How to Get the Best Black Friday Deals on the Internet

Author: Kirstin Toms - MarCom/Tuesday, November 24, 2020/Categories: Home Internet

Like so many traditions, Black Friday in 2020 is going to look a little different than it has in the past. Shoppers will find more deals than ever before on the Internet. In the past, your Black Friday must-haves included comfortable shoes, a fully charged smartphone, and shopping apps. This year, a strong wifi connection might be all you need to snag deals from the comfort of home.

Our Black Friday shopping guide shares tips to help you shop in stores or at home.  

Check Store Hours Before You Shop

Walmart’s decision to close its stores on Thanksgiving has set the stage for a holiday shopping weekend like none we’ve seen in recent years. Target, Kohl’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, and Ulta are just some of the stores that followed suit.

However, unlike so many other events in 2020, Black Friday is not canceled. Store hours may be different than usual, though, so call ahead before heading out.

Dress for a Wait

Black Friday lines are nothing new, as shoppers gather hours before stores open to grab doorbuster deals and the season’s hottest items. But in-store crowds causing stampedes won’t be part of Black Friday 2020.

Expect to wait outside as stores may limit the number of shoppers inside to allow for social distancing and a safer shopping experience.

Pack hand sanitizer, an extra mask, wipes for your cart, and perhaps a few snacks to sustain you during your shopping adventures.

Maximize Your Bandwidth for Online Shopping

Prefer to skip the crowds and enjoy the ultimate in social distancing by shopping at home? You won’t be alone. According to data analytics company Morning Consult, 52% of shoppers plan to stay home for Black Friday deals.

With so many people tapping into top e-commerce sites for the best deals, a lightning-fast wifi connection could mean the difference between snagging that low-priced laptop or getting left in the cold. To ensure a faster wifi connection, limit the devices on your home network while you’re shopping. Streaming video and music, along with video chats, all use bandwidth that can slow down your connection if you have multiple devices online at the same time.

Consider taking these steps to boost your wifi speed, as well:

  • Move your device closer to your router
  • Close all unnecessary tabs and windows on your computer
  • Switch to a wired internet connection for online shopping
  • Boost your computer’s speed with some routine maintenance

Shop from a Secure Connection

Avoid the holiday hassle of credit card fraud by shopping through a secure wifi connection. If you’re shopping from a mobile device, make sure it’s connected to your home’s wifi and not your cell phone service provider’s LTE network. Be sure to secure your wifi connection with a strong password for your device and your router. Of course, set secure passwords for all your favorite e-commerce sites.  

Download Deal-Finding Apps

Sure, you can search multiple e-commerce sites to get the lowest prices on that 4K TV or find out where you can pick up a PlayStation PS5. Or you can download a shopping app like BrickSeek to have notifications of all the best sales delivered straight to your screen.

This popular shopping app, which used to focus on in-store sales, has beefed up its online deal notifications for the 2020 holiday season. Customize online deal alerts so you receive a notification when the item you want hits the price you want.

Get Set to Earn Cash Back

With all this online shopping, you’re leaving money on the table if you don’t install the Rakuten extension on your browser to earn cash back when you shop at your favorite online retailers. Rakuten also finds coupons and deals for you to streamline your Black Friday shopping experience.

Leverage Credit Card Rewards

You can ramp up your cash back rewards by choosing payment methods wisely. You can also shave your post-holiday bills by using credit card rewards to make purchases. For instance, link your Discover card to your Amazon account, earn points when you shop, and apply those points to future purchases. Similarly, major banks like Chase feature online shopping portals for rewards credit card customers where you can find exclusive sales, earn bonus rewards, and pay with points.

Buy Online, Pick Up In Store

Concerned about shipping delays this holiday season? That’s a valid fear, with reports saying that FedEx, UPS, and the USPS are all beefing up their staff and taking measures to keep the supply chain in motion while keeping essential workers safe.

Consider making your purchases online and then doing curbside pickup to minimize the stress of waiting for packages.

Embrace Five Days of Deals (or More)

Every year the holiday shopping season seems to begin earlier, with some stores starting sales before Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday deals started as soon as Amazon Prime Day, which moved from mid-July to October 13–14 due to the pandemic.

Some retailers are touting this Thanksgiving weekend as “Five Days of Deals,” with Black Friday and Cyber Monday all blurring into one long celebration of sales. But to keep up with demand for big-ticket items — which consumers are buying in place of family vacations this year — retailers may extend sales through the month of December.

So if you miss a sale this weekend, don’t stress. Just stay connected with your Consolidated Communications wifi service and hang tight for low prices throughout the month.

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