6 tips for shopping in the suburbs this Black Friday weekend
Everything else can wait.
The Thanksgiving dishes. Sleep. Appearances. Who cares if you're still wearing elastic-waist pants (thanks, Grandma's stuffing) and wool slippers?
All that matters is the game plan, because you can't stroll into the mall all starry-eyed and carefree. Here are six ways to prepare for Black Friday.
1. First stop: App store
How can you sniff out a really good sale and not just an OK one? Websites and smartphone apps compare prices with a few clicks of the keyboard. “It's all about the research, making sure you know exactly what you're looking for,” says Sara Skirboll, a shopping expert at RetailMeNot, which offers printable coupons or online codes from more than 50,000 retailers.
Too busy basting turkeys to crunch numbers? The company's app uses “geofencing” and sends an alert to your phone with nearby deals while you're roaming aisles. Shoppers can program the app to get discounts from their favorite stores. RedLaser scans bar codes and also checks prices against competitors.
2. Make a list, check it twice
Some items — electronics, shoes, cookware, accessories — are better buys this month, according to RetailMeNot. The company looked for the lowest markdowns by category and expects deeper cuts on toys, golf gear, and winter clothing in December.
3. Now stick to the list!
It takes self-control to avoid the impulse buy. Bringing along a shopping buddy can help keep you in check, says Emily Zimmermann, director of marketing and business development at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora. The list should also budget your time and plot where you need to go, so you're not too late for doorbusters that expire. “Strategize what stores to go to first,” Zimmerman says. Greeters will hand out coupon books and a map of the newly expanded outlets — open 28 hours from 6 p.m. today through 10 p.m. on Black Friday.
4. Skip the lines
A number of retailers let shoppers buy online and pick up in stores: Macy's, Kohl's, Best Buy, Kmart, Nordstrom's, IKEA. But be sure to check their policies. You'll probably need to show a government-issued ID before stores turn over orders. Another bonus? Some big-box chains provide reserved parking.
5. Speaking of policies ...
“Always remember the big print giveth and the little print taketh away,” says Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. That means look beyond the flashy ads and read the return policies. Exchange a big-ticket item, and stores may keep a restocking fee — usually 30 percent of the price for electronics, Bernas said. His rule of thumb applies to shipping policies on Cyber Monday, too. Bernas has heard from disgruntled consumers who didn't get their gifts until after Christmas — under federal law, businesses have 30 days to ship.
6. Safety first
This might sound like common sense, but it's easy to get distracted when you're pulling an all-nighter at the mall. “Everyone's in a rush,” Bernas said. The National Crime Prevention Council reminds shoppers to take a few simple steps so a pickpocketing Grinch won't make off with your haul.
If you can't carry all your bags to your car, ask a friend or a store employee to help out. Keep receipts. And parents should pick a meeting place if they get separated from their kids.