How to Shop on Black Friday
The most notorious and commercialized shopping holiday of the year is quickly approaching just as consumers are beginning to feel the joy of the winter holidays, which can only mean one thing- finding the perfect present for family and friends. Black Friday has long been one of the most prominent days for shopping, coming in second only to the Saturday before Christmas, when shoppers are scrambling to find last-minute gifts.
In order to avoid hasty last-minute presents and out-of-stock gifts, Black Friday is the perfect solution to find that perfect present for everyone, including yourself. But the infamous long lines and crowded stores often hinder the ability of shoppers to enjoy the ubiquitous, extensive discounts and sales throughout the stores.
To avoid the distress of sweaty, crowded malls and mile-long lines, here are a few tips for students for a successful Black Friday:
1. Midnight sales especially those at Best Buy are often known for long lines and overly ambitious shoppers, so be sure to be well-rested or energized. This will be necessary when spending hours into the night prowling through the store searching for the newest video games and consoles, or waiting in line with irritable parents and overly excited teens.
2. Black Friday sales don’t end until Friday night, so if you’re not interested in midnight sales, be sure to go to bed early on Thursday night to catch the best sales at the crack of dawn!
3. Make sure you know which stores you want to go to beforehand, so you aren’t wasting time. Research online what stores are having the best deals and the times that they open. Certain websites have all the advertisements pertinent to Black Friday such as http://blackfriday.com/flyers.
4. Stay hydrated throughout the day because walking around the mall or various stores all day is certainly more tiring than it appears.
5. Lastly, if you are unable to handle the overwhelmingly excessive amount of shoppers, Cyber Monday, one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, offers sales and discounts from online retailers (most of which can be found directly on www.cybermonday.com) on the Monday after Black Friday for shoppers who were reluctant to leave the comforts of their homes.
6. For those who are not keen on heavy traffic in parking lots, especially new student drivers, be sure to be extra cautious in the parking lots around the stores. Activity in these areas can be extremely unpredictable and nerve-wracking. Try carpooling with more experienced drivers, or even parents or older siblings.
