It used to be that Black Friday deals would first become available to consumers on — wait for it — Black Friday. You know, the actual day after Thanksgiving. But these days, Black Friday deals tend to start showing up in early November and last the entire month.
Whether that’s a good thing is debatable. On the plus side, it gives you more time to tackle your holiday shopping and takes some of the intensity off of Black Friday itself. On the flipside, the month-long deal trend can create unexpected pressure since you might feel like you constantly need to be on the lookout for sales.
One retailer that likes to go big for Black Friday is Kohl’s. Kohl’s is already known for its competitive prices, but during the month of November, you might enjoy even more savings on the various items on your holiday list. Here’s a rundown of what to expect based on an analysis by the site BlackerFriday.com.
The sales could start as early as November 8
Kohl’s hasn’t announced any official Black Friday sales or events as of this writing. But based on what the store has done in the past, there’s a good chance the first round of deals will drop on or around Nov. 8. So you may want to not only check out the store or site that day but also come up with a list of holiday gifts beforehand that you’re looking to buy.
This also means now could be a good time to apply for a new credit card with a generous sign-up bonus. The tricky thing about snagging those bonuses is that you have to meet a certain spending threshold within a specific timeframe.
But if you’re going to be doing a lot of holiday shopping in November, you may be more likely to spend the amount required to get your bonus cash. Click here for a list of the best credit card sign-up bonuses available this month.
Pay close attention to Kohl’s the week of Nov. 24
Thanksgiving falls out on Nov. 28 this year, and Kohl’s will likely release a follow-up round of deals starting Sunday, Nov. 24. At this point, you’ll want to take a look at your shopping list, see what progress you’ve made, and then compare the prices at Kohl’s to other retailers.
Gear up for a whirlwind of sales on Black Friday itself
Like many retailers, Kohl’s will likely save its major doorbusters for Black Friday itself. But there’s more to the story.
There’s a good chance the actual Black Friday sale itself will start the day before — on Thanksgiving. However, what Kohl’s has done in the past is release Black Friday deals on Thursday only on its website and save the in-store specials for Friday.
That’s good, since you probably don’t want to ditch your family and friends on Thanksgiving to line up outside of Kohl’s. (And for what it’s worth, last year, Kohl’s was closed on Thanksgiving anyway.)
Will the deals be any good?
There’s no way to know that in advance. A good bet is to set yourself up with a price comparison app like ShopSavvy that helps you compare offers. Or you can do the work manually by checking out prices at competing retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
If you’re buying electronics, you may also want to look at Best Buy to see what deals it has available. And if you have a Sam’s Club or Costco membership, it definitely pays to see what Black Friday specials they’re running as well.
When you do your price comparisons, though, do keep in mind that Kohl’s commonly offers Kohl’s Cash as part of its Black Friday sales. And to be clear, you might snag that cash back for most of November — not just on Black Friday itself. Last year, Kohl’s offered $15 in store cash for every $50 spent.
Don’t forget about Cyber Monday
You might think that come Cyber Monday, Kohl’s won’t have any sales left to offer. But not so. Expect a host of online deals that day, as well as an opportunity to earn additional Kohl’s Cash on your purchases.
Try not to get overwhelmed
Navigating Black Friday deals can seem like a lot — at Kohl’s or any other store. But remember, even if you miss out on a deal, chances are, another one will come your way during the holiday shopping season. And if you don’t find your top items for a great price at Kohl’s, keep looking. Another store might very well have them.
You can ease the stress of holiday shopping by starting early. Don’t wait until Black Friday itself to tackle your list, since stores may have limited quantities of the items you want that sell out quickly. And no matter where you shop, pay close attention to each store’s return policy in case you change your mind or find a better price elsewhere.
At Kohl’s, most returns can be made within 90 days. And while there’s usually an exception for premium electronics, watches, and Sephora at Kohl’s items, anything in this category purchased after Nov. 1 can be returned until Jan. 31. Most of Kohl’s competitors will likely extend their returns window as well, but find out just to be sure.
