Amazon Cyber Monday deals are here

[Updated 2023.11] Black Friday is here, and there are more and more great deals, so we’re putting them all up front together. We’ll keep updating this post and pinning it at the top.

Amazon deals (remember to stack them with the sitewide discounts below for even bigger savings)

Apple products

Other good finds

Sitewide discounts

Other good deals at other stores

Black Friday is almost here, so let’s quickly round up some of the best deals from various merchants this year. And when you shop, don’t forget to use the right credit card!

Amazon

Some deals have already gone live. In general, the biggest Black Friday discounts tend to be on electronics, Amazon devices, and Apple products. On Black Friday itself, there are usually especially cheap TVs and similar items. Also, Amazon often matches deals on the same products from other stores, so it’s worth keeping an eye on that too.

Prime members get exclusive discounts.

Those sitewide Amazon Pay with Points deals are still quite good.

Apple

Apple’s Black Friday event starts on November 24 this year. It’s similar to previous years: buy eligible products and get an Apple Gift Card, with up to $200 back. The discounts themselves aren’t amazing, but many people still prefer buying directly from Apple’s website since returns and exchanges are more convenient.

Details are as follows:

  • Apple Watch: up to $50 gift card
  • iPhone: up to $75 gift card
  • Airpods: up to $75 gift card
  • iPad: up to $100 gift card
  • Mac: up to $200 gift card with Macbook or Mac mini purchase
  • Accessories: up to $50 gift card (Apple TV, HomePod, Magic & Smart Keyboards, Apple Pencil, Beats)

Best Buy

Best Buy’s deals are finally out, including $99 TVs, cheap computers, discounted Apple products, and more. The very best deals usually still require lining up in-store every year. For most people, it’s better to just shop online rather than going to the store.

Costco

Costco’s Black Friday warm-up sale started on November 20. Their after-sales service is pretty good, which is one reason many people like shopping there.

Kohl's

Kohl’s is pretty similar every year. During Black Friday, you can stack the offer that gives you Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent. There are also various small kitchen appliances that are free after rebate, and those can pair well with the Kohl's Cash promotion. Just be careful about the Kohl's Cash expiration date.

Walmart/SamsClub

Walmart’s Black Friday deals are still more concentrated in stores, especially things like $199 gaming consoles. In-store, toys and small kitchen appliances also tend to get deep discounts. There are usually also a few especially cheap TVs. At the store entrance, they typically hand out flyers, and if some products are out of stock, they may offer rain checks so you can come back a few days later and buy at the Black Friday price, which is pretty customer-friendly.

Sam's Club is basically Walmart’s wholesale store version, so the types of discounts are broadly similar. However, there are usually more gift card deals worth watching. Also, Sam's Club gift cards and Walmart gift cards are interchangeable. If you have a Freedom card, you can use PayPal to buy gift cards at Walmart for 5x, then use them at Sam's Club.

If you’re trying to shop online, take note: Sam's Club’s website isn’t great, so it’s best to have your payment method and address ready in advance and check out as quickly as possible.

Other

Introduction to Black Friday

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving; this year it falls on November 24. From this day on, people start preparing Christmas gifts. Retailers roll out some of their strongest deals of the entire year on Black Friday, and some promotions continue through Christmas. Prices on many items drop to their yearly lows, and it is often hard to find a better price again until the next Black Friday—especially for big-ticket items such as electronics. If you need to buy something, this is a window you do not want to miss. In recent years, many retailers have moved Black Friday promotions up by one day to Thanksgiving itself, also known as Black Thursday: online deals usually go live from Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, and physical stores open again on Thanksgiving night for in-store shopping. This is important enough to say three times!

  • Online: late night on November 23     In-store: evening of November 24
  • Online: late night on November 23     In-store: evening of November 24
  • Online: late night on November 23     In-store: evening of November 24

That said, most retailers now release attractive deals early and in waves to capture spending sooner. So it makes sense to research deals ahead of time and place orders early when possible. We still do not recommend going to stores just to join the crowds. Saving a little money or chasing the holiday atmosphere is not worth getting COVID. It is also a good idea to disinfect delivered items before using them.

How to Prepare for Black Friday

Know yourself and know the retailers

“Know yourself” means understanding your own needs and what you want to buy. “Know the retailers” means knowing what will go on sale and when. Of course, if you do not yet know what you need, browsing retailer ads may help you “discover” a need. Every year, major retailers release Black Friday ads in early to mid-November. These ads contain key information, including which products will be discounted, the sale prices, and the exact timing of each deal (in-store vs. online). You should study this information carefully. Every year, I read these ads several times in advance, compare prices across stores, and plan my shopping strategy. It is helpful to track the following information:

  • Online deal start times: usually 12:00 a.m. on the 24th, i.e. late night on the 23rd. Different stores may use different time zones for their midnight launch times (Eastern Time starts: Walmart, Microsoft, Sam's Club; Central Time starts: Kohl's, Best Buy; Pacific Time starts: Target, Amazon).
  • Physical store opening times: usually the afternoon of the 24th, with stores opening one after another starting around 5–6 p.m. local time.

Also note the product name, SKU, and price of what you want to buy, so you can add it to your cart right on time and check out as soon as the price drops.

Credit cards

For household items you plan to keep and use, paying with a credit card is generally recommended. Benefits may include price protection, purchase protection, extended warranty, and easier dispute resolution if issues come up with the merchant. Some credit cards (such as AMEX) also offer Purchase Protection, which may cover loss or damage within 90 days.

Next, decide which card to use. Keep a list of the cards that earn the highest cash back at specific stores, and use the best one for each merchant. For example:

  • Discover it: 5% on Amazon and Target purchases. Both are solid stores to shop at.
  • Chase Freedom family: PayPal — as long as you check out via PayPal.
  • BofA Customized Cash Rewards: you can choose 3% cash back for online shopping; remember to set your category to online shopping.

Also pay attention to extra statement-credit or cash-back opportunities such as AMEX Offer, Chase Offer, and BOA Offer. Beyond cards you already have, opening a new card for a welcome bonus or using a card that has a large spending bonus can also be a good strategy.

Card-linked offers

In addition to savings from the credit card itself, there are also many card-linked offers. These rewards can often stack with your credit card earnings and shopping portal cash back, so before you shop, do not forget to link the card you plan to use. That way, you may save even more without extra effort.

  • Drop APP (after linking your card, participating merchants may offer an extra 1%–2% back)
  • Dosh App (after linking your card, merchants such as Sam's Club may offer 2% back)
  • Rakuten In Store Cashback (after linking your card, you can earn extra cash back at popular merchants such as Sephora, major department stores, and baby-product stores)

Shopping portals

If you plan to order online, do not forget shopping portals. During Black Friday, major portals may also increase cash-back rates for many merchants. Using a portal to save an extra 5%–20% can be substantial, and it may even beat waiting in line outside a store.

Comparison and Reviews of U.S. Cashback Sites

Cashback Site Sign-Up Bonus Quick Take
Rakuten $20-$40 sign-up bonus Great customer service, reliable tracking, and in-store cashback; payouts take longer
Rebatesme $20-$40 sign-up bonus Chinese interface available, many payout options, and high cashback rates on beauty purchases
Topcashback Up to $20 bonus Fast tracking, quick payouts, highest-rate guarantee, and frequent promotions; customer service is average
ShopBack $20 sign-up bonus Offers cashback at Amazon, easy browser extension cashback, and very high rates at some merchants
GoCashBack $5 sign-up bonus Chinese interface available, gift card payout option, and exclusive discounts
Extrabux $20 sign-up bonus Chinese interface available, WeChat withdrawal option, and students get a VIP card
Mr. Rebates $5 sign-up bonus Accurate tracking and good customer service
SimplyBestCoupons $5 sign-up bonus Good for niche stores and has strong promo codes
Befrugal $10-$20 sign-up bonus Good customer service and fast payouts

Stock up on gift cards

Buying discounted gift cards in advance for stores you plan to shop at is a smart idea, because secondhand gift cards often come with solid discounts. However, around the holidays, gift card prices can rise quickly. Recommended places to stock up include:

Action Plan

Online orders

Late at night is when most retailers launch their online sales. Open each retailer’s website in advance and save your payment information and shipping address. Check the major shopping portals, compare cash-back rates, and choose the right portal for each store. Then follow the timeline you prepared earlier for each retailer’s sale launch and use your gift cards to place orders.

Sam's Club gift card Walmart PayPal

In-store shopping

In general, online orders can cover most needs, but going to Sam's Club can also be a fun experience for the atmosphere. On the afternoon of the 25th, eat a good meal in advance, then head out around 4–5 p.m. to line up at the stores you want to visit. While you are waiting, store staff may hand out a store map; once inside, you can head straight to the items you want based on the map layout. For popular items (such as certain game consoles or toys), staff may hand out tickets with numbers on them, meaning you have already reserved that item. If you get a ticket while waiting in line, you can go line up at the next store and come back before closing to pay and pick it up. Be sure to ask staff about the final checkout deadline, since some stores may still require you to enter and check out right away. As for returns, most retailers extend the return deadline for items bought between Black Friday and Christmas to January 31 of the following year. If you are unhappy with an item, or if the price drops later and the store will not price match, you can choose to return it.