Black Friday has become something of an anachronism in the e-commerce era. The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday shopping season, but retailers already have spent weeks flooding their websites and customers' email inboxes with early Black Friday offers.
If history is any guide and advertisers are to be believed, the best bargains still are to be had from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, a four-day period known in the retail world as BFCM for short. That may be especially true for big ticket items, seasonal merchandise and the latest trendy products.
Consumer advocates note, however, that deep discounts are not a once-a-year opportunity. They advise shoppers to comparison shop, research price histories and to read the fine print to make sure they are buying what they really wanted at a good price.
That said, some people enjoy stepping out from behind a computer or phone screen to take in the holiday atmosphere and music at a local mall or shopping area. Retailers are promising in-store experiences and exclusives to get them through the door. A number of stores that were closed on Thanksgiving reopen early Friday as retailers work to kick the holiday shopping season into high gear.
Black Friday store hours
• Best Buy: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Dick’s Sporting Goods: Most stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Home Depot: Open at 6 a.m. and close at the store’s regular hours (Specific closing hours may vary by store)
• JCPenney: Open at 5 a.m.
• Kohl’s: Most stores will be open at 5 a.m.
• Lowe’s: Open at 6 a.m.
• Macy’s: Open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Hours vary by location)
• Sam's Club: Open during their regular hours.
• Sephora: Open early and/or stay open late. (Hours vary by location)
• Target: Most Target stores will open at 6 a.m.
• Walmart: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
