Yesterday was the biggest shopping event of the year— Black Friday— the day after Thanksgiving. Most waiting in huge lines, getting swallowed up by commercialism on its biggest profit-turning day, and there's still tons of shopping to be had on Saturday and Sunday, with many stores continuing their sales across the weekend. But if you're not interested in bouncing heads with a rush of angry holiday shoppers, you can still get the same deals online, from the comfort and safety of your own home.
National Post has reported some of reasons on why shoppers should stick to web deals:
- Irate line jumpers: A 21-year-old Wisconsin woman was arrested for threatening to shoot shoppers at a Toys “R” Us. Local police say that she tried to move to the front of a line; when the cold and tired shoppers with limited patience shouted at the woman, she threatened to get a gun and shoot them. “She’s now spending her shopping money to post bond,” Madison Police Sgt. Erik Fuhremann told the Wisconsin State Journal.
- Grouchy, sleep-deprived shoppers: Police were called to a southern California mall when a fight broke out between six shoppers in the food court around 6 a.m. Some witnesses reported hearing gunshots, but according to police, it was the sound of chairs and shelves falling over. Police could not find the instigators of the fight. No injuries were reported.
- Door-rushing crowds: Employees at an Old Navy store in California closed the store during their midnight madness sale, when an unruly crowd of people tried to rush the doors all at once, causing a safety concern. The store promised that the first 100 people to spend $25 would get a free Xbox game. Police were called to calm three angry customers.
- Eating the year’s biggest meal out of Styrofoam: Outside a mall in Florida, some shoppers passed the time playing cards, sleeping, or eating their Thanksgiving meals out of a Styrofoam box.
These are just a few reasons why you should be glad to browse the internet instead of venture out into the world of face-to-face consumerism. Instead, you'll be at home, clicking and saving at many of your favorite online shops. And most of these stores will also be offering up even greater sales online during Cyber Monday.
Cyber Monday has been around since 2005, and keeps coming back, becoming the biggest online shopping day of the year. So big, that it could even make it past Black Friday as the biggest shopping day of the year— period. And Cyber Monday isn't just on Monday! Most stores' Cyber Monday sales last for eight days, typically from the last Monday in November to the first Monday in December. So, you still have plenty of time to SHOP!
BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND
View sale items @ Walmart (or view all 71 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: Yes!
Free Shipping: Yes, on over 60,000 items with no minimum purchase.
View sale items @ Amazon
Start Time: Online NOW! Amazon is price matching other retailer's prices and will be starting their online Black Friday sale on Monday, November 22nd.
Door Busters: Yes. A limited number of $89 Kindles will be available.
Free Shipping: Yes, Free Shipping on orders over $25.
View sale items @ Best Buy (or view all 150 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: Yes. "The same products promoted in its Thanksgiving Ads -- including doorbusters -- will be available on BestBuy.com starting Thanksgiving Day."
Free Shipping: Yes (excludes laptops, iPads, iPods and some major appliances)
View sale items @ Kohl's (or view all 43 items now)
Start Time: Online MOW!
Door Busters: Yes, select door busters will be available online.
Free Shipping: Yes, on orders over $75.
View sale items @ Sears (or view all 215 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: Yes, door busters will be put online Friday, Nov 26 at 4am EST. Door busters end at 1pm EST.
Free Shipping: Unknown.
View sale items @ Target (or view all 69 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: No.
Free Shipping: Yes, Free Shipping on orders over $50.
View sale items @ Newegg
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: Yes.
Free Shipping: On select items.
View sale items @ RadioShack (or view all 74 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: No.
Free Shipping: Yes, Free Shipping on select items.
View sale items @ Toys "R" Us (or view all 314 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: No.
Free Shipping: Yes.
View sale items @ Kmart (or view all 113 items now)
Start Time: Online Sale Going on Now!
Door Busters: Yes, doorbuster deals will be available between 5am and 11am CST.
Free Shipping: Yes, Free Shipping on orders over $60 with coupon code KMSANTA.
View sale items @ OfficeMax
Start Time: Online NOW!
Free Shipping: Yes, Free Shipping on orders over $50.
View sale items @ Sam's Club (or view all 8 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: Unknown.
Free Shipping: Yes.
View sale items @ Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts Stores
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: Yes, 9 exclusive door busters.
Free Shipping: Yes, minimum $75 purchase. Use promo code WGF338
View sale items @ Cabela's (or view all 150 items now)
Start Time: Online NOW!
Free Shipping: Yes, Free Shipping on orders over $99.
View sale items @ Lowe's Home Improvement
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: No.
Free Shipping: Yes.
View sale items @ GAP
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: No.
Free Shipping: Yes, on orders over $50.
View sale items @ Macy's
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: Unknown.
Free Shipping: Yes, Free Shipping on orders over $99.
View sale items @ Border's Books
Start Time: Online NOW!
Door Busters: No.
Free Shipping: Yes, with $40 minimum purchase.
View sale items @ the Apple Store
Start Time: Online NOW! $41 off an iPad, other various discounts.
Free Shipping: Yes.
For more great deals from stores like Bloomingdale's, Puma, Dell, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ace Hardware, Home Depot and more, visit the Black Friday Online Sales website, which list all of these great sales and MANY MORE!
CYBER MONDAY
Many of the retailers above are offering the same, if not better, deals for Cyber Monday. So, if you missed out on all of the Black Friday action, don't worry— you can still do you holiday shopping for cheap!
Check out the official Cyber Monday website, CyberMonday.com, run by Shop.org for all of the deals and coupons over the next week!
HANDMADE & INDIE SHOP SALES
Also, go to papernstitch for a list of 45 shops with some incredible bargains (up to 50% off) on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And not just any ol' shops— handmade and indie shops only!
Click through to see all of the handmade and indie shop deals!
