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Top 20 Black Friday Shopping Tips for Canadians

Top 20 Black Friday Shopping Tips for Canadians

There are two types of shoppers in Canada -- those who revel in the deals and mayhem wrought by Black Friday and those who don’t. For the former, simply heading to your favourite store without a plan is a sure fire way to miss out on some of the year’s hottest deals. With that in mind, it may be worth your while to check out the following list of tips to get the most out of your Black Friday experience.

Set a Budget for Yourself

This might seem like we’re stating the obvious, but setting a budget and sticking to it when each store you visit is offering such great bargains is probably one of the most difficult parts of having a successful Black Friday. Simply setting a dollar figure may not be enough -- even the most financially astute shopper can fall victim to a blown budget if they don’t take the time to prepare. In short, set yourself a spend limit for the day, but also make sure you have an idea of what you want before you head out the door. For those with a long shopping list, consider separating items by “must haves” and “like to haves”.

Do Your Research Well in Advance of Black Friday

Okay, so Black Friday is approaching and you fully intend on taking part. Where do you start? How big of a window do you have before all the good stuff is gone? This is when you need to get organized. Here are a few tips on where to start:

Compile a list of your favourite online and brick and mortar stores.
Sign up to receive their digital newsletter/advertisements so that you can be the first to know what they’ll be offering.
Some retailers also offer introductory discounts for new online customers
Identify some of the products you’d like to purchase from each retailer (this will help you develop a sort of shopping itinerary).
Familiarize yourself with each individual return policy (we’re not talking about committing it to memory, but reviewing these policies might identify some red flags).

Take Advantage of Pre-Black Friday Deals

Understandably, retailers love Black Friday about as much as their customers. For that reason, many retailers like to extend this shopping event by offering pre-Black Friday deals. These deals reward the vigilant, early bird consumer, so it pays to keep an eye out. That said, pre-Black Friday deals tend to be a bit more on the conservative side, meaning that the deals on offer aren’t typically the jaw drop inducing discounts offered on Black Friday itself. If you want, consider pre-Black Friday deals to be a trade off; the discount may not be as good, but the lines will certainly be much shorter!

Prepare Your Online Retailer Accounts

Capitalizing on online deals is all about speed. The difference between getting a deeply discounted 4K television or not could be the time you spend creating or updating your online account. If the idea of missing out on a great deal sends a shiver down your spine, take a few minutes before the sales start to make sure your information is up to date. This includes verifying/updating your shipping and billing information and saving your credit card information so you don’t have to search and manually enter it later.

Add Products to Your Shopping Cart(s) in Advance

For those who like to be prepared, it’s also a good idea to add those Black Friday sale items you your shopping cart in advance when possible. While you’re at it, add some non-sale items to your cart, let them sit in there a few days, then remove them. Why? Some retailers track your history when visiting their site and they will sometimes send you unique offers and discounts on items you may have considered in the not too distant past.

Don’t Forget to Check the Ads

You might consider ads to be annoying the rest of the year, but during Black Friday season, they are your map to deep savings. Since Black Friday is such a big deal to retailers, they typically promote their deals heavily leading up to Black Friday, so pay close attention. You can also stop by your favourite stores in the days and weeks leading up to the sale date and pick up a paper copy of their Black Friday buying guide. For the technically inclined, there are no shortages of apps that’ll help you find the best deals in your area.

Cash In On Being a Loyal Customer

Being part of a retailer’s loyalty program could net you some additional savings not offered to regular customers this season. If you aren’t already, sign up to be a member of your favourite retailers loyalty program (most of these programs are free, so why not?) and keep an eye on your email for some great offers.

Use Coupon and Discount Codes

If you’ve never used a coupon or discount code for online purchases, there’s no better time to start. There are literally hundreds of Canadian websites that feature thousands of discount codes that you can apply to your purchases (just be aware that some Black Friday deals cannot be used in conjunction with other offers). Here are some of the most used coupon code websites:

Have a Backup Plan in Case the Item You Want is Sold Out

If you’re going to be shopping this Black Friday, there’s a very real possibility you might not end up with the item you were hoping for. Remember, other people might be looking for that great deal as well, and they just might beat you to it. If that item is one of your “must-haves”, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan consisting of alternate items in case your first choice is sold out.

Compare Prices/Price Match for the Best Deal

In order to gain a competitive edge, many retailers are offering price matching on sale items. Conducting price comparison research may sound like a difficult, time consuming task, but again, thanks to technology, it doesn’t have to be; sites like shopbot.ca and pricefinder.ca will help you compare prices between many of the country’s leading retailers. Just be aware that in most cases, you will be asked to provide proof of a competitor’s lower price by showing an ad that displays the item and sale price of the product you’re buying.

Add Mom and Pop Shops to Your Plans Instead of the Big Box Stores

If you’re thinking strategically, you may be able to avoid the hassle of big box stores entirely while still getting the items you want. “Mom and Pop” shops are making a resurgence of late, and they too are getting in on the Black Friday train. While they may not benefit from the deep inventories of their big box counterparts, you might be surprised at the great deals being offered by some of your neighbourhood businesses.

Dress For All Occasions

Like the deals themselves, November weather can be unpredictable. For that reason, it's important to remember to dress appropriately for whatever nature throws at you. Doing all your shopping at the mall? Best leave your winter coat in the car. Likewise, if you're planning on an early morning stakeout in front of a big box store in hopes of cashing in on a door crasher, you best make sure to bundle up.

Have Your Cell, Laptop Charged and Ready for the Big Day

It goes without saying that if you're shipping from home, your device of choice should be charged and ready to go.

Beat the Crowds with Early Morning Online Shopping

If the idea of dealing with large crowds doesn't sit particularly well with you, you're not alone. Shopping for Black Friday deals from the comfort of your home is becoming increasingly popular. With that said, seeing your alarm a bit earlier than normal could help you get the jump on the competition even if it means you lose a few winks.

Shop Canadian -- Forget the U.S.

There was a time when Canadians looking for a deal would need to head south of the border. With Black Friday catching on and with the dollar in a relatively strong position compared to the U.S. greenback, day trips to American outlet malls seems to be more trouble than it’s worth. In fact, there are so many great offers made available to Canadians from Canadian retailers that it makes sense to spend our hard earned dollars at home.

Don’t Be Fooled On Price

You may be a savvy shopper the rest of the year but come Black Friday, it’s easy to get bamboozled while shopping. A lot of people see the discount tag and think they’re getting a deal. Unfortunately, consumers need to keep their wits about them and keep an eye out for inflated original pricing that may give the illusion of a greater discount than it is in reality. If you’ve done your homework and did some comparative shopping prior to Black Friday, you should be able to suss out the real deals from the phony ones.

Divide and Conquer

Since you can’t be everywhere at once and the clock won’t stop ticking, it makes sense to split up in order to cover more ground. If shopping with a friend or two, you can each pick a store, shop collectively, and reconvene later. This strategy not only increases the likelihood of getting all of the items you’re looking for, it also comes with the added bonus of reducing the amount of time you need to spend in crowded retail stores.

Super Saturday is the New Black Friday

Most of us would conceded that the best deals of the year can be found on Black Friday, or perhaps on Boxing Day. However, some researchers are now saying that the best deals are actually available the Saturday before Christmas -- a shopping day dubbed as “Super Saturday”. To the avid shopper this is great news; if you didn’t find what you were looking for on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you get one more kick at the can prior to the year’s biggest gift giving holiday.

Remember That Buying Furniture is Different Than Most Products

Granted, home electronics seem to be the most sought after items on Black Friday -- but to the new homeowner, Black Friday furniture shopping is where it’s at. It should be noted that shopping for furniture online can be a bit more hectic than shopping for other items over the holidays, since you need to know the respective measurements, specs, shipping/deliveries fees, and return policies. Even though it may seem more difficult, a well-thought out shopping strategy can make the entire process significantly easier, and more enjoyable.

Check out the great Black Friday deals at Furniture.ca!

Black Friday is almost upon us and Furniture.ca is proud to announce our amazing deals and savings that are bigger than ever before! The pre sale starts November 15, 2018 so why wait?

Shop early for the best selection and quick delivery. We offer great deals on a variety of items including:

Living Room Furniture - Up to 50% off

Mattresses - Up to 55% off

Bedroom Furniture - Up to 50% off

Bar Stools - Up to 30% off

Dining Chairs - Up to 30% off

Chandeliers - Up to 30% off

Coffee Tables - Up to 30% off

Dining Sets - Up to 30% off

Table Lamps - Up to 30% off

Floor Lamps - Up to 30% off

Office Furniture - Up to 30% off