7 Tips on How to Prepare for Black Friday

Black Friday takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving and is one of the most anticipated shopping events where most retailers offer attractive discounts to kickstart the holiday season. Though it originated in the US, Black Friday has become increasingly popular for retailers in other parts of the world as well.

With restrictions and social distancing measures in place this year, shopping online during one of the busiest sale seasons becomes an even harder feat with a virtual crowd. As the saying goes, fastest fingers first.

Here are some tips to help you navigate through a Black Friday sale smoothly.

Take some time to read reviews and understand the specifications of the product that you have been eyeing. Compare the product to others of its kind so that you can weigh your options and determine the pros and cons. It’s an especially useful tip for those looking to purchase electronic gadgets.

Also keep a look out on prices it has been sold for previously, so when it is finally on discount, you can be sure that the sale price represents a good value and can check out immediately.

Like grocery shopping, you should prepare a list of items you want, especially if you are gift-shopping. Some online shopping platforms allow you to create a wish-list, but an even better hack is to create your list by adding them to your shopping bag immediately.

When the sale is on, you can simply refer to your bag for an overview of the prices, discounts and availability of your products, instead of trawling through every page to find what you want. By having them in your bag, checking out is made easier and you’re able to get your items quickly before they are sold out.

It is important to note the shipping options available before you check out. Some retailers only deliver with a minimum spending, while others may provide multiple shipping options at different costs. For marketplaces, purchasing products from different sellers may incur additional shipping costs as well.

Another thing to keep in mind is the estimated time it takes for your purchases to arrive. This is especially important if you are doing your holiday shopping, as delivery times may differ for products even if they are purchased from the same site.

Lucky for all shoppers, Black Friday is no longer just a one-day event. You can start shopping early as some online retailers launch their sales ahead of the actual date. Keep a look out on such deals or better yet, subscribe to their newsletter to stay updated with the latest promotions.

Holiday shopping can be rather expensive, and you might just blow your budget with one too many things. Consider the rewards that you may already have when choosing a retailer to shop from. Some retailers allow you to use your reward points for your shopping or even have member-only promotions. For instance, if you are a KrisFlyer member, you can use KrisFlyer miles to offset your purchases on KrisShop.com.

Another consideration is to make use of your credit card benefits and privileges. Certain credit cards provide cashback when you swipe them or hit a minimum spending. If you’re looking to make some big-ticket purchases, be sure to make use of one of those cards.

Stay updated on upcoming sales and new releases by following your favourite brands on social media. Some retailers may even have exclusive promotions and giveaways on their social platforms for their followers.

A bonus of using social media is getting to see reviews from other shoppers who have used the products or purchased on the shopping platforms that you are considering.

Some sites offer more discounts with higher spending or when more items are purchased. To meet these requirements, combining your orders with friends or family members who are looking to buy similar items can be a useful hack to unlock higher discounts. What's more, you can also save on shipping costs when you check out together.

With these tips, you’ll be geared up for the coming holiday shopping. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more lifestyle tips, new arrivals and latest promotions.