A lot of stores have already begun their Black Friday deals, especially if they are mail order, as shipping has slowed this year. But you may have noticed that the deals just don’t seem as great this year. What’s going on? Are there fewer Black Friday deals this year?
Supply Chain Issues Means Fewer Products
We’ve heard a lot about all of the supply chain issues over the past month or so. To put it simply, because of the pandemic, the supply chain got quite tangled up and it’s going to take some time for the production and shipping issues to be resolved. This means that there are generally fewer products available this holiday season. In some cases, the product couldn’t be made because some of the parts were missing (this is very true when it comes to computer chips, which were in high demand during the pandemic), in other cases, the items were manufactured outside of the country and companies weren’t able to get them imported in time. So some items that would normally be on sale for Black Friday aren’t available at all, and in the case of other items, there are simply fewer available.
Fewer Products Means Higher Demand
When stores have fewer products to sell but the same number of people wanting to buy those products, that means there is higher demand for each of those products. And when there is higher demand, you’re all but guaranteed to see higher prices. Stores have Black Friday sales to get you into the doors (especially with Door Busters) and to get you to buy more items. Even when something is on sale, the store is still making a profit. But with fewer items to sell, to make that same profit, they need to sell at a higher price.
So not only will there be fewer things on sale, but the discounts won’t be as deep.
Should You Wait for Sales?
In my opinion, if something is on sale now and you are planning to purchase it, don’t wait until Friday’s sales start. Get it now, or you risk the store running out of the item. If it’s not something you want and you’re willing to go without if they go out of stock, then by all means, wait, but if you’re looking to get that specific item for yourself as a holiday gift, I wouldn’t risk waiting and not being able to get the item you want. There are going to be fewer Black Friday deals and you should make sure you shop smart.
Read More:
- Black Friday Shopping Tips
- DoorDash, GrubHub, and Instacart: The True Cost of Home Delivery
- Bargain Hunt with the Best! How to Budget and Save Money When Shopping Online
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