Why wait to shop on Black Friday?

You don't have to wait until Black Friday to snag those great prices if you know where to look.

By MSN Money Partner Nov 12, 2012 1:16PM

This post comes from Melinda Fulmer of MSN Money.

 

Image: Santa Claus (© Corbis)The old retail tradition of queuing up for bargains in the wee hours of Black Friday may finally be on its way out. First, pajama-clad online shopping stole some of the retail thunder. Now retailers are offering many of their Black Friday door-busters weeks ahead of time -- no inconvenience necessary.

 

Some are offering advance deals to their most loyal shoppers. Target is giving access to some of its door-busters to its REDcard holders on Nov. 21, according to a Dealnews roundup. And Sears is allowing its Shop Your Way members early access to Black Friday prices after 6 p.m. on Nov. 18.

 

But you don't have to be a member to snag some of the Black Friday ad deals.

 

Target is already allowing Facebook fans to snag some of its Black Friday deals through a price-guessing game on its page.

 

And a GE washer and dryer that Home Depot has advertised on Black Friday, for $350 each, were going for $280 apiece at Sears' Friends and Family sale after using a coupon, says Michael Brim of BFads.net.

 

Similarly, the new Google Nexus tablet advertised for $229 in many Black Friday ads was available this weekend at the same price -- or even lower. EBay's Daily Deals and Office Max were carrying it for $229. Staples had it for $199 but with less memory, says Brad Olson of BlackFriday.Gottadea​l.com.

And that $1,299, 27-cubic-foot French door Kenmore refrigerator that I had my eye on in a Sears Black Friday ad (only two to a store!)? It turns out it wasn't such a rare deal either. Kmart had a similar-size Kenmore French door fridge on sale this past weekend for $1,237 after a 10%-off coupon. At that price, why bother with the crowds?

 

"I think stores are keeping a lot of their really hot deals for the month following Black Friday," given how early Thanksgiving comes this year, Olson says. And, to be sure, the first weeks of December are when the steepest discounts are usually found, retail analysts say.

 

The only reason you need to head out on Black Friday is if you find one spectacular blockbuster you can't find anywhere else at a similar price. And that is a rare find these days.

 

The large majority of Black Friday ad deals will be available online beginning Wednesday, Nov. 21, Brim says.

 

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50Comments
Big Guy
Nov 12, 2012 6:02PM
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Prosperity is using money you don't have, to buy things you don't need, to impress people you don't like!!!

To Hell with Black Friday and all materialism. Buy a single "family" gift, spend a few $$$ on a good feed, spend quality time together, eat -drink-and make merry, and embrace the spirit of Christmas!!! For an extra warm feeling- help one or more strangers who are in need!

Mini Mags
Nov 12, 2012 5:37PM
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Who has money to shop, well I guess the corrupt in Washington and on Wall Street have the funny money. The rest of America is dealing with disaster, high food and energy costs, stagnent wages unemployment and foreclosure.
TJ Clark
Nov 12, 2012 5:42PM
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Why shop at all? Most everything bought isn't needed and is just clutter.
nomadboy
Nov 12, 2012 6:12PM
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Who has money to waste on junk made in China?  Not me!
kickass11
Nov 12, 2012 6:19PM
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buy food,  water and supplies... the way the eonomy is headed, your big screen tv wont do you any good when there is no electricity, or when you dollar is worth less the paper its printed on.

 

 

Sleepy49
Nov 12, 2012 9:25PM
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Who wants G.E.? They took their business to China along with the Creep CEO.

 

Buy it and put another nail in Americas' coffin.

 You can save a few bucks now and watch our country die sooner,.

caligirl143
Nov 12, 2012 7:20PM
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Shopping early sounds great! Where do I get the money to do this shopping?! : /
Bill3010
Nov 12, 2012 9:33PM
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I only shop on White Friday's!
warthog213
Nov 12, 2012 6:31PM
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I'm gonna resort to a good old fashioned christmas this year....  Ya know the kind i'm talking about where ya make your kids toys....  My son will just love his Iphone (a wooden block with some stickers on it) I think I can make my girlfriend a blank/rug duster too....

LOLZ ok i'm just kiddin around, but still the pickens around here are gonna slim, kinda like my christmas presents for the past 25 years....

Down with Citgo
Nov 12, 2012 11:27PM
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With the state of the country I'll take a pass on Black Friday. Spending is going to be light this year especially with the tax increases coming next year.
namenotgiven
Nov 12, 2012 11:42PM
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I hope the days of people getting up at 4 AM and illegally parking  along a busy highway and running out into traffic in single digit wind chills and camping out in mall parking lot lines is finally really over. And for what  just to buy the latest imported junk that will soon be in the classifieds, or at a garage sales or dragged out to the curb for trash pick up? I have been telling people to buy American for years. Now 95% of what I see in stores is imported!  It's such a shame the way things have gone what does the future hold for this country now? Well there is allot of good posts here! Yea It really scares me to think of where this country is heading ! 
MrsAngel
Nov 12, 2012 11:20PM
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we all need to stop shopping and let black friday go.. the economy is very bad and if america is broke why are we spending money for the olidays? are these folks the ones who went bankrupt and lost there homes and we are paying for these idiots? If we stop the shopping america would go nuts!
Kazuki Reaver
Nov 12, 2012 6:26PM
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That Target guessing game is just that, it doesn't allow you to buy anything.
Walter Krueger (Wallymundo)
Nov 12, 2012 10:44PM
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Who's going shopping, no one has any money, fiscal cliff is looming, the credit card for the Demoncrats has just been renewed.   What part of STUPID does our country need to put on our forehead, the only one celebrating is the Government, the gift that keeps on taking TAXES!!! 
Raejean
Nov 13, 2012 3:41AM
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Sleepy49 are you on drugs or just stupid ?. You said a young woman desperate enough to be holding a sign asking for help "smelled of welfare" and you insinuated she could not do an honest days work and finally you wondered what was wrong with this picture. NO JOBS idiot. Pay attention or keep your stupid comments to yourself. Seldom do I get upset at others ignorance but your comment made me ill. You remind me of someone who would step over someone who fainted from hunger, kick them out of your way while you spill mustard on your extended belly from your double bacon cheese burger. 
Raejean
Nov 13, 2012 3:47AM
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Oh yeah, Black Friday. I got so upset over reading sleepy49 I almost forgot the 1st intent of posting.
 Black Friday is my day to sleep in late, turkey sandwiches for lunch and cuddling on the sofa with kids and grandchildren watching movies and enjoying a nice warm fire. Hot cocoa and 7 layer cookie bars. My heart goes out to all the retail employees out there who are required to work either late in Thanksgiving day or ungodly early on Black Friday. I hope you get bonuses, you deserve it to deal with Black Friday customers.
Harold Bowlby
Nov 13, 2012 3:20AM
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We rarely buy Christmas presents.  Focusing instead on the real meaning of Christmas and Christian worship.  Oddly enough this wasn't our decision but our Three Sons who suggested it.  The only time I ever shopped on Black Friday was two years ago.  NEVER AGAIN!  My computer crashed the day before Thanksgiving.  They had a good deal on computers at Wal-Mart.  Got there at 5 AM. Had to park 1/2 mile away.  Inside the store was like sardines in a can.  I have heart problems and began to have angina.  Had to go to the restroom and sit down until I felt better.  Didn't get the computer I wanted but ended up with a better one instead.  Got home told my wife about my heart nearly attacking me. By the time she got through reading me the riot act, I thought she was going to be the cause of my demise rather than my heart.  Black Friday is for absolutely insane people!
alboy
Nov 12, 2012 10:57PM
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obama golfs as US goes over fiscal cliff.
tbone009
Nov 12, 2012 11:37PM
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another ploy to suck the general public out of their earnings. unfortunately there is alot of people that eat this stuff up.halloween , christmas, new years,valentines day ect.. people eat this stuff up. why! not only the feds but the state taxes make big bucks over this stupidity. its time the general public realizes this and takes care of their own. gotta keep up with the jones's bs.
Sleepy49
Nov 12, 2012 9:34PM
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Geaux4it---There is plenty of free welfare money floating around and it will continue until the river runs dry.

Then, listen to the illegals, weak, lame and lazy start screaming foul!!! Well, bums, the grease is all gone so stop squeaking!

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