The absolute best Black Friday deals for 2021, all in one place - Tech News Digest

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    Home Mashable Tech News Digest The absolute best Black Friday deals for 2021, all in one place

    The absolute best Black Friday deals for 2021, all in one place

    02:21 ,

    UPDATE: Nov. 22, 2021, 4:50 a.m. EST This post has been updated with new information about Bed Bath & Beyond's holiday ad scan, along with the latest deals.

    We've rounded up all of the best early Black Friday deals as of Nov. 22 — here are our top picks:

    • BEST TV DEAL: Sony 65-inch Class Bravia XR A80J Series OLED 4K UHD TV offers a premium OLED picture with contrasts and colors that feel like the real thing — $1,799.99 $2,299.99 (save $500)

    • BEST AMAZON DEVICE DEAL: Echo Show 8 (1st Gen), a versatile smart home hub, now back to its lowest price ever — $59.99 $109.99 (save $50)

    • BEST ROBOT VACUUM DEAL: iRobot Roomba 694, an advanced robot vacuum that learns your cleaning habits and offers up custom cleaning schedules — $179.99 $274.99 (save $95)

    • BEST SMART HOME DEAL: Blink Outdoor 2-Cam Kit with Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is a home security bundle not to miss — $109.99 $264.98 (save $154.99)

    • BEST APPLE DEAL: Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, a supremely powerful laptop that's backed up by a brilliant and colorful Retina display with True Tone technology — $1,299.99 $1,799.99 (save $500)

    • BEST FITNESS DEAL: Peloton Bike+ is an upgraded version of the cult-favorite spin bike that features a larger, swivel-able HD touchscreen and automatic resistance detection — $2,145 $2,495 (save $350) + free delivery and a free 2-month Peloton app subscription

    • BEST LAPTOP DEAL: Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, sporting a 13.5-inch touchscreen, this sleek laptop combines impressive visuals, powerful performance, and portability — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200)

    • BEST GAMING DEAL: GameStop is having "buy two, get one free" sales on thousands of new and pre-owned video games, including titles like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Forza Horizon 5 — save up to $129.99

    • BEST AIR FRYER DEAL: Bella Pro Series Digital Air Fryer comes with a built-in touchscreen and large capacity that makes cooking meals fast and easy — $49.99 $129.99 (save $80)

    Did it hurt? When you realized we're in the thick of our second pandemic holiday shopping season?

    A handful of stores began soft-launching their Black Friday sales in October to get a jump on the ongoing supply chain mess that's clearing inventories and putting products on backorder. Now, with just over a week to go until the big day (Friday, Nov. 26), all major retailers are bringing out some best-ever deals to help savvy shoppers avoid shipping delays.

    Below, you'll find a complete list of all the Black Friday doorbusters that are live right now (with sales grouped by retailer, category, and brand). We continue to update this post as more deals pop up, but don't hold out too long if something on your shopping list is already enjoying a discount — it may not be in stock for much longer.

    Please note: Anything with a strikeout was either sold out or no longer available at the sale price as of this writing, but check back as we're updating this page constantly.

    The best Black Friday deals at each retailer

    Amazon

    Amazon dropped dozens of deals on its own devices on Friday, Nov. 19 — probably to compete with Best Buy's Black Friday event, which began the same day. We're seeing almost every Fire tablet configuration on sale, plus tons of markdowns on Kindles, Ring Video Doorbells, Echo Show smart displays, and more. (One item featured in the sale — the new Halo View fitness tracker — hasn't even come out yet; it's still up for preorder until Dec. 8.)

    The retail mega-giant originally kicked off this year's festivities on Oct. 4 and continues to drop holiday doorbusters every day in the lead-up to its 48-hour Black Friday event on Nov. 25 and 26, which will supposedly feature "more deals than ever before." Its inventory tends to change the most, so check back often — you can find out what's up for grabs by visiting its Early Black Friday Deals page, installing its mobile app, or by asking your smart home device, “Alexa, what are my deals?" Like in previous years, it pays to be an Amazon Prime member: Subscribers get 30-minute early access to select Lightning Deals, which go quick once they're live; click here to sign up for a free 30-day trial.

    Bed Bath & Beyond

    This year's slow-burner, BB&B finally revealed its Black Friday ad scan on Nov. 19 — a good month and a half after retailers like Amazon and Kohl's began teasing their holiday deals. Its three-day event from Thursday, Nov. 25 to Saturday, Nov. 27 promises some steep discounts across its home and kitchen departments, some of which were already live as part of its latest early Black Friday sale (see above); that brings savings of up to 50% on kitchen appliances, holiday decor, bedding, and health/beauty tools through Nov. 21.

    Want to save even more? You can get 20% off your entire purchase by using store pickup or joining its $29/year Beyond+ membership program. (Subscribers also get free standard shipping through Jan. 31, 2022; click here to start a free trial.)

    Best Buy

    The electronics store's official Black Friday sale begins a whole week early (on Friday, Nov. 19) with $99 Chromebooks, $150 off a 70-inch Samsung 4K TV, up to $100 off select Fitbits, $200 off a Dyson cordless vacuum, half off a Bowflex treadmill, up to 40% off LEGO Star Wars building sets, and 30% off a wired Ring Video Doorbell (which also comes with a free third-gen Echo Dot). If anything you buy gets cheaper on or before Nov. 26, you'll get a refund under its new Black Friday Price Guarantee.

    Dell

    A few other stores beat Dell to the punch this year — it's usually among the first to release its holiday ad scan — but its official Black Friday event began earlier than everyone else's on Monday, Nov. 15. Deals are going fast; get in there ASAP to score up to 38% off select gaming PCs, up to $630 off XPS desktops and laptops, and up to 58% off monitors.

    HP

    The techies over at HP are rolling their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals into one big ol' sale from Nov. 25 to Cyber Monday (its "biggest savings event of the year," per the ad scan), which plunges prices on Microsoft Office software and tons of Windows 11 PCs. As far as early pickings go, its Black Friday Sneak Peek sale brings sitewide savings of up to 49% on laptops, printers, monitors, and gaming peripherals.

    JCPenney

    The department store is keeping things pretty traditional this year with a three-day Black Friday sale from Nov. 26 to 28. But like most of its peers, it's also putting a sprinkling of weekly deals and doorbusters up on its website all month long; highlights include $8 kitchen appliances (with mail-in rebates), up to 40% off Disney toys, and as much as 60% off select mattresses.

    Kohl's

    Early-bird shoppers can "get a jump on the savings" at Kohl's by shopping its Early Black Friday Deals from Nov. 18 to 20, which features nearly three dozen discounts on popular items (including Fitbits and Google Nest devices). Be sure to mark your calendar for Nov. 21, which is when its official Black Friday sale begins — we'll see the return of its excellent $15 for $50 Kohl’s Cash offer on select days, per the ad scan.

    Macy's

    The mall stalwart is offering "unbeatable" and "specially-curated" deals each week of November ahead of its big holiday sale (which begins a few days early on Tuesday, Nov. 23 and goes through Saturday, Nov. 27). Its latest markdowns come as part of a Black Friday Early Access Sale on apparel, home goods, shoes, and handbags/accessories from Nov. 16 to 22.

    Target

    Not to be outdone by its peers, the bullseye brand is getting a head start on Black Friday with a series of weeklong Holiday Best sales — the third of which is live through Saturday, Nov. 20. Its official Black Friday sale will also be a weeklong affair (from Nov. 21 to 27); stop by to save up to $60 on Apple Watches and AirPods, snag a $250 Dyson vacuum, and score a free $50 gift card with the purchase of an Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. It's worth noting that Target's holiday price match policy is now in effect through Dec. 24, and you can also take advantage of two new "buy now, pay later" payment options through Sezzle and Affirm.

    Walmart

    The big box store has revived its popular Black Friday Deals for Days event from 2020, this time spreading it out over three sales throughout the month of November. (Like Target, it's also nixed layaway in favor of a new "buy now, pay later" program as part of its partnership with Affirm.) Its third and final event will begin Monday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. ET following a three-hour preview for paying Walmart+ members (click here to sign up), then continue in stores on Black Friday at 5 a.m. local time — can't-miss deals will include a $109 Apple Watch Series 3, $159 AirPods Pro, and the return of last year's $299 Nintendo Switch/Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle.

    Best tech deals

    an illustration of several tech products (including headphone, a mouse, a escurity camera, and an instant camera) surrounded by a red bow
    Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

    Amazon

    Headphones and earbuds

    Kindles

    Laptops

    Smart home devices

    Smartwatches and fitness trackers

    Tablets

    TVs

    Best Buy

    Headphones and earbuds

    Smart home devices

    Smartwatches and fitness trackers

    Tablets

    TVs

    Dell

    Desktops

    Laptops

    HP

    Laptops

    Kohl's

    Headphones and earbuds

    Smart home devices

    Walmart

    Headphones and earbuds

    Laptops

    Smart home devices

    Soundbars

    TVs

    More tech deals by brand

    23andMe

    AeroGarden

    Canon

    Cricut

    Fujifilm

    GoPro

    Logitech

    Microsoft

    Revlon

    Roku

    Samsung: Save up to 33% on select 4K smart TVs with Alexa, including the latest iteration of The Frame.

    Sceptre: Save up to 22% on select monitors (starting at $115.97) and take 39% off its 50-inch 4K LED TV (now $199).

    Sennheiser: Get up to 40% off select headphones and earbuds (starting at only $19.95).

    Sony: Save up to 39% on its BRAVIA XR X90J 4K smart TVs (starting at $898) or snag a 55-inch BRAVIA XR A80J 4K smart TV on sale for 22% off (now $1,399.99) to get a free three-month trial of Apple TV+.

    TCL: Save 37% on its 43-inch 4-Series 4K Roku smart TV (now $219.99), take 39% off the 55-inch 5-Series 4K Roku smart TV (now $398), or get $150 off the new 55-inch 6-Series QLED 4K smart Google TV (now $799.99), which features Mini-LED backlighting and comes with three free months of Apple TV+. Want to turn your living room into a home theater? Grab TCL's 2.1 Channel Dolby Atmos Sound Bar on sale for 44% off (now $99.99),

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON TVS, LAPTOPS, AND OTHER TECH

    Best robot vacuum deals

    an illustration of a purple and blue robot vacuum surrounded by a red bow
    Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

    Bissell: Save 38% on the SpinWave 2-in-1 robotic mop and vacuum (now $249).

    eufy: Take 40% off the RoboVac 11S (now $137.98), 57% off the RoboVac G30 Verge (now $149), and 36% off the RoboVac 15C MAX (now $179.99) with an extra savings coupon.

    iRobot: Take $100 off the WiFi-connected Roomba 692 and Roomba i3 (now $199.99 and $299.99, respectively), save $200 on the self-emptying Roomba i3+ (now $399.99), or get a Roomba i6+ with Imprint Smart Mapping for 31% off (now $549.99).

    Roborock: Get $170 off the S5 MAX (now $379.99) and $229.99 off the self-emptying S7+ (now $719.99), two hybrid robot vacuum/mops; don't forget to apply their extra savings coupons before adding them to your cart.

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON ROBOT VACUUMS AND ROOMBAS

    Best Apple deals

    apple logo illustration filled with apple products
    Credit: Bob Al-Greene

    AirPods: Get 21% off the AirPods Pro (now $197), take 25% off the second-gen AirPods (now $119), save $4.01 on the new third-gen AirPods (now $174.99 — hey, it's something), or grab a pair of AirPods Max for $109.01 off (now $439.01).

    Apple accessories: Save $5 on the MagSafe Charger (now $34).

    Apple TV: Get six months each of Apple Music and Apple News+, a three-month trial of Apple TV+, and 30 days of FuboTV when you grab a 32GB Apple TV 4K on sale for $30 off (now $129.99).

    Apple Watch: Save $9.01 on the new 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 (now $389.99), $50 on a 40mm Apple Watch Series 6 (now $349), or $30 on a 38mm Apple Watch Series 3 (now $169). Want one with cellular connectivity instead? Buy it directly from the Apple Store to get $100 back after activation.

    Beats: Get half off the Solo3 and Solo Pro wireless headphones (now $99.99 and $149, respectively), or take 40% off the Powerbeats Pro wireless earphones (now $149.99). Plus, score some free trials of Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+ when you buy the Studio3 noise-canceling headphones on sale at Best Buy for 43% off (now $199.99).

    iPad: Save $50 on an iPad Air with 64GB of storage (now $549) or get up to $150 off select configurations of the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro (starting at $999). You can also buy any iPad with cellular connectivity directly from Apple to score up to $200 back after activation.

    iPhone: Get a free 128GB iPhone 13 from AT&T or a free 128GB iPhone 13 mini from Verizon with an eligible trade-in and a new data plan.

    iMac: Take $49.01 off the colorful new 24-inch iMac with Apple's M1 chip, a 7-core GPU, and 256GB of storage (now $1,249.99); get $500 off the 21.5-inch iMac with a Retina 4K display, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 256GB of storage (now $999); or save $150 on a 27-inch iMac with a Retina 5K display, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 512GB of storage (now $1,849).

    MacBook: Get up to $149.01 off an M1-equipped MacBook Air (starting at $899), save $150 on a 512GB M1 MacBook Pro (now $1,349), or take $49.01 off the latest 14-inch MacBook Pro with 1TB of storage and an all-new M1 Pro chip (now $2,449.99).

    Mac mini: Save $99.01 on last year's 256GB Mac mini (now $599.99), which is powered by the original M1 chip.

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY APPLE DEALS

    Best fitness deals

    illustration of woman running on treadmill
    Credit: Bob Al-Green / Mashable

    Bowflex: Save 25% on the SelectTech 840 Kettlebell (now $149), or buy a set of SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells on sale for 27% off (now $399) to score a free one-year JRNY membership.

    Echelon: Take 20% off the EX-3 Smart Connect and the EX5-S Smart Connect (now $799 and $1,275.19, respectively), two Peloton-rivaling fitness bikes, or grab a 40-inch Echelon Reflect smart fitness mirror for 24% off (now $756.99).

    The Mirror: Save $500 and get free delivery with the code HOLIDAY21 (now $995).

    NordicTrack: Get $700 off the new S22i Commercial Studio Cycle and the Commercial 2950 Treadmill (now $1,499 and $2,499.99, respectively) or $600 off the RW200 Rower (now $699.99); all three come with a free 30-day iFIT membership.

    Peloton: Save $350 on the Peloton Bike+ (now $2,145) and get free delivery on top of a free two-month trial of the Peloton app.

    ProForm: Take 50% off the 750R Rower (now $497) and $200 off the Carbon T10 and Pro 5000 treadmills (now $999.99 and $1,499.99, respectively); you'll get a free 30-day iFIT trial with all three.

    Schwinn: Save $210 on the IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike (now $989) and get a free one-year JRNY membership.

    Tonal: Save $250 on the Tonal home gym system (now $2,745).

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY FITNESS DEALS

    Best gaming deals

    gaming controller illustration
    Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

    Amazon

    Bose: Take 15% off the QuietComfort 35 Series 2 Gaming Headset (now $279).

    Dell: Save $600 on the Alienware Aurora R12 Gaming Desktop (now $1,399.99), get $380 off the Alienware M15 R5 Ryzen Gaming Laptop (now $999.99), or buy Dell's 27-inch QHD gaming monitor on sale for 44% off (now $329.99) to score a free $50 gift card. Need a new keyboard or headset? Grab some Alienware gaming peripherals on sale at Best Buy for up to 40% off (starting at $59.99).

    GameStop: Thousands of new and pre-owned video games are buy two, get one free (including Call of Duty: Vanguard, Forza Horizon 5, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Deathloop, Returnal, and Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut).

    HP: Take $100 off the HP Reverb G2 virtual reality headset (now $499).

    JBL: Get up to 25% off its Quantum line of gaming headsets (starting at $29.95).

    Lenovo: Get a free month of Xbox Pass Game Pass Ultimate when you snag a Lenovo Legion Slim 7 for $250 off (now $1,549.99).

    LG: Save 21% on the new 27-inch UltraGear GP850 (now $396.99) and 29% on the 32-inch UltraGear GN600 (now $249), two 2560 x 1440 gaming monitors with a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and HDR10 support.

    Logitech: Save 35% on the G935 wireless gaming headset (now $109.99) and get half off the MX Master 2S mouse (now $49.99); the latter comes with a free $10 Dell gift card.

    Microsoft: Get your first month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or your first three months of Xbox Game Pass for PC for just $1.

    PlayStation: Save $20 on a 12-month PlayStation Plus membership (now $39.99).

    Razer: Take up to 50% off Razer peripherals (starting at $29.99) or grab last year's excellent Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop on sale for 31% off (now $1,787.40) — this particular configuration comes with an Intel Core i7-10875H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

    Rockstar: Save 58% on a copy of Red Dead Redemption II for Playstation 4 (now $25).

    Samsung: Get 47% off its 24-inch CRG5 Curved Gaming Monitor (now $149.99).

    Square Enix: Save 50% on Marvel's Avengers for Playstation 4 and the Day One Edition of Outriders for PS5 (now $19.93 each).

    SteelSeries: Take up to 28% off select gaming headsets, including the wireless Arctis 7 (now $121.80), the RGB-lit Arctis 5 (now $72.99), and the wired Arctis 1 (now $38.95).

    Turtle Beach: Get half off the Recon 200 gaming headset (now $29.99).

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY GAMING DEALS

    Best kitchen deals

    an illustration of a teapot, a mug, a salt shaker, and various kitchen utensils surrounded by a red bow
    Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

    Bella Essentials: JC Penney has several Bella appliances on sale for just $7.99 (after a $10 mail-in rebate), including a waffle maker and a 4-quart slow cooker.

    Breville: Take 20% off the 3X Bluicer and the 3X Bluicer Pro (now $239.95 and $319.95, respectively).

    Chefman: Save $50 on the family-size, 26-quart French Door Air Fryer+ Oven (now $99.99) and $30.99 on its 8-quart TurboFry Air Fryer (now $69).

    Cuisinart: Get a $50 Bed Bath & Beyond gift card when you buy a 5.5-quart Precision Master Stand Mixer for $249.99.

    Hamilton Beach: Save $50 on the Digital Sure-Crisp Air Fry Toaster Oven (now $79.99).

    Instant Pot: Get 17% off the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus and 33% off the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp (now $99.99 each).

    Keurig: Save 50% on a limited-edition K-Mini (now $49.99), 56% on the K-Duo (now $79.99 with code HOME + $10 Kohl's Cash), and 33% on the K-Slim (now $79.99).

    KitchenAid: Save 38% on the Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine (now $279.99), which comes with an automatic milk frother attachment.

    Le Creuset: Take 40% off the fancy French brand's 3.5-quart Sauteuse (now $179.95).

    Ninja: Take $80 off the 6.5-quart Foodi TenderCrisp Pressure Cooker (now $149), save $50 on the new 8-quart Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer (now $279.99), and get 42% off its 4-quart Air Fryer (now $69). Plus, score $50 in Kohl's Cash when you buy a 10-piece Foodi Neverstick Premium Anti-Scratch Nest System on sale at the department store for $70 off (now $299.99).

    PowerXL: Get its 7-quart Vortex Air Fryer or Smokeless Grill Pro on sale for just $71.99 using the promo code HOME (a savings of 52% and 48%, respectively); both come with $10 in Kohl's Cash.

    Pyrex: Save 60% on a 22-piece set of glass storage containers (now $19.99).

    SodaStream: Get up to 22% off select bundles (starting at $124.95).

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON INSTANT POTS AND AIR FRYERS

    Best house and home deals

    illustration of a bedroom
    Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

    Amazon: Get up to 30% off select rugs, office furniture, and kitchen/dining furniture.

    Birch: Get $400 off a mattress and two free Eco-Rest pillows with the code BFSALE400.

    Brooklyn Bedding: Take 25% off sitewide using the code BLACKFRIDAY25.

    Casper: Save up to 20% on select bundles, mattresses, and sleep accessories.

    Homesick: Get up to 25% off select candles (starting at $20.23).

    JCPenney: Take up to 60% off select mattresses and up to 40% off select furniture.

    Layla Sleep: Get up to $200 off mattresses and up to $950 off bundles.

    Leesa: Get up to $500 off mattresses and 20% off bundles (plus two free pillows with every purchase).

    Purple: Save up to $600 when you bundle a mattress with pillows, sheets, and a mattress protector.

    Target: Take up to 20% off bedding and up to 15% off mattresses.

    Tuft & Needle: Save up to 20% sitewide.

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ON MATTRESSES

    Best toy deals

    an illustration of various toys (including a barbie camper, a teddy bear, a lego, and a crayon) surrounded by a red bow
    Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

    Amazon: Get up to 50% off a handful of children's books.

    Baby Alive: Take 25% off the Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Doll (now $39.97).

    Barbie: Save 40% on the Barbie 3-in-1 DreamCamper and the Barbie Dollhouse and Furniture Doll Playset (now $60 and $84, respectively).

    Disney: Select toys and kids' clothes are buy two, get one free at Target.

    Hover-1: Save 38% on the iridescent Aviator eScooter and 26% on the iridescent Self-Balancing Scooter (now $199.99 each).

    KidKraft: Get 50% off the Uptown Espresso Kitchen Playset (now $99) and 32% off the Majestic Mansion Dollhouse (now $149).

    Kinetic Sand: Save 15% on the Kinetic Sand Sandisfactory Set (now $16.97).

    LEGO: Get half off the 1,500-piece LEGO Bricks and Animals set at Walmart (now $29), or head over to Target to save 20% on select building sets.

    Little Tikes: Save 34% on the Activity Garden Playhouse (now $59).

    Osmo: Get 25% off select kits and games (starting at $22.49).

    Play-Doh: Save 30% on select playsets and kits at Target.

    Ruko: Take 15% off the voice-controlled Ruko Smart Robot (now $109.99) with an extra savings coupon.

    Tamagotchi: Get 34% off the floral/pink Tamagotchi Pix (now $39.46).

    Target: Save 10% on kids' craft and activity kits.

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY TOY DEALS

    Best pet deals

    a leashed rottweiler wearing a pink whistle go explore pet tracker
    Treat your good boy/girl this Black Friday. Credit: Whistle

    Amazon: Save up to 25% on Amazon Basics pet products (including dog poop bags, a de-shedding tool, and a cat tree).

    Basepaws: Get $50 off its Breed + Health Cat DNA Test (now $79) with the code DNAFRIDAY.

    Chewy: Select pet products are buy three, get one free.

    ChuckIt!: Take 59% off the ChuckIt! Sports Ball Launcher (now $5.28).

    Doggy Do Good: Save 17% on a 60-count pack of its biodegradable dog poop bags (now $9.99), our favorite eco-friendly option for pet waste disposal.

    Embark: Take $30 off its Breed Identification Kit (now $99) or $50 off its Breed + Health and Purebred kits (now $149 each) with the code HARK.

    KONG: Save 15% on the medium-sized KONG Classic (now $10.99), a stuffable and durable rubber chew toy.

    Petco: Get $30 off select pet supplies purchases of $100 or more.

    Petcube: Save $24.05 on the Bites 2 Lite (now $124.95), an 1080p HD pet camera with night vision, two-way audio, and a treat dispenser.

    PetSafe: Save 29% on the ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box (now $149.95) and 23% on the Healthy Pet Simply Feed (now $99.99).

    ThunderShirt: Get 15% off a small ThunderShirt (now $34), which fits most dogs in the 15- to 25-pound range.

    Whistle: Take 30% off the Whistle GO Explore (now $104.95), 25% off the Whistle FIT (now $59.95), and 23% off the new Whistle Switch (now $154.95); all three come with a free three-month monitoring plan. Plus, save 50% on select accessories.

    MORE BLACK FRIDAY PET DEALS

    Illustration of a man smiling while opening up a box
    Don't forget to order a little something nice for yourself this year. You earned it. Credit: Vicky Leta / Mashable

    Ready or not, Black Friday is here

    Stores began cramming our inboxes with Black Friday-worthy deals in early October (starting with Amazon's "Epic Daily Deals" event, which kicked off Oct. 4). It probably felt a bit preemptive, like those neighbors who insist on putting up their Christmas lights while the trees are still green, but they actually had a very good reason to get a jump on this year's sales.

    And no, it wasn't just a good, old-fashioned cash grab in response to some strong holiday spending forecasts.

    Shipping delays and supply chain chaos

    The global economy is grappling with some unprecedented supply chain challenges as the result of the Delta variant, which continues to inflame pandemic-related material scarcities, labor shortages, and shipping bottlenecks across industries of all kinds. (Under circumstances absolutely no one had on their bingo card, pickles and paper bags have gotten as elusive as Playstation 5s.)

    Unsurprisingly, the ordeal has left most major manufacturers and retailers scrambling. Amazon is trying to lure in an extra 150,000 seasonal employees with the promise of $3,000 sign-on bonuses and higher pay for certain shifts, while Walmart, Home Depot, and Ikea have all gone so far as to charter private cargo ships to make sure their shelves are stocked for the season. Apple, meanwhile, is "predicting that we're going to be short of demand by larger than $6 billion" heading into the holidays, CEO Tim Cook said in a recent interview with Reuters.

    SEE ALSO: How will supply chain issues affect Black Friday this year? Experts weigh in.

    For us consumers, this all means that finding the best deals this holiday season will likely be an ongoing issue of availability. As Canalys analyst Runar Bjørhovde wrote in an email to Mashable: "It will be very possible to buy devices, it’s more of a question to what cost and when." (Read more about supply chain issues.)

    If you missed out on the whirlwind of early sales, fret not. Backorders and "sold out" notices haven't besieged stores just yet, but mapping out a game plan now will help you avoid them when they inevitably crop up in the coming week. Here are all the must-know details you can use to strategize this holiday shopping season:

    What is Black Friday?

    Black Friday is a shopping holiday that takes place every year on the day right after Thanksgiving. It used to be synonymous with viral fistfights and stampedes and lines that stretched around city blocks before 3 a.m., but COVID-19 has turned it into a mostly online event.

    When is Black Friday?

    While Black Friday proper falls on Nov. 26 this year, most stores have already begun rolling out their holiday doorbusters.

    Black Friday versus Cyber Monday — what's the difference?

    The National Retail Federation officially coined the term "Cyber Monday" in 2005 after it noticed that in previous years, the Monday after Thanksgiving saw a massive uptick in online sales. It credited the phenomenon to two factors: Online retailers were starting to vie for a piece of the Black Friday pie, and shoppers were waiting to peruse the deals on their faster work computers come Monday morning. (At the time, office PCs had better broadband than home setups.)

    Last year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales effectively bled together since in-person shopping wasn't really a thing. We'll almost certainly see that repeat this year.

    black friday shopping
    Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Ian Moore / Mashable

    What stores will be open for in-person shopping this Black Friday, if any?

    All major retailers with brick-and-mortar locations have made the call to stay closed on Thanksgiving Day. That's another big change from pre-pandemic years, when many stayed open on the federal holiday so that eager shoppers could start perusing their best deals early. (If you feel the urgent need to do some post-pie shopping that day, you'll have to crack open your laptop instead.) In-person shopping is making a comeback for Black Friday, but be mindful of COVID-related safety procedures and limited store capacities:

    • Bed Bath & Beyond: Closed on Thanksgiving; doors open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Masks are required for all customers (unless you're fully vaccinated) as well as associates, and all stores are following safety plans that include extra cleaning, free wipes and hand sanitizers, employee health screenings, and occupancy limits. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.

    • Best Buy: Closed on Thanksgiving; Black Friday hours TBD. Face coverings (available in stores) are recommended for all customers and required for all employees, who are abiding by enhanced safety procedures such as daily wellness checks and regular cleaning of high-touch areas. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.

    • JCPenney: Closed on Thanksgiving; doors open at 5 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Its mask policy varies based on local and state mandates, but all locations are following safety measures like regular nightly cleanings, socially distanced queues, contactless checkout, and capacity limits. Curbside pickup is available.

    • Kohl's: Closed on Thanksgiving; stores open at 5 a.m. local time on Black Friday. The company is requiring all associates to mask up, recommending that customers in high-risk counties do the same; it's also implemented extra cleaning and safety measures that include placing sanitizer at every register, removing beauty testers, and installing signage that encourages social distancing. Drive-up and in-store pickup are available.

    • Macy's: Closed on Thanksgiving; stores are open from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time on Black Friday. Its COVID-19 safety policy includes pre-shift wellness checks for all associates, readily available hand sanitizer, increased cleaning in high-touch areas, extra ventilation, and social distancing; masks are recommended but not required for vaccinated customers except where mandated. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.

    • Target: Closed on Thanksgiving; most stores open at 7 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Face masks are required for team members and strongly recommended for shoppers in areas with a substantial or high risk of transmission, per CDC guidelines, and increased cleanliness/disinfecting measures have been implemented. (Haven't gotten a vaccine yet? You can do so at select CVS locations within Target stores.) Drive-up and in-store pickup are available.

    • Walmart: Closed on Thanksgiving; stores open at 5 a.m. local time on Black Friday. All associates are required to wear a mask (regardless of vaccination status) in areas where there are mandates, and customers are strongly encouraged to do so, too. Stores are spraying carts after use and keeping plastic shields at registers, among other enhanced safety procedures. Curbside and in-store pickup are available.




    via Tech News Digest
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