4 things you need to know about Black Friday 2020 – CNET

This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2020, CNET’s gift picks with expert advice, reviews and recommendations for the latest tech gifts for you and your family.

Black Friday, which is Nov. 27 this year, is right around the corner — but it won’t be what you’re used to. In fact, many stores won’t even be open on Thanksgiving night. Instead, retailers such as Best Buy, Home Depot and Walmart are opting for early Black Friday deals, putting some of their best sales online.

The changes this year are in place to help prevent shoppers from gathering inside stores, potentially causing the spread of coronavirus. Instead, you can avoid the crowd and shop the same sales from the comfort of your couch.

Here’s what you need to know about Black Friday shopping this year.

Avoid crowded areas and long lines in stores

Do you really want to camp out or stand in lines for hours on end waiting for Best Buy to open? Of course not. By staying home, you can cozy up on your couch with a warm cup of tea and simply click Buy when it’s time. No need to rush out to the stores, only to lose out on the $99 AirPods you’ve been waiting for.

Many stores realize people aren’t willing to risk increasing their exposure to the coronavirus for a cheap TV, so they’re putting their Black Friday deals online early. So far, we’re seeing deals from Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and Best Buy. We’ll update the list as we hear about new deals from other stores.

There could be better deals online

To prevent a large gathering of people inside stores, some retailers are offering the same, if not better, deals online. The best part is, you won’t have to wait until Black Friday to buy what you’re looking for because many stores have started their sales early (see below).

Not to mention, it’s a good possibility you’ll be able to use promotional codes online and save even more. For example, a store might offer a one-time discount for signing up to receive its emails. (You can always unsubscribe at a later date.)

You’ll have a better chance of getting what you want

If you shop early, rather than waiting to go into the stores, you have a better chance of snagging what you want. Make sure you know when the product is going on sale so you can grab it before it’s gone. You can also add it to your shopping cart ahead of time and make sure you’re logged in to your account on the store’s website. 

Just remember, if you’re buying a gift for someone else, know these rules first.

Which early Black Friday deals are going on now?

Amazon has lowered its prices on Amazon Echo devices and Best Buy has slashed prices on small kitchen appliances, as well as TVs and laptops. 

You can find sales on Home Depot’s site, from refrigerators to tools. Walmart’s deals begin Nov. 4 and will include vacuums, TVs, routers and more.

For more Black Friday tips, read this before you buy a tech gift this holiday season. Plus, this Amazon shopping hack can save you money all year long and Google is offering price tracking and curbside availability for holiday shopping.