Black Friday — the first Friday after Thanksgiving — officially kicks off the holiday shopping and gift-giving season. As the biggest shopping day of the year, everybody is expected to hit stores or get on their computers to grab the latest deals on clothing, furniture, cameras, electronics, and all sorts of products and services that tickle their fancy.
This 2019, Black Friday falls on November 29th, but we’re already seeing early-bird shopping deals, unbelievable discounts, and plenty of must-get lists ahead of this annual holiday shopping spree.
Prepare to grab exciting doorbuster deals on gadgets, photography and videography gear, studio equipment, and imaging accessories, among many others. In this article, we help you snag the best gadget deals — and save money — by providing you with useful tips to make the most out of Black Friday 2019.
Tips for Getting the Best Gadget Deals on Black Friday
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for holiday gifts to give to your loved ones, you’ll find a few valuable tips below on how to shop like a pro and have a successful (and memorable) holiday shopping experience this Black Friday.
- Do Your Research Ahead of Time
- Stay Updated
- Search for the Lowest Prices
- Look for Early Bird Discounts
- Shop Online After Midnight
- Hit the Stores Early
- Consider Using Your Credit Card
- Beware of Scammers
Do Your Research Ahead of Time
Chances are, you’re probably already eyeing a couple of gadgets that will hopefully be available at a much lower price come Black Friday. In this case, go ahead and do your research regarding the best deals before then. Read up on product reviews and find out whether or not the products you have in mind are really worth the purchase.
If you really want to get ahead, start preparing a few days in advance. Go online and read anything and everything you can about the stores you want to hit, the products you want to buy, and the deals that may be available. From there, make a list of all the important details so that you can zero in on your purchases come Black Friday, instead of wandering around a store (or a website) looking for what to buy.
Black Friday deal sites and apps are also beneficial tools for ensuring a better shopping experience when the day comes. The following mobile apps can help you find great deals, compare prices, and even save money with coupons and rebates:
- DealNews
- ShopSavvy
- Shopular
- Flipp
- Rakuten
- Black Friday
Stay Updated
If you already know what you’re planning to purchase, make sure to keep yourself updated on all of the Black Friday gadgets and electronics deals prior to the day itself (and check out our Black Friday page for even more deals). You can do this by signing up for our email list, following us on Facebook and Twitter, and setting up Google Alerts on search terms like “Black Friday 2019” or “Black Friday Electronics”to get updates on any new online content about those topics and get that Adorama discount!
You can also stay updated on all of the Black Friday 2019 news and updates on Twitter by searching for a particular hashtag, then bookmarking the results page on your browser.
Find the Best Prices
Spoiler alert: everyone wants to buy gadgets and electronics on Black Friday. After all, it’s the best day of the year to get amazing deals on these particular items. But also consider and compare prices with other similar gadgets as there will always be a possibility your desired products are much more expensive while those that you’ve only half considered are being offered at a much better deal.
You can use shopping websites that offer comprehensive price comparisons to get quicker results. Make sure to also check the product inclusions instead of only looking at the price so you don’t get surprised by the amount that you may still have to spend on buying extra parts and accessories that aren’t included. Below are just some of the most popular price comparison search engines and applications being used today:
- Price Cruncher
- Google Shopping
- Nextag
- Shopzilla
- PriceGrabber
- Become
Look for Early Bird Discounts
Some retailers have early bird sales that start after midnight. You’ll have to be prepared to check them out a lot earlier in the day, but doing so can definitely save you a couple of bucks. After all, some stores offer much bigger discounts in the morning, which is why early bird shoppers can be pretty ruthless.
Should you find great early bird shopping deals, expect the worst as you can be part of a furious and excited mob of holiday shoppers who are after the same deals on a chilly morning. At least you can secure your items earlier and eliminate the risk of them running out of stock.
Keep in mind that early bird deals are also offered online. Check out our Black Friday gadget offerings for massive savings ahead of Black Friday 2019!
Shop Online After Midnight
If you’d rather beat the crowds, you can always choose to shop online. Online shopping right after midnight can still be very rewarding as there are special web-exclusive deals on products that can be ordered through websites.
Another advantage of shopping online is that you can simultaneously compare prices and learn more about the camera or gadget that you might find interesting, and you can get your items delivered right to your doorstep.
Hit the Stores Early
Any seasoned Black Friday shopper will tell you that getting an early start is one of the best things you can do if you’re looking to snag a great deal. If you’re planning to shop at a brick and mortar store, make sure to get there early (before the doors open) to ensure that you get access to the best inventory and selection, because for particularly popular purchases such as home theater systems, smartphones or tablets, and gaming consoles, you can expect stocks to run out fast.
Also, as previously mentioned, some stores offer bigger discounts to early-bird shoppers—so don’t miss out on these good Black Friday deals.
Consider Using Your Credit Card
While it can be difficult to stay disciplined, using your credit card on some of your Black Friday electronics purchases can actually benefit you as many credit card companies offer free benefits or rewards when you use their card at selected stores during the holidays.
Aside from the convenience of going cashless and the benefits offered (if any), using your card can also provide you with the following:
- Warranty Coverage: Some credit card companies double or triple a manufacturer’s warranty for free, so you don’t have to spend on expensive, short-term service contracts.
- Return Protection: There are credit card companies that guarantee product refunds, and for extended periods.
- Sale Price Protection: If the product you purchase is marked down further than the price you paid within a specific time period, some credit card companies will refund the difference.
If you have an Adorama Credit Card, we offer 6-month or 12-month special financing (at 0% interest if paid in full within the 6- or 12-month time frame and with no late payments) on cameras, lenses, and other gadgets and electronics so that you can enjoy various Adorama Black Friday deals.
Beware of Scams
Black Friday shopping is a great opportunity for sellers and consumers to be part of a cheery holiday shopping experience where they can benefit from each other. However, there will always be a handful of people who will take advantage of it for their own financial gain.
When spending a large amount of money on cameras and electronics, be extra careful about the transactions you make. Only purchase items from trusted retailers, whether at your local mall or online. When taking up deal offers, make sure you go through legal purchasing processes inside registered stores and through official websites.
It’s a lot easier to get scammed when you buy gadgets online, so ensure that you are at the right web address and don’t supply your personal and credit card information without being entirely sure of the security of the website. For extra safety, carefully monitor your credit card and bank account for any suspicious activity.
The anticipation, people traffic, and the enormous amount of product advertising can make looking for big-ticket Black Friday gadget deals a real challenge. To ensure a successful shopping experience, plan ahead and exercise caution in choosing where to shop, what to shop for, and which deals are worth your time and money this Black Friday 2019.
If you plan on doing your holiday shopping at Adorama, we are currently offering some of the best Black Friday deals on selected gadgets and electronics, along with free expedited shipping, extended returns, 6-month or 12-month financing, and up to 5% rewards!
