Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide to Smart Home Tech in 2019

It’s time to get ready for the biggest shopping event of 2019! Even though Black Friday is officially the day after Thanksgiving (November 29 this year) you don’t have to wait until the turkey’s picked clean to start saving. 

Many stores begin offering discounts in the days leading up to this event, and some retailers have pre-Black Friday deals live right now. 

We know you don’t want to sort through hundreds of ads to find the best discounts—especially when you could be watching football and enjoying leftovers.

To make your Black Friday about shopping (instead of researching), we’ve rounded up the best deals on some of our favorite smart home and home security devices. Take a look at our recommendations to finalize your holiday shopping list and make the most of Black Friday this year.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday FAQs

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday takes place every year on the day after Thanksgiving and marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. This year it falls on November 29. But many stores begin sales (both online and in-store) in the days and weeks leading up to the famous shopping day. Some will even be open for in-store deals on Thanksgiving day. 

How does Black Friday work?

Not long ago, shopping on Black Friday involved waiting (and risking injury) amongst crowds of people for retailers’ doors to open before the sun rose. Today, it’s not uncommon for stores to open at midnight on Friday or in the afternoon or evening hours of Thanksgiving. 

If you’d rather not skip Thanksgiving dinner to score a steep discount, there’s no need to give up your turkey. Several pre-Black Friday deals make their debut throughout the month of November—and most of the best discounts and promotions will be offered in stores and online in the week leading up to Black Friday. 

How do you shop on Black Friday?

To maximize your Black Friday shopping experience you need to create a plan and a budget—and stick to it. Make a shopping list and check it twice to avoid splurging on extras that will burst your budget.

Once you have a finalized list, start scouting for sales on the products you want and compare prices among retailers. Checking sites like SafeWise can help you stay in the loop as stores release more information about Black Friday promotions.  

Some retailers require shoppers to come into the store for the best Black Friday deals, but you can also score great deals online. 

What stores have the best deals on Black Friday?

The sheer volume of promotions, discounts, product bundles, and freebies that stores advertise in the lead up to Black Friday can make it difficult to determine which offers are actually worth your time. We carefully evaluate offers on popular products to help you separate the meat from the giblets. 

What is a doorbuster?

A doorbuster is a special deal or discounted price that’s offered for a limited time on a popular item, typically during the first part of a retailer’s Black Friday hours. Many stores advertise doorbuster deals to lure in shoppers who are looking to score an exclusive discount on a higher-priced item such as a television, tablet, or smart home device. 

Many doorbuster items are available in severely limited quantities or made by brands that produce lower-quality items. Before you decide to stand in line for a doorbuster deal, do some preliminary research to make sure the deal is worth it. 

How do I know if I’m getting a good deal?

The best way to know if you’re getting a good deal is to be an educated consumer. That means you know what you want, which brands you prefer, and what the standard retail price is for each item. Armed with that info, you can compare the advertised discounts to find the deal that gives you the most savings. 

Why do they call it Black Friday?

Black Friday hasn’t always referred to killer sales—the term’s origin is far more sinister. 

The first Black Friday had nothing to do with shopping—and it wasn’t related to the holidays. On September 24, 1869, two shady Wall Street investors drove up the price of gold and caused a drastic stock market crash. Commodity prices plunged 50%, leading people to deem the day Black Friday.1

Today, most people think it refers to the profits stores make on this record-breaking consumer holiday. When companies are profitable, they’re “in the black.” This use of the term became popular in the ‘80s, and it’s stuck ever since.

Is Cyber Monday only online?

Technically, yes. Cyber Monday was created as an alternative (or a supplement) to Black Friday. Stores offer online-only deals to help drive website sales. With the huge growth of online shopping, Cyber Monday is giving Black Friday a run for its money. (Or is it our money?) 

Are AirPods on sale for Black Friday?

Yes. Several retailers are already advertising deals on AirPods. If this gadget is on your holiday list, check around to find the biggest discount.

Ring video doorbell camera
amazon echo stuido
Verizon's Gizmowatch

2019’s Best Black Friday Smart Home Deals

Video Doorbells

Video doorbell cameras are a smart holiday purchase—whether you want to put one under the tree as a gift or pop it on the porch to keep an eye on all your Cyber Monday packages.

Find the right smart doorbell for the folks on your nice list, and save money with these delightful holiday deals.

Smart Speakers

Smart speakers are an easy foray into the smart home ecosystem and a go-to gift. Whether you want to treat yourself, or family members and friends, a smart speaker delivers convenience and entertainment in a gadget that’ll take up less space than a poinsettia plant. 

Before you put a smart speaker in your shopping cart, which voice assistant do you want to boss around? Whether it’s Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple’s Siri, we’ve got the deals you need to pop a speaker in every stocking.

Wearable Devices

Whether you’re after a Fitbit or an Apple Watch, now’s the time to buy a gift that’s geared up to help you conquer your New Year’s resolutions.

We’ve rounded up deals on fitness trackers, GPS trackers for your kiddos, and pet trackers that help you keep tabs on Fido.

Check back soon for the latest deals!

Echo Plus

2019’s Best Amazon Black Friday Sales

Amazon wants to rule your Black Friday shopping frenzy—and with deals like these, it could do it. We found deep cuts on everything from the Amazon Echo Dot to Ring doorbells and cameras.

Check back soon for the latest deals!

google-home

2019’s Best Google Black Friday Sales

Google is doing its darndest to get a Google Home or Google Nest Thermostat in every stocking. Check out the incredible deals on offer to help you score these smart home devices and high-tech safety gadgets.

Check back soon for the latest deals!

apple home pod

2019’s Best Apple Black Friday Sales

We used to complain about fruit in our stockings, but with heavy discounts from this tech leader, we hope to find an Apple this year. Whether you’ve got your heart set on an Apple HomePod, new AirPods, or an Apple Watch, these deals will make your gift giving sweeter.

Check back soon for the latest deals!

Sources

  1. History.com, “What’s the Real History of Black Friday?

The post Your Black Friday Shopping Guide to Smart Home Tech in 2019 appeared first on SafeWise.

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