So, you’ve circled the date on your calendar, stocked up on virtual shopping carts, and maybe even practiced your speedy checkout skills. Welcome to the great retail frenzy of November!
If you’re reading this, you’re probably tired of the age-old question that pops up every single year: When to shop for holiday deals? Is it smarter to grab those early pre-black Friday sales or hold out for the nail-biting, often chaotic, doorbusters of thanksgiving day deals?
The truth is, Black Friday isn’t one day anymore. It’s a full-on “Black November.” And deciding when to hit “buy” can be the difference between a great bargain and a completely sold-out wish list.
This holiday shopping guide is here to settle the score. We’re breaking down the strategies, the pitfalls, and the perfect timing for every item on your list. Let’s figure out when to shop smarter, not harder.
And hey, if you just want to jump straight to the action, we’ve got you covered right away. To help you decide, we’ve gathered all the top Thanksgiving deals you can shop right now.
Part 1: Decoding the Early Bird Advantage – The Power of Pre-Black Friday
Forget waiting for the turkey to cool – the sales have already started. The pre-black Friday sales (which usually run from the first week of November up to Thanksgiving Day) are retailers’ new favorite strategy, and honestly, they should be one of yours, too.
Why Stores Push Deals Early
The main reason? Logistics. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target can’t handle the sheer traffic and shipping demands of having every major sale item drop on a single Friday.
By spreading the deals out, they manage inventory, minimize website crashes, and keep the supply chain from completely melting down.
The Big Benefits of Shopping Pre-Black Friday
| Benefit | What It Means for You |
| Better Inventory | Less stress! The items you want (especially popular colors or sizes) are less likely to sell out. |
| Less Pressure | You have time to compare prices, read reviews, and make a thoughtful decision, instead of impulse-buying at 3 AM. |
| Price Matching Assurance | Many stores offer price-match guarantees if the price drops further on Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Always check the store’s policy! |
What You Should Definitely Buy During Pre-Black Friday Sales
When it comes to the when to shop for holiday deals question, the answer is “early” for anything that:
- Is an Essential: Think winter coats, specific holiday gifts, or items you absolutely need.
- Has an Early Sell-Out Risk: Popular toys, brand-name sneakers, or high-end apparel.
- Is Home Décor or Non-Essentials: These sales are excellent for setting the stage for the holidays. Home decor and other non-essentials are perfect to buy during the pre-Black Friday sales.
Part 2: The Main Event – Analyzing Thanksgiving Day Deals
This is the traditional home of the “doorbuster” – those ridiculously deep discounts that make headlines. For years, these thanksgiving day deals were the Holy Grail for saving the absolute most money.
The Thrill vs. The Reality
Thanksgiving Day deals are usually characterized by:
- Extreme, But Specific, Discounts: We’re talking 50% or 60% off, but often on older inventory, specific models, or a very limited supply of brand-new items.
- Flash Sale Timings: The very best deals might only be active for two to four hours online, meaning you have to be ready to click the second they go live.
- Maximum Competition: Everyone is waiting for these, so your chance of grabbing that one $99 item is slim, but the potential savings are massive.
Where the Real Savings Are: Best Time to Buy Electronics
This is where the debate over black friday vs thanksgiving sales gets intense. While some categories, like small kitchen appliances, get big discounts early, others are held back.
- TVs: This is the classic Thanksgiving Door Buster. Stores hold back specific, often off-brand or entry-level name-brand 4K TVs for these sales. The deal is usually better on Thanksgiving Day than in the weeks before, but be meticulous about checking the model number.
- Gaming Consoles/Bundles: Retailers often release special, limited-edition bundles or drop the price on older console versions on Thanksgiving itself.
- Small Appliances (Sometimes): We’ve heard the advice to shop early, but if you’re waiting for the absolute rock-bottom price on the famous stand mixer or a specific new air fryer model, it might be held back for the day. But just be warned: Big ticket items like the kitchen gadgets we recommend often go on sale early in November.
Part 3: The Showdown – Pre-Black Friday vs. Thanksgiving
To simplify your life, we’ve broken down exactly what to buy and when to secure the best savings and the least amount of stress. This helps you leverage your Black Friday coupons and find the best Thanksgiving deals.
The Strategic Shopper’s Decision Table
| Category / Item | Strategy (When to Buy) | Why This Works |
| Laptops & Computers | Pre-Black Friday | Good, reliable discounts (20-30% off) start early with better stock and return policies. The Thanksgiving doorbusters are usually on very low-spec models. |
| TVs (High-End/Specific Models) | Wait for Thanksgiving Day | The deepest discounts on electronics are often reserved for this day. It’s a riskier, higher-reward strategy. |
| Video Games & Accessories | Wait for Thanksgiving Day | Publishers and stores hold back the final big price cuts on games and accessories until the official holiday week. |
| Clothing, Shoes & Beauty | Pre-Black Friday (Mid-November) | Retailers push out early, sitewide coupons to kick off the season and avoid the post-Thanksgiving rush. These are great Thanksgiving deals because they stack with other coupons. |
| Toys (Hot, Must-Have Items) | Pre-Black Friday (As soon as the deal drops) | Inventory for top toys is unpredictable. Buy the second you see a good discount to ensure you get it before Christmas. |
Part 4: Your Pro-Shopper Action Plan (A Definitive Holiday Shopping Guide)
The secret to winning Black Friday is simple: Strategy beats impulse. You need a definitive plan for maximizing those pre-black Friday sales and not missing out on the biggest thanksgiving day deals.
Step 1: The Essential Inventory Check
First, you have to know precisely what you are shopping for and, above all, why. Don’t get wrapped up in the sale for the sake of the sale.
It’s time to get organized. Use our Thanksgiving planning checklist and know exactly what you need to buy and when.
Step 2: Use the Split-List Strategy
Don’t treat your entire shopping list the same. There are two clear divisions for your list:
- Group A (Buy Now – Pre-Black Friday): Essential gifts, anything with a high likelihood of selling out-like an Apple Watch or a specific toy-or bulky items where shipping time is a factor. Lock in a strong, guaranteed discount now.
- Group B (Wait & Watch – Thanksgiving Day/Black Friday): The items you want the deepest discount on (like a new vacuum or big-screen TV). These are your risky, high-reward purchases.
Step 3: Become a Coupon and Deal Master
A sale isn’t a real bargain unless you know the price is actually the lowest it’s been all year.
- Combine Black Friday Coupons: The best deal ever is when you can merge a store’s regular sale price with a specific Black Friday coupon offered via email or loyalty club. Always check your retailer email newsletters, because you may uncover amazing codes.
- Price tracking tools can be helpful, so if you have an item on your Wait & Watch list set “alerts” for a specific price point. The alert will notify you to take action if the price falls to a certain price point!
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered: Black Friday, Thanksgiving and Shopping!
With so many percentages off, dates and sales, the shopping time of year can become confusing. So, here are some answers to what you are asking!
Thanksgiving (a Thursday) is significant for food and family. Black Friday is Thanksgiving’s sequel! It’s Thursday’s successor – the Friday after Thanksgiving – and it is officially the start of the upcoming holiday shopping season and the largest sales/deals. People transition from turkey to shopping bags.
This one’s controversial! Honestly, it’s a mix.
Traditionally, it was a hard start on Friday.
Now, many retailers jump the gun, starting their major Black Friday deals late on Thursday, sometimes even while you’re still having dessert.
It’s great for shoppers who want a head start, but a lot of people feel it commercializes the holiday too much.
A pre-Black Friday sale is just a fancy name for the early bird deals that start popping up in early November.
Yes, you should totally check them out! They are often just as good as the main event.
They’re perfect for avoiding the Black Friday madness and guaranteeing you get high-demand items before they sell out.
It’s a smart way to lock in a discount without the Friday morning panic.
Nope! The original, official Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving. It’s Friday.
The confusion is because retailers now roll out their deep discounts – often called a pre-Black Friday sale – as early as October.
So while the deals happen before, the day itself follows the holiday.
It sounds scary, but it’s mostly about chaos and cash!
One theory (from the 1950s) is that police in Philadelphia used the term because of the absolute gridlock, traffic, and pedestrian mayhem it caused.
The other, more popular story says it’s when store accounting books finally move from being “in the red” (losing money) to “in the black” (making a profit) for the year.
You bet! In the modern digital world, Thursday is the new Friday.
Most big retailers kick off their online Black Friday deals and “doorbusters” on Thursday.
It’s the best time to shop from the couch in your pajamas while watching football, grabbing the early deals before the official Friday rush.
If you want maximum savings without the stress, here’s the game plan:
For in-store sanity: Go early Monday or Tuesday morning before Thanksgiving.
For online deals: Start checking pre-Black Friday sales right at the beginning of November for similar discounts and better stock.
The actual Friday morning is still the time for the absolute steepest, limited-quantity doorbusters.
If you’re comparing the sheer scale and media attention, Black Friday wins.
Black Friday is the global starting pistol for holiday buying, featuring the year’s most aggressive discounts on big-ticket electronics and new items.
Boxing Day (after Christmas) is still huge in places like Canada and the UK, but it’s often more focused on end-of-year clearance and liquidating inventory.
Don’t delay your savings! You really don’t have to wait.
Right now, we are running our early access Pre-Thanksgiving Discount offering discounts site-wide!
We’ve matched our best Cyber Monday deals for this early window, so you get the lowest price guaranteed – and you get your items sooner.
Pro Tip: Head over to GetTopDiscounts now to take advantage of these amazing Thanksgiving discounts before your favorites sell out!
It’s a common misconception! Thanksgiving (Thursday) is the federal holiday.
The Friday after is not a standard government holiday.
However, tons of companies and schools give it as a “bridge day” to create that nice long four-day weekend for shopping and travel – lucky us!
Final Takeaway: Stop Chasing the Single Day
So, what’s the final word on the black Friday vs thanksgiving sales debate?
There is no single best day. The truth is, the best time to shop is the moment you see a price you are truly happy with on a product you actually need.
- If it’s an item you must have and the discount is solid, grab it during the pre-black Friday sales.
- If it’s a big-ticket appliance or a piece of older technology, and you’re willing to risk a sell-out for the highest potential savings, hold out for the Thanksgiving Day deals.
Happy hunting!
