It’s no secret how I feel about the Black Friday creep. The fact that stores are opening earlier and earlier, making it virtually impossible for those who work there to enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday with family. I didn’t used to care at all; if you want to shop in the middle of the night, go ahead and shop, was my motto. But now that my kid is in college and he and his girlfriend both work in retail for extra spending money (what great kids, right?) they both had to be back at work at 5am for Black Friday. And that really made me mad. Totally ruined the Thanksgiving weekend with him that I used to look forward to so much. But that’s a different post entirely.
So, for all those shoppers headed out for the Black Friday frenetecism, I mean bargains, here are my favorite Black Friday apps you need loaded on your SmartPhone. Or, if you’re like me and prefer to wait until the last minute, read on for some online shopping tips.
[You can see the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgffI0_gmKE&index=12&list=UUSQT422UlKMWlp88doWqzig.]
BLACK FRIDAY APPS
If you plan on leaving the Thanksgiving dishes and setting out to do some serious Black Friday shopping, there will be plenty of stores to greet you with deals galore. But, while you’re stuffing yourself with turkey, load up your smartphone with the latest apps that will help you figure out if that deal really is a steal.
THE FIND Android and iOS Free
Apps that let you scan a barcode, like TheFind, (iOS and Android) should be your constant companion. When you find an item you like, open the app and scan the bar code. Once it recognizes the product, it will return a list of where it’s available, both online and in nearby stores, and for how much. It will also give you a map to the store you choose.
TheFind has been updates to include catalogs from major merchants like Nordstrom, Crate & Barrel, and the Best Buy weekly circulars sales flier. You can check prices there, and link right through to the store to make a purchase. In addition, you’ll be notified of any coupon codes or deals available, like free shipping.
The app also syncs with the website, so anything you save on your phone, will show up on your computer for comparison shopping later on.
Black Friday by FatWallet iOS Free
Fatwallet.com is already an online destination when searching for coupon codes, now you can also get their Black Friday Deal Finder. The 2011 mobile version displays major retailers’ Black Friday ads so you can search, organize, and get ready for the big day.
The app lets you sort by store or by category, and gives you the option to filter your results into subcategories, like brand, type of item and price range. You can also search for deals by free shipping, rebates, and whether or not an item is a doorbuster deal.
Coupon Sherpa iOS Free
Coupon Sherpa gives iOS users access to in-store mobile coupons and printable coupons found on the internet for many popular retailers, so if you’re in a store about to make a purchase, just fire up the app, and check to see if there’s an additional coupon available for extra savings. There are also coupons for grocery stores, but last I checked, not many of the big chains near me were listed. Coupons can be scanned right from your device if the retailer has the upgraded optical scanner, or they can be keyed in by the cashier. If you find the deal of the century, or at least the season, email the coupon to a friend.
Amazon Black Friday Deals
Amazon.com has opened up a Black Friday Store where it’s counting down the days to … that day, and offering “Lightning Deals” with discounts on products such as cameras and DVD’s. The Black Friday store is up and running, at http://www.amazon.com/Black-Friday-After-Thanksgiving-Sale/b?tag=dealnewscom&ie=UTF8&node=384082011 New deals are revealed throughout the day, so you’ll want to check back often, as Amazon has said it intends to get its hands on every Black Friday circular it can find “so that we can meet or beat advertised deals on the products we carry.”
Some of the deals listed so far: “Arrested Development: The Complete Series” (DVD) $28.99 (list $89.99)
Altec Lansing Digital Boombox: $199 (list price $299)
Of course, you’ll also want to see the deals from Amazon while you’re out shopping, so download Amazon’s Deal App, and if you want instant access to pricing info and Amazon’s famous customer reviews, download their new Flow App, which lets you take a picture of a product’s bar code with your camera to get all the relevant info. Both let you purchase right from the app.
FREE SHIPPING DAY
Finally, if you’re the kind of person who waits until the last minute, or who abandons your online shopping cart when faced with high shipping costs, have I got a day for you! Shop around, figure out everything you want to buy, and then wait some more. In fact, wait until Friday, December 16th. That’s the 4th annual Free Shipping Day; a one-day online-shopping event where thousands of merchants offer free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve.
Merchants signed on to participate are Best Buy, Radio Shack, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Harry and David, just to name a few. Head over to freeshippingday.com to check it out.
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