How To Snag Early Black Friday Deals Online Before the Big Day
Black Friday used to be a one-day event after Thanksgiving. Over the past few years, retailers have increasingly opened the doors early, dropping “pre-Black Friday" deals in October and November to get a head start. Competition is fierce, but with a good strategy, you can find amazing early Black Friday deals online before the shopping rush begins. Here are our top shopping tips.
1. Watch for Early Drops and “Doorbuster Weeks"
Retailers often roll out deals weeks ahead of Thanksgiving. Best Buy, for example, has in past years started early deals and “doorbuster" promotions in early November, with new drops each week. Walmart has also launched Black Friday sales early. Sometimes there are exclusive discounts for Walmart+ members before opening deals to everyone.
To catch these early offers, track your favorite stores and apps starting in mid-October. Sign up for their newsletters and enable push notifications. Many retailers also tease upcoming deals or give early access to loyalty or membership program members.
2. Leverage Deal Aggregators and Communities
Instead of hunting across dozens of sites, use deal aggregators and communities where shoppers post real deals (and flag bad ones). Popular platforms include Slickdeals (members flag and vet deals), Rakuten, Honey and various forum groups on Reddit or deal blogs. When a price drops unusually low, these communities often catch it first.
Set alerts (via these sites or browser extensions) for key models, brands or items you care about. Once the price dips, you’ll get notified.
3. Lock in Tech Deals Early (or Watch for Bundles)
Tech gear is always a highlight of Black Friday. Past deals have included deep discounts on laptops, tablets, headphones, routers and more. If you’re shopping for tech, keep an eye on:
- Last-year models (e.g. laptops, TVs). When a new generation is announced, the prior version often drops sharply.
- Bundle deals. Sometimes the best offers aren’t pure discounts but bundles (e.g. get a free accessory or extended warranty).
- Refurbished or open-box. Certified units can offer solid savings with warranty coverage.
- Doorbuster limited quantities. High demand means the best deals vanish fast.
Here are a few tech items to watch, just to illustrate what kind of gadgets tend to go on sale: Dell Inspiron 15.6" Touchscreen Laptop, Lenovo Yoga 9i 2‑in‑1, Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR1000 Router.
Setting alerts for such items gives you a head start when the prices drop.
4. Fashion: Flash Sales, Email-Only Codes and Limited Runs
Fashion deals often start early in November via flash sales or “private" email-only codes. Retailers test demand and clear inventory before the main event. Past Black Friday roundups (such as Real Simple’s) show discounts across clothing, shoes and accessories appearing early.
Tips for fashion:
- Subscribe to brand emails. Many send special access coupons (e.g. 20–30% extra off) just to subscribers.
- Watch “flash sale" or “pop-up" sales where the clock runs out quickly.
- Save items in your cart or wishlist ahead of time. Some retailers may notify you if the price drops.
- Use browser extensions that auto-apply coupon codes at checkout.
5. Home Goods and Furniture: Look for Clearance + Holiday Bundles
Home goods, furniture and decor often see early markdowns as retailers try to shift inventory. In previous years, large discounts (30–60%) on kitchen appliances, décor and bedding have appeared during early Black Friday periods.
Our tips for shopping for home goods:
- Watch major home retailers like Wayfair, Home Depot, Lowe’s and specialty brands.
- Check “open-box," clearance or outlet sections.
- Use “waitlists" or sign up for “coming soon" alerts for hot furniture pieces.
- Pay attention to bundled deals (e.g. buy one, get one free throw pillows with couch purchase).
6. Auto and Automotive Accessories: Be Strategic
Early deals on cars themselves are rare, but discounts on parts and accessories do pop up. Think tire sales, battery deals, detailing kits, floor mats and tech upgrades (such as dash cams and stereos). Retailers like AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts and Amazon often run early savings events.
Tips for auto shoppers:
- Watch for “Black Friday Auto Accessory Week" types of events.
- Check manufacturer or brand sites (e.g. Bosch, Michelin) for coupon codes.
- Look for bundling (e.g. tire rotation included, free install with battery).
- Use price trackers on auto gear you’ve eyed and have alerts ready.
7. Know When to Wait vs When to Buy
Not every early deal is better than the main event. Sometimes prices go lower closer to Thanksgiving or during Cyber Week. But there’s risk: by then, stock may run out.
If you find a deal that checks off your criteria (brand, specs, warranty) and seems competitive, it’s smart to grab it. If you hesitate, use a tool to watch it and set alerts. Deals lagging behind historical norms — if you see a comparable product cheaper in past years — might tighten further.
8. Final Tips and Best Practices
- Use multiple devices (search on your phone, tablet and/or laptop). Sometimes deals show up exclusively on the app or mobile version.
- Be ready at drop times. Some deals launch at midnight or during specific hours.
- Keep payment info stored and accounts ready so checkout is fast (deal might vanish).
- Check return and warranty policies. Sometimes the catch is limited return windows or no returns.
- Stay cautious of false discounts. Compare a product’s current price to its average/lowest earlier in the year, not just MSRP.
- Use cashback portals or credit card offers on top of store discounts for extra savings.
Early Black Friday deals online give you a jump on the holiday rush, and often better selection. By combining alerts, deal aggregators and a strategic mindset, you can lock in discounts in tech, fashion, home and auto before others even start browsing. Remember: be ready, act decisively when a good deal appears and don’t get caught chasing false bargains.