6 tips and tricks to make the most of Black Friday deals in Canada

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This year has been a wild ride, and although the holiday season may not look quite like you’re used to, Canadians can still take advantage of savings thanks to the usual Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

In a bid to keep shoppers safe and out of stores come Nov. 27, many retailers have begun offering deals earlier than ever. With an entire month of savings taking place, you’ll want to make sure that you’re finding all the hidden ways to save, along with tips and tricks to take advantage of the best deals.

ALSO SEE: Everything you need to know about Black Friday 2020 in Canada

Here are six ways to make the most of your Black Friday shopping experience, including how to find the best prices on items on your holiday shopping list this season.

Timed deals and outlets

Online retailers like Amazon can retain you on their website longer if they can offer you better deals throughout the weekend. Lightning Deals are found on the Today’s Deals page and also on special days like Prime Day and Black Friday. As we get closer to the week of Black Friday and into Cyber Monday, make sure to look at Amazon.ca to see rotating timed deals and upcoming deals to visit back to unlock. It’s a way for retailers to keep you shopping longer, but also a great way to access unique deals that aren’t available elsewhere.

While you’re on Amazon, check out Amazon Outlet, too. Think of your favourite clearance section and being able to easily scour through category, size, colour, and everything in-between but online. There, you’ll be able to find some excellent last-minute deals, so long as you’re fine with combing through the Amazon Outlet to find potentially limited size options, end-of-season styles, or low quantities.

Get on the email lists now

This is the time to get yourself on email lists. A great tip is to set up a secondary email for things like newsletters and coupons for not only Black Friday, but to also find deals year-round. Many retailers will unveil early deals and previews of door crashers to newsletter subscribers, and you want to give the websites ample time to add your email to their mailing lists so you’re the first to know of the sales worth jumping on!

ALSO SEE: 5 expert tips on how to protect your identity shopping online ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020

Price check in store

There’s an app for that! Use a tool like ShopSavvy’s barcode scanner that can scan virtually any item you see in store and compare against multiple inventories online and in nearby stores to see if you can find a better deal. As more and more retailers restrict price matching on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, comparison shopping is one of your other tools to find the best deals in the area.

Comparison shop on Flipp

Speaking of comparison shopping, use the website, Flipp.com, to target specific items on your shopping list. Flipp compiles local flyers, online deals, and even coupons that offer a unique way of approaching shopping whether that’s at brick-and-mortar shops or at home on your computer. Simply input a product type, like “4KTV,” or a specific model of a computer (i.e. “MacBook Pro 15”) and the website will comb through prices to find you relevant information. Information is displayed through flyer clippings which you can save for future reference closer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

ALSO SEE: 11 Canadian retailers you'll want to bookmark ahead of Black Friday

Check the price history

For people who question whether retailers hike prices on popular items before dropping them on Black Friday to call them “deals” should check out CamelCamelCamel.com. It’s a great website that’s compatible with Amazon.ca, allows you to create a Price Drop Alert on items you are watching closely, view price history charts, and sort top price drops that you can take advantage of right now.

Now is a great time to spend your loyalty points

Finally, for those who sit on your loyalty points and don’t know how to spend them, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are often when companies like Aeroplan and American Express offer increased incentive to spend points on popular household items from vacuums to kitchen appliances and everything in between. What is traditionally not a great redemption value for these giftable items can turn out to be big value which can help you spend those loyalty points while crossing off items off your holiday shopping list.

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