Tips to help you take on Black Friday in the burbs
Black Friday is so 2008.
The post-Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza is now called Black Midnight, because so many national chains open their doors (and offer their best deals) when the clock chimes 12 Thursday night into Friday morning.
Gone are the days of setting your alarm for 3:30 a.m. to go shopping. Now, you're getting in the car at 11:30 p.m., or earlier.
And Black Midnight is becoming Black Thanksgiving in some places - most stores in Aurora's Chicago Premium Outlet mall will open at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving night.
But let's face it: Black Friday sales started weeks ago, and so did the holiday shopping season. The National Retail Federation estimates 40 percent of all consumers did some holiday shopping before Halloween.
So is it worth it to stay up late and shop?
It can be. For some, it's as much about camaraderie as cost savings. And if you don't mind crowds and lines, there are good bargains to be had.
Before you head out the door, consider these tips:
<b>1. Know what you want to buy.</b>
It sounds obvious, yes. But if you can decide what specific items you want to buy and comparison-shop ahead of time, you'll save time and money by knowing exactly where you want to go and exactly what you want to buy.
Wandering into a store at midnight to "see what they have" isn't a good way to snag the best deals.
Pre-shop at the store's websites, or go to BlackFriday.com or 2011blackfridayads.com to find all the ads in one place. PriceGrabber.com has a nice feature that lets you type in the product you want and see who's selling it for what.
<b>2. If you're shopping for electronics, go at midnight.</b>
LED TVs will be offered at their lowest prices ever this Black Friday, industry experts say. We're talkin' $80 for a 24-inch flat screen and less than $200 for a 32-inch flat screen.
For specific models of TVs, e-readers and computers, the best prices will be offered on Black Friday - and in many cases, they are in-store-only prices that you won't find online. The catch is: when the stock runs out, the deal is over. That's why people often line up outside the stores, sometimes hours before they open.
"You absolutely want to get up early on this day," advises Duke Mkrdichian, the sales manager at the Best Buy in Arlington Heights, which will open at midnight Friday. "On some specific doorbusters, the stock will be limited. I've never seen a (Black Friday) where we don't have a line, or a crowd."
<b>3. Use your smartphone.</b>
There are apps that can compare prices and keep track of your receipts and spending so you stay on budget. The Red Laser and Price Check apps are among the most popular for comparison shopping. The Receiptloader app tracks the store, amount, and category of your purchases.
Some stores like North Face and Best Buy have apps that will send you coupons when the GPS notices you're near a store.
For the first time this year, Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora will use Quick Response (QR) codes - those black-and-white, square bar codes that have been popping up in print ads, says Michele Rothstein, CPO's senior vice president.
Scan or take a photo of the code with your cellphone camera, and you'll be directed to a website with the exclusive specials and the store's most up-to-date sales information.
<b>4. Be social.</b>
Stores will post information and offer extra discounts on their Facebook and Twitter pages, so become fans or follow the stores you like. Sometimes there are "flash sales" where a certain item is only offered at a steal for a limited time, so you'll get the heads-up.
Several Twitter accounts, such as @blackfriday, will tweet the most recently posted deals from a variety of stores and websites. Or search using the #BlackFriday hashtag and see what deals people are buzzing about.
<b>5. Consider shopping later in the day. </b>
The early bird gets the worm, but there will still be a lot of worms to be had all weekend long. Most stores extend their deals through Sunday, so if the item you want isn't one of those won't-last blockbuster deals, sleep in.
<b>6. Don't forget the small businesses.</b>
They're not going to open at midnight, but most small businesses also have Black Friday sales, in addition to the "Small Business Saturday" events.
Small businesses often have superior customer service and more unique products than chain stores do, plus you're contributing to the local tax base. A win-win.
American Express is offering cardholders a one-time $25 statement credit if they use their card Saturday at a participating small business and make a purchase of $25 or more. First, you must register your card at https://sync.americanexpress.com/sbs2011.
A few final reminders: only shop with people who love to power-shop, wear comfy shoes, bring water or a snack, and remember: there's always Cyber Monday.