Here’s some advice for those planning to camp for hours outside of the local Wal Mart to nab those Black Friday deals: Don’t do it.
Decide.com vice president of marketing Shauna Causey was on the CBS This Morning show Monday and had some advice for those gearing up for this week’s “deals.”
“Our advice is to sleep in on Black Friday,” Causey said. “The best deals are actually before or after Black Friday.”
That’s based on this research from the past two holiday seasons done by the Seattle-based shopping data website. Rather than wait in long lines, it might be a better idea to scour the internet this week to find the best bang for your buck.
Causey said that only 30 percent of the “doorbusters” on Black Friday were actually a good deal. Decide found that certain products are cheaper at different times of the year. For example, high-end luxury items are discounted earlier, while laptops drop in price in December.
But for our video game geeks out there — myself included — Black Friday can present some of the year’s best deals. The same goes for home fitness equipment, Causey said.
And regardless, shopping online is cheaper. Decide found that items are 16-to-44 percent cheaper on the internet across categories.
“Consumers have more info at their fingertips than ever,” Causey said on the show. “My hope is that they do their research to get the best deal because it’s never been as competitive as it is right now for their business.”
Speaking of Black Friday, Consumer Reports came out with their 2012 “Naughty or Nice” list that showcases the best and worst holiday shopping policies of companies. Last year, four Seattle companies — Amazon.com, Costco, Microsoft and REI — made the “Nice” list. This year, only Nordstrom made the “Nice” list for its free shipping and free returns policies.
No Seattle company made the naughty list. Santa, you listening?
Previously on GeekWire: Prepping for the holiday season, Decide.com rolls out updated app
