Black Friday Deals are already here: How to know whether to buy now or wait

Black Friday promotions are already flooding websites and inboxes, but that significant discount sitting in your digital cart might not be as impressive as it appears.

Retailers are launching their holiday sales earlier than ever, rolling out Black Friday offers just days after Halloween. Before you click the “buy now” button, consumer finance and savings expert Andrea Woroch advises shoppers to slow down, compare prices, and utilize technology to verify if a deal is truly worth the cost.

“There are some good deals to be had early. As long as you know what to look for and use tools to help you compare prices, track sales, and review historical pricing data,” Woroch said.

Should you buy now or wait?

If a popular item is at the top of your holiday shopping list, Woroch says buying early could make sense. Waiting could mean risking a sellout or shipping delay.

For less in-demand products, shoppers may want to wait and let technology do some of the bargain hunting.

Woroch suggests using artificial intelligence to compare prices across retailers and factor in potential savings from coupons, cash-back offers and free shipping.

“You enter the product’s name, ask a few different prompts such as compare prices across all retailers selling this same item and similar items, add cash back portals, coupons, free shipping offers to get me the lowest possible price, and the tool will do all the comparison for you,” Woroch explained.

AI can make comparison shopping faster, but don’t rely on it blindly. Double-check the retailer’s current price, coupon requirements and shipping costs before checking out.

Don’t be fooled by the sale sign

A prominent “sale” banner does not guarantee you are receiving the lowest price.

Shoppers can use price-tracking tools such as CamelCamelCamel and Honey to review an item’s pricing history and get a better idea of whether an advertised discount is truly a bargain.

“These are websites or browser extensions that will show you pricing trends over the last six months to a year to help you determine if now is a good time to buy or you should wait,” Woroch said.

Checking that history could reveal whether the price is unusually low or simply being marketed as a Black Friday bargain.

Set an alert instead of constantly checking

If the price isn’t right yet, consider setting an alert.

Woroch recommends tools such as Karma, which allows shoppers to track products and receive notifications when prices drop.

“This is a browser extension that allows you to set sale alerts. They alert you when something you want to buy goes on sale. That’s especially helpful for those limited-time deal drops that you might miss because you’re at work or busy doing something else,” Woroch said.

One more thing to check before buying

Before finalizing your purchase, look at the retailer’s price-adjustment or price-drop policy.

Some retailers may refund the difference if the price falls shortly after a purchase. Policies vary, however, and shoppers may face deadlines or other requirements to qualify.

The bottom line: Don’t let a Black Friday countdown clock or flashy discount pressure you into buying. Compare prices, check an item’s price history, set alerts and review the retailer’s price-adjustment policy before spending your money.