Retailers intend to kick off the Christmas shopping season early this year. In fact, some will begin today, three weeks before the typical Black Friday shopping extravaganzas. With high fuel costs, and other prices (including heating fuel) rising, people may be more cautious in their holiday spending.
Numerous recalls of products from pet food and ground beef to toys and even toothpaste, have also left consumers with a bad taste in their mouths. All of these issues have retailers worried, so they are trying to give consumers a little nudge with earlier sales.
As unsettling as all these issues may be, we know we still have to buy various goods and we know we are still going to buy Christmas presents. Just look for high quality products, with trusted names, and be sure to check for product recalls regularly and read product reviews. It doesn’t hurt to check the news, especially online, because sometimes problematic products are questioned or exposed in other venues before a recall occurs. They tend to show up more quickly online.
Check Sale Ads
Sale ads should begin arriving if you haven’t already begun receiving them. Start looking through them as soon as they come in and writing down items you want to purchase. Beside each item, write down the name of the store, the price, and the end date of the sale. Leave a little space between store names on your list so you can add in more items later if needed. Then, look up various items online to see if you can find more information. Be sure to read reviews and check for recalls, with problem prone products such as toys.
Don’t Forget Online Sales
Online retailers want a piece of the Christmas shopping pie too, so start checking the clearance and sale sections of your favorite online sellers regularly. Many online shops have one-day only sales, or offer free shipping for a limited time, as well as other great discounts, so don’t miss out on great stuff for your home and family at a great price.
Tips for Tackling Black Friday and other Early Bird Sales