Holiday Weekend Shopping Strategy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Remember when Black Friday used to be the big kick-off to the holiday shopping weekend? Well with more and more stores opening on Thanksgiving Day it's more like a mid-point. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan has what you need to know before heading out to shop.
135 million Americans are expected to shop in stores and online this weekend, often starting on Thanksgiving Day before the leftovers are even put away!
Consumer World founder Edgar Dworsky says, "I call it 'Black Friday Creep'. It used to be very simple, you go out 5 or 6 a.m. in the morning on Friday and now each store is trying to top the other one and starting earlier. "
Dworsky advises checking sale circulars before heading out to the stores, but says, "You don't have to wait until Thursday's big newspaper arrives. You can start checking them now." You can do that online on websites like www.bfads.net and blackfriday@gottadeal.com.
When it comes to plotting your shopping route, Dworsky says, "You need to know the time-table when each store opens." Most Walmart stores will be open all day Thursday, although the big deals won't start until 6 pm.
Meanwhile at 3 p.m. JC Penney opens its doors. At 4 p.m. Old Navy and hhgregg open for business. At 5 p.m. it's time to shop in Best Buy and Toys"R"Us. At 6 p.m. Target, Kohl's, Macy's and Sears get into the act.
Many malls will open at 6 p.m. too. Among them, Cherry Hill, Moorestown, King of Prussia, Lehigh Valley, Montgomery, Oxford Valley, Quaker Bridge and Christiana.
So what sort of deals can you expect? Old Navy is offering everything for 50% off Thursday night and Friday morning.
You can pick up a Roku SE streaming device for $19.99 at hhgregg and $24.99 at Kohl's, Walmart and Best Buy. Dworsky says, "That's less than I paid and that must be a good deal then!"
Best Buy is offering a 60 inch ultra HDTV for $799. According to Dworsky, "Honest to goodness, at the beginning of November a similar Samsung 60 inch TV was $1,799, so you're talking about a thousand dollars less for a comparable item."
By the way, that Samsung TV is available now at that $799 price right on the Best Buy website until 12:59 a.m. (Wednesday 11/25). It's part of Best Buy's Early Access Pass Promotion. Quantities are limited. Visit http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-60-class-60-diag--led-2160p-smart-4k-ultra-hd-tv-black/4563904.p?id=121976890779 and use promotion code: samsung60deal
Plan to shop online? At 3:01 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning Walmart.com will offer online sales are virtually identical to what shoppers will find in stores.
For more information visit: www.consumerworld.org
Here's a list of what time stores are open on Thanksgiving and Black Friday:
Discount Stores
TARGET
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m. and stays open all night into Black Friday.
KMART
Thanksgiving: Opens 7 p.m. and stays open all night into Black Friday.
WAL-MART
Thanksgiving: Deals start at 6 p.m.
Department Stores
JC PENNEY
Thanksgiving: Opens 3 p.m. and stays open all night into Black Friday.
KOHL'S
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m. and stays open all night into Black Friday.
MACY'S
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m. and stays open all night into Black Friday.
SEARS
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m. and closes 2 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 5 a.m.
Electronic Stores
BEST BUY
Thanksgiving: Opens 5 p.m. and closes 1 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 8 a.m.
GAMESTOP
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 5:00 a.m.
HHGREGG
Thanksgiving: Opens 4 p.m. and closes 12 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m.
RADIOSHACK
Thanksgiving: Opens 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Black Friday: Opens 8 a.m.
Toy Stores
TOYS R US
Thanksgiving: Opens 5 p.m. and stays open all night into Black Friday.
Warehouse Stores
COSTCO
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 9 a.m.
SAM'S CLUB
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m.
Sporting Goods Stores
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m. and closes 2 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 5 a.m.
SPORTS AUTHORITY
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m. and closes 12 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.
Craft Stores
JO-ANN FABRIC AND CRAFT STORES
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.
MICHAEL'S
Thanksgiving: Opens 4 p.m. and closes 2 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m.
