Black Friday Myths Exposed

Techbargains.com provides some Black Friday guidance to cost conscious shoppers looking for deals in these tough economic times.

Emeryville, CA (PRWEB) November 19, 2008 -- "Black Friday" is rapidly approaching and retailers are gearing up to compete for consumer dollars in this difficult economy. It is important for consumers to understand the intricacies of Black Friday so that they can maximize their cost savings and assure that they will not miss out on the best deals being offered.

Following are the Top 5 Black Friday myths or misconceptions that can lead consumers astray, according to Techbargains.com.

MYTH #1: The Deals Are Over Hyped

As part of our business, we monitor prices and retailers "special offers" every day. It is our experience that most of the deals offered on Black Friday are the best prices that the consumer will see for the next six or more months. Thus, if a consumer is thinking about buying a specific item within the next 6 months, Black Friday is the best time to do it. This is one case where patience is not a virtue.

MYTH #2. All Deals Go Quickly

While some of the Black Friday deals have limited quantities, there are typically so many excellent deals to choose from that many items last through Sunday, when a another batch of "Cyber Monday" deals appear from merchants.

MYTH #3: You Need to Wait In Store Lines

This myth is only true for individuals who do not shop online, a rare breed indeed. With the size and growth of the online channel, upwards of 95% of the in-store deals are now available online. So shoppers can comfortably shop at home in their pajamas while others are waiting for hours outside in the cold.

MYTH #4: The Deals Are Cheaper In-Store

This is rarely true. You start with the fact that driving to the store expends gas and time. Even if some stores do not have a particular product deal online, chances are another online merchant will have a similarly priced deal. As an added bonus, if the online merchant does not have physical operations in the consumer's state, they will save on the sales tax, which can be significant on large ticket items.

MYTH #5. Black Friday Sales Begin on the Friday after Thanksgiving

Don't let the name fool you. Most of the special deals actually begin online prior to Friday at midnight of Thanksgiving Thursday. So if consumers want to get the best shot at the deals they should go online at that time. Techbargains and others will be providing real time updates on the best shopping deals as soon as they become available online.

"Dispelling the myths about Black Friday should help bargain conscious shoppers to make the most of pre-holiday shopping deals," said Techbargains Vice President Yung Trang.

About Techbargains

Techbargains.com (http://www.techbargains.com), based in San Francisco, California, is a leading provider of buying information for technology products on the Internet. Techbargains.com is a buying guide that identifies specific products, finds bargain prices, and identifies vendors from which to purchase the products. Techbargains has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, PC World, and the Wall Street Journal and is well known for the quality and breadth of its coupon deals such as Dell Coupons (http://www.techbargains.com/dellcoupons.cfm), Newegg Promo Codes (http://www.techbargains.com/newegg_coupons.cfm), and Staples Coupons (http://www.techbargains.com/staplescoupons.cfm). Techbargains will also offer a preview of the best Black Friday deals (http://www.techbargains.com/newsletter.cfm) exclusively through its free newsletter.

###