers are able to purchase just about anything they can imagine from the comfort of their own home and score the same deals or even better as they would in-store," Schaffer said.
The minute you go to a store you lose the ability to shop at multiple places that you have online, Schaffer said, "and unless you're on your smartphone comparing prices, you lose a lot of opportunity."
Advertised deals are almost always too good to be true.
Some advertised sale items might be worth it, but by and large they're just luring you into a store. "We found about half the products featured on doorbusters from various retailers last year had a three-star or lower rating on Amazon," Schaffer said. "Don't fall into the marketing trap. Invest your money in tech products at another time of the year."
Photo credit: Eric V Overton/shutterstockFitness equipment and winter clothing are cheaper later. So are TVs.
The best deals on fitness equipment often don't pop up until January or later. For winter clothing, the biggest bargains can be had as spring arrives and winter is in the rearview mirror. Toys, meanwhile, drop in price about nine or 10 days before Christmas. In other words, if you're shopping for any of these items, skip Black Friday.
There are countless ads for Black Friday TV sales, but most deals are for TVs made by brands you've likely never heard of. If you want a quality TV that will last the long haul, experts advise waiting until after Christmas.
It encourages overspending, and return policies may be less forgiving.
The goal of Black Friday is to get shoppers into stores and sell them things they don't need. It's a day for impulse buys, and most items won't be discounted as low as as the advertised sale products. Shopping at another time, with a clearer head and not part of an overheated shopping frenzy, is a much better approach.
It's not unusual for stores to have different return policies for Black Friday sale items. Do some homework before buying to find out how long you will have to bring a lemon back, if it can be returned at all. And hang onto the receipt.
The parking and crowds are crazy, and there are security and fraud risks.
In case a reminder is needed, Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year — purchases between Thanksgiving and Christmas account for as much as 30 percent of annual retail sales, according to the National Retail Federation — as millions of Americans hit the stores, most arriving in their own cars that must be parked nearby. Do you really want to be part of all that?
Photo credit: Jeramey Lende/shutterstockBlack Friday is one of the busiest days of the year for credit card use, according to Chargebacks911 co-founder Monica Eaton-Cardone, and therefore one of the biggest targets for credit card fraud.
While there are measures in place to protect personal data when credit cards are used for purchases, retail clerks are often swamped, "so the normal security procedures may be skipped," Eaton-Cardone said. "It's also a day that breaks most people's normal spending patterns, so [unusual spending] might not raise a red flag." Basically, if fraudsters gain access to a card, they can go on a spending spree without being noticed.
Black Friday has become Black Week, and retailers offer the same deals online.
The same deals available on Black Friday are often available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, said Mari Corella, a retail executive with more than a decade of experience with companies such as The Gap, Sears, and Saks Fifth Avenue. "Retailers are starting their hottest deals earlier in the week to beat the competition and are spreading the offers through the weekend." So why force your way through the crowds?
The sale in stores are almost always online as well, where buying saves time, gas, and hassle. "Retailers offer the same, if not better, deals online, particularly on Cyber Monday," she said. "Most offer free shipping and some, such as Sephora, also offer additional perks such as free samples that they don't offer in the stores."
Sale items disappear quickly, and you could actually get injured.
It's not exactly a secret that sale items are snatched up fast. Retailers have purposefully low supplies scattered around limited floor space, and, well … the early bird gets the worm.
Photo credit: Ayrat A/shutterstockIt may sound a bit far-fetched to say shopping can be dangerous, but the dangers are real come Black Friday. There's even a Black Friday Death Count website that records hazards associated with the holiday — such as shoppers hurt during stampedes — proving Black Friday can inspire some craziness and violence.
You've seen it all before.
Stores offer the same items year after year. Target's Black Friday sale circulars were nearly identical in 2014 and 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported. In other words, there's really no rush to get a deal, because it will be offered again, and again, and again.
You can have a more meaningful holiday by avoiding the stores.
Remember when Black Friday wasn't even a thing? When Thanksgiving weekend was about quality time with the family or other loved ones? Rather than searching for bargains you can get another time, or picking up subpar items you don't need, kick back, relax, and enjoy the after-turkey glow with friends and family.
